Since the school year has either started or will start soon for all the kids in the US, let’s look at school uniforms. It is a subject that until I listened to the Articles of Interest podcast on the topic, I wasn’t aware of their history or how it was an economic issue other than the cost of them.
Link to the podcast: https://www.articlesofinterest.co/podcast/episode/2f4ec707/school-uniforms
Link to supplemental text and video material: Episode: School Uniforms - Articles Of Interest
I went to Catholic parochial schools. Uniforms were mandatory. It helped minimize the obviousness of who had money and who didn’t, and certainly played into the Catholics’ desire to make us all conform. Strict haircut rules, no hats. Individualism was strongly discouraged…
According to the podcast, Catholic schools were the second group of schools to adopt uniforms. The first were the BIA Indian boarding schools.
Yep. Minimize. But deep down, ALL the kids knew who had money and who didn’t. Kids can sense almost anything, it’s an astounding phenomenon.
As the parent of a girl who went to school that required they wear uniforms throughout high school, I can easily say that you shouldn’t knock it until you’ve tried it. We paid less than $150 for all of her uniforms (used) at the beginning of freshman year and resold them for about $100 at the end of senior year. Not sure what they were made of ….I’m thinking of some Kevlar titanium blend…but pretty much indestructible and she’s a typical teenager…rough on clothes. Graduated with honors, pride intact, self confident and on to the next chapter.
Yes, the kids know who has the money…. And they always will. Doesn’t mean that uniforms are a bad idea. I’d 100% go that way again.
M
Oh, uniforms are a great idea! My kids wore uniforms at some of their schools for a number of years. MUCH easier every morning - no big decisions, just get dressed in a clean pair of uniform pants/shorts/skirt and uniform polo shirt and approved shoes.
Plus kids are easily recognized as students of the school. And can easily identify each other. Easier to identify strangers.
Unless…the stranger is wearing a uniform.
The strangers to be wary of are usually adults. And the adults do not wear uniforms.