Reply #18: I am against school uniforms [View All]

[LizW]

I think they teach children that sameness is good and difference is bad. While purporting to stop children from judging each other by their clothing, required uniforms really show children that adults judge people by their clothing.

By trying to "protect" children from being embarassed by their K-Mart clothing, we teach them that they have something to be embarassed about.

Uniforms make no allowances for different body shapes and sizes, or for individual comfort.

I live in a very middle-class, consumerist, fashion-conscious community. The school uniform issue comes up every couple of years, and we have lots of parents who think uniforms would be great. The thing is, those parents are able to afford uniforms for school AND stylish clothes for non-school times. I am completely against having to buy two wardrobes for my kids. I am very frugal when it comes to clothes, and my kids are unconcerned about fashion. We don't have a lot of clothes and we wear the same ones for school and play.

I fight against uniforms every time it comes up, because it would cost our family more money for clothing and it teaches children that adults want them to all be the same.