Uniform - "To Be or Not to Be"

Increasingly, year by year since have become a headmistress I have come to doubt the value of a school uniform and to question if it really does what we think it does. My doubts have been caused by:-

• Each year a greater reluctance on the part of a large section of the girls to wear it well (in spite of appeals to pride, school spirit and a straight out punishment - this latter after school hours is almost impossible to enforce so it is, for a large part of the time, ineffective.)


• the constant pressure to introduce options and when these are conceded a consequent stretching of the inch to an ell - and which addition makes it very difficult for the form teachers to even remember what is and is not "legal".


• What, we feel, is a lack of real support from many parents (though they pay "lip service" to the concept of uniforms). This is shown in the frequent infringements which must have tacit parental approval, eg -
  
  • non-uniform coloured cardigans
  
  
  • non-uniform gaudy scarves
  
  
  • the constant wearing of jewellry (a never ending battle for us.)
  
  
  • hair let out the moment the school gate is passed.
  
  
  • painted flowers/spots/shapes on shoes.
  
  
  • wrongly coloured shoes
  
  
  • jandals worn on the flimsiest excuses, or with no excuse at all
  
  
  • coloured skivvies showing under open necked blouses
  
  
  • skirts worn indecently (I choose the word with care) short, though they have enormous hems
  
  
  • uniforms worn far too tight (indicating a parental lack of pride in their daughter's appearance)
  
  
  • uniforms frayed and torn though a darn or patch would make them neat
  
  
  • knee socks worn rolled down
  
  
  • rain coats all the colours of Joseph's coat
  
  
  • hands wrapped in the front of a jersey (this year's craze - I leave you to imagine what it looks like - and what it does to the jersey).


• the burden of enforcement (because I do believe while we have a uniform it should be worn correctly - if we condone unauthorized variations we are accepting an erosion of school discipline) falls on a decreasing group of very conscientious teachers because a number of others either honestly do not see the infringements or feel their time is better spent on other things than nagging over "petty details", - and individually they are petty though they do not appear so, when seen day after day.

• The creation of an atmosphere of friction in many classes, especially in some difficult junior classes where the teachers feel the above mentioned "nagging" breaks down the atmosphere of co-operation and understanding they are trying to build up. this is also an area which affects young teachers who, very understandably, feel it is more important to get a class working than have a confrontation with a girl over a uniform matter. Many teachers also feel we are now trying to enforce uniform more by a "fear of the consequences" than by the far more desirable willing acceptance of the rules by the students themselves
  Even the co-operative section of the school gets sick and tired of the constant reminders at form meetings and assemblies on something which does not concern them


• I do not feel that uniform, as such, nowadays contributes to "school spirit" and an admiration of what school stands for


• A LAW WHICH CANNOT BE ENFORCED IS A BAD LAW - this is one we are feeling is more and more difficult to police. I should like to take the initiative in the matter than be forced ultimately to have to give way, from a position of weakness.


• Another problem is that of supply. With the best will in the world retailers are constantly running short of supplies or of the right sizes. this is especially acute a the beginning of each year - so the school gets off to a bad start.


• There is dubious argument that uniforms are cheaper. (I say dubious because opinion seems to be divided on this - see Appendix A. Consumer Institute is working on an article in this field. I shall try to get some information from them - I do know they recommended Fairfield College for their "impressive good sense" for announcing the abolition of uniform in 1977). Even if uniforms are cheaper is cheapness a valid educational argument?

These are all negative arguments. I should now like to advance some of the positive aspects of the dispute.

• Abolition of uniform leads to a weakening of discipline? - to me discipline is a matter of standards of study, standards of behaviour in relation to others in the school community and an inculation of self-respect, a development of concern for others and a consequent self-discipline. These can, and should be, developed regardless of anyone's outer covering, and may in some cases be easier to instil without a uniform.

• Standards of neatness, tidiness and cleanliness - these could well be accepted more readily if the girls were allowed some choice in how they are to be neat and tidy


• We should give some training in appropriatness of dressing to suit the occassion - even to running courses in grooming etc. Uniform is, I feel, of very little value in this field. I think we should still undertake training in dress, but do it in a different way.


• Abolition of uniform should lead to a lessening of tension and hostility in a section of the school. You may feel this should not exist but it does - and it is a significant section.


• It should allow teachers to spend their time in more worthwhile "character training" activities, even if it is just a class discussion on a current issue than a uniform check. Certainly it would mean a lessening of the burden on the teachers I have already mentioned, who still try to carry out these obligations at all times.


• I am prepared to support any rule I can justify to the school - for example unkindness, a slack attitude to work, rudeness, disruptive behaviour, smoking - even running in the school grounds, because I can produce a reason for the rule. For uniform infringements I find myself falling back more and more on the argument "your parents signed a promise when you enrolled" - that is "Obey, because it is a rule." If a girl challenges me and says "If what I wear is neat and clean is it wrong?" I find this difficult to refute.


• One staff member has pointed out we put girls into uniform for 4 of the most formative years of their life and the great majority, unless they go into certain specialized professions will never wear it again. We allow girls to leave school at 15 and wear what they choose - at 16+ they can go to a tertiary institution with no dress regulations at all. Should we not be training them to cope with such situations before they leave us?


• A group of staff visited Green Bay High School. I am appending their report. They were impressed by the happy spirit of the school and while conceding this was due to the total philosophy underlying the running of the school they felt the lack of uniform conflict was a contributing factor. Onslow College, an established school made the transition against the wishes of the head - he now feels it has been a success.

• Make a decision "from above" as the Board's prerogative - in fact I feel this is the only way changes can be made since inevitably most parents will support in theory the status quo.


• Complete abolition from a set date that will give parents and retailers fair warning - this will lead to problems in the school in the intervening period but we could probably live with these.


• Phase uniform out (allowing it to be option as we always have done in the past with any uniform change.)


• Any others?
  If a need for identification is felt for "formal occassions" when girls are officially representing the school, it should be easy to acquire a supply of basic uniforms (skirt, blouse, jacket or pullover) which can be lent or hired for that occassion.

Summary
If the school looks "well turned out" (a) it is chiefly in the morning and if they are not examined closely as individuals, (b) it is done at the cost of an even increasing vigilence of a group of teachers who are getting very tired of the job (c) If the board insists on a continuance of a uniform it should be simplified and would they consider giving us (we would carry out their orders as loyally as we can) much greater powers against uniform offenders and support us in the consequent parental reaction (i) refuse to have a girl at school incorrectly dressed? (ii) resist any future requests for change from the students?

It is a question which I feel involves our whole philosophy of which we are trying to do in our school and I personally would rather put the effort I and the staff now put into being policemen over uniform into trying to instil standards of self-discipline in all areas of human behaviour and I know a majority of the staff support me in this.