Oh Dear what are we to do about School Uniforms?
The European Court of Human Rights ruled that a requirement by schools to wear School Uniforms does not violate The European Convention on Human Rights Act. So educational institutions can continue to insist on Regulatory School Uniforms. Or so I thought! The Court indicated also, that Students have the right to disregard these rules. What message does this send to youngsters who are looking to be guided to become responsible adults? How can they learn that rules should be obeyed? Now schools are complicating things even more.
As a child of a Serviceman it was a blessing that us three girls had to wear School Uniform. There was no competition. The jerseys were shop bought or hand me downs. At least we did not have to suffer the embarrassment of badly hand knitted ones by an old Aunt. Auntie Flo’s eyesight was failing and her cardigans were embarrassing! However, there were times when it was so cold and they came in very handy. Rationing was still in existence.
For my family to this day School Uniforms are accepted without question. We wore our School Uniform with pride.
This is not the position in some schools. Last Summer a school in Oxfordshire decided that boys had to wear either trousers or skirts in the heat; certainly not shorts. Exactly what is the reasoning behind this? I know there are suggestions that all pupils in some schools could be instructed to wear trousers to keep everything Gender Neutral. But does this help youngsters understand what to wear?
So what do you think to the latest idea of one school which wants to have a School Uniform of just Hoodies and Tracksuits? The reason they give is that it takes too long for these little people to change into their PE kit! Does this really give children a chance to have pride in their appearance? I question personal hygiene. Is it really desirable to stay in smelly sweaty clothing after a good workout?
There are moments, Jeeves, when one asks oneself, ‘Do trousers matter?'”
“The mood will pass, sir.”
P.G. Wodehouse – The Code of the Woosters