r/unpopularopinion • u/Oldass_Millennial • 1d ago
We should mandate school uniforms
[removed] — view removed post
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u/MyNameIsRay 1d ago
I went to school with uniforms, the same kind of bullying happened.
Shoes, backpacks, watches, jewelry, cell phones, game systems, what car your parents pick you up in, what's in your lunchbox, there's still tons of signs of wealth even in a uniform.
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u/Express_Buffalo7118 1d ago
Even the brands of your white polo and black slacks can be bullying material
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u/MyNameIsRay 1d ago
Gym class was one of the most obvious, some kids showed up with Foamposits for basketball day, cleats for soccer day, asics for track day, etc. Other kids had their pair of sneakers from Payless, that they also wore at home.
But jeeze, even the band instruments. Rentals had a tag on the case and everyone knew you couldn't afford to buy one. Even if you buy one, there's tiers to it, some gradeschoolers had like $3000 flutes.
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u/AzSumTuk6891 1d ago
Yeah, this.
I'm a Bulgarian and I'm not going to claim that my experience is universal, but... Uniforms were not mandatory when I was in school and, tbh, as far as I'm aware, no one was ever mocked for not wearing name brand clothing - even the rich kids in my school didn't wear name brand stuff.
That being said, even if you wear the same clothes as your classmates, if you're from a poor family, everyone will find that out very soon. Kids will see if your phone is cheap or if you don't even have a phone, they will see that you avoid spending money on buying stuff from the cafeteria, they will notice how you never go to the film theater after school with your friends... They will see that you and your parents don't have money to spend.
And also - many schools in my country have started making uniforms mandatory. The problem - a full uniform costs more than a prom suit. If your parents know how to shop, they can dress you well for little money, but there is no way to save money with a mandatory uniform. If you're a from a poor family, should you be forced to pay out of pocket for expensive clothing? No.
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u/HotDonnaC 1d ago
I told my son to buy khakis and navy blue polos on Amazon. He said they have to be from a particular shop that adds the school logo. It’s a total racket.
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u/ToxxicGlitter 1d ago
Uniforms increase the floor for the price of your outfit. The uniform is never a white t shirt and sweatpants. It's a $40-60 shirt and pants. Which means who is wearing hand me downs is very visible.
Moreover, uniforms don't stop bullying. They encourage it. If that kid makes fun of you because your clothes don't fit, well why are you out of uniform. Now, both children and adults are actively encouraged to point out if your physical appearance does not meet an arbitrary and often expensive standard
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u/MetalGuy_J 1d ago
Even the suburb you live in can be fodder for bullies at private schools. Eliminating the name of brand clothing from the equation, which doesn’t really happen even with a uniform anyway, doesn’t eliminate bullying.
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u/Wealth_Super 1d ago
Too add to that, bullies will find any reason to pick on someone. It’s not just about money, anyone different from the norm can be targeted
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u/trytrymyguy 1d ago
Nailed it, not to mention if you’re dirty/smelly which is also due to being poor. Kids would just come in wearing dirty uniforms and getting picked on the same.
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u/TheLilDritten 1d ago
Same here. Even without accessories, just the way you styled your uniform, how well it fit, whether you hiked up your skirt, your makeup, your hair, etc. Kids will find something.
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u/WierderBarley 1d ago
Hell being able to afford a uniform or having to get one second hand is a sign of wealth and could be a source of bullying
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u/Uhhyt231 1d ago
I’ve seen kids get bullied over clothes with uniforms😭 kids just pivot
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u/thee_LadySteed 1d ago
Came here to say I went to a uniformed school for 8yrs. Since they couldn't bully me for my clothes they had to pick apart my looks && personality. I agree uniforms might help but it's not an absolute fix.
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u/Uhhyt231 1d ago
I’ve seen people bullied for not getting new uniforms every year. Kids will find a way to
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u/thee_LadySteed 1d ago
So true. Boys would have growth spurts && not be able to get new uniform pants. The bullies called it flooding. Children will always find ways to be mean if they want
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u/SwimmingAir8274 1d ago
It stops being about uniforms and becomes about accessories
Kids will always find something and someone to make fun of
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u/Imaginary-Newt-354 1d ago
Personally, I'm pro uniforms at school for a range of reasons, but it's naive to think some bullies won't still find a way to bully people over them.
From what I've seen, I've seen bullies tease other students over the length of their skirt/dresses being too long, too short, too big, too tight. I've seen bullies tease girls who chose to wear pants over skirts, boys for wearing shorts over pants, and so on.
I remember when I went to school, one group harassing people over the length of their ties.
Bullies will find almost any lame excuse to pick on people.
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u/SineQuaNon001 1d ago
Endured uniforms. They suck. If it had choices? Multiple variants of shirts and pants to choose from? But that's getting too costly.
Buying clothes only for one environment is a waste and especially with how so many places force girls into skirts.
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u/AirshipLivesMatter 1d ago
Agreed choices are needed. My school had a uniform and only one pair of pants, same for both men and women. There is a reason men and women pants are generally cut different. I needed a ridiculously large size for the pants to fit my hips and bum and it looked terrible. I got in trouble for it too because it looked unkept. Sorry for having hips?
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u/Shigeko_Kageyama 1d ago
Why do they suck? Uniforms are great. You only need two sets of clothes. You always know what you're going to wear. And the skirts aren't that bad. You just wear shorts underneath like you would with any other skirt.
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u/SineQuaNon001 1d ago
They're rigid, uncomfortable, conformist, drab. I wore them off and on for 8 years of schooling. My sister for 12. Skirts are outdated as a mandatory clothing option. But old fashioned nonsense continues to demand them.
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u/Shigeko_Kageyama 1d ago
This is a weird way to see things. Conformist? Are you a 13 year old who just discovered hot topic? Come on now. It's something you wear during school hours. After that do whatever you want. Uniforms are great. You only need two sets of clothes, after that it's just home clothes which are a hell of a lot cheaper than maintaining a school wardrobe, and you don't have to think about what you're going to wear that day. It's very nice.
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u/SupaSaiyajin4 1d ago
i'm 28 and i shop at hot topic sometimes (mainly try to thrift their stuff on ebay). even before i shopped there i hated uniforms. there is nothing i hate more than being told what to wear for no reason other than conformity
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u/Shigeko_Kageyama 1d ago
Are you sure you're 28? Because by 28 you should have really grown out of this non-conformist stuff. And found out where the shift key is.
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u/SupaSaiyajin4 1d ago
why should i have grown out of it? seriously why does getting older mean i have to become boring? i grew into emo. what i'm "supposed to wear" at this age looks so boring. emo is fun and it feels right. old money aesthetic, suits, business attire just go against my personality. i wear what i want. if i don't like it i don't buy it. society's made up clothing rules are so stupid. innately i cannot blindly follow these stupid rules
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u/Shigeko_Kageyama 1d ago
It's just brain development. When you're a teenager your sense of self isn't strong, that's why they jump on bad so fast and are so loyal to one particular subgroup. When you grow up you realize that you are still you even if you're wearing a different kind of shirt. I am also an older email. I also wear other things and don't scream about conformity when I have to dress nice for something, or something I would like is not available in my size, or the way I would prefer to dress is inappropriate for the event or venue. If you think the rules are stupid, you lose your sense of self unless you're dressed in a particular way, and you can't understand social cohesion you just haven't reached that level yet. You're supposed to have grown out of it by 28. But I really don't think you're 28. It's the shift key that's giving you away.
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u/SupaSaiyajin4 1d ago
It's the shift key that's giving you away.
what does that have to do with anything? i type in all lowercase by choice. you're very judgemental over literally nothing
You're supposed to have grown out of it by 28.
again. why?
I also wear other things and don't scream about conformity when I have to dress nice for something,
i don't go to events where i have to dress nice. they're so boring that i'd leave in an hour
If you think the rules are stupid, you lose your sense of self unless you're dressed in a particular way
no you don't
you can't understand social cohesion you just haven't reached that level yet
what level? it just never made sense to me. it never will. "you have to put on a suit for this" why? actually why. don't just tell me "because that's how it's done" that never gets me to do anything. also if you want me to put on a suit i'm doing it my way and going full vampire goth, popping in fangs too
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u/Shigeko_Kageyama 1d ago
what does that have to do with anything? i type in all lowercase by choice. you're very judgemental over literally nothing
It's a trend for the young to not use the shift key. It's pretty obvious if you've been on the internet for more than a day.
again. why?
Because your sense of self should be strong enough by now that you understand that you are still yourself even if you're not in whatever your subculture says you should wear.
i don't go to events where i have to dress nice. they're so boring that i'd leave in an hour
If you really are 28 then yikes. You don't go to friends weddings? Family holiday gatherings? Dates where they don't ask you if you want fries with that?
what level? it just never made sense to me. it never will. "
It shows respect for others. Taking the effort to dress nicely shows that you can take another human being into consideration. Stopping your feet and pouting like a 2 year old shows that you're still very self-centered I don't understand why if you don't want to do something why should you? How dare another human being asked something of you, don't they understand that you are the super special person?
also if you want me to put on a suit i'm doing it my way and going full vampire goth, popping in fangs too
Things like this are probably why your parents change the subject when you come up.
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u/killerrobot23 1d ago
Assuming you are an adult I would hope that you have learned the world doesn't revolve around you but that doesn't seem to be the case.
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u/radmongo 1d ago
How insufferable can you be? You don't know this person.
Does farting in your wine glass not provide you with enough nourishment already?
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u/SineQuaNon001 1d ago
You can repeat the same post as much as you like, it doesn't change anything 😉
You ask people who've worn them, you're going to get 70% against it. And that's what should decide it. The people with experience.
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u/Shigeko_Kageyama 1d ago
I have experience. It was very nice. I think most of these are people freaking out at the idea of uniforms or people who have such a low sense of self that unless they are wearing a preferred outfit they don't feel right.
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u/WOLFMAN_SPA 1d ago
I choose freedom anytime thats an option.
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u/Ultraempoleon 1d ago
Nah freedom leads to problems in a school. Too much of a hassle
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u/WOLFMAN_SPA 1d ago edited 1d ago
Uniforms have shown little to no direct impact on improving academic performance. They can conflict with religious and cultural dress practices, and while they may reduce some types of peer pressure, they don’t eliminate bullying altogether. The initial cost of uniforms can also be burdensome for families, and poorly designed uniforms may be uncomfortable- negatively affecting a student’s ability to focus.
But perhaps the most significant concern is how uniforms stifle creativity and self-expression during a crucial stage of identity development. Clothing can be one of the few areas where students feel a sense of autonomy and individuality in a world where so much is beyond their control.
I attended a Blue Ribbon public school that consistently ranked among the top year after year. Our student body reflected a wide mix of socioeconomic backgrounds, races, religions, and cultures - and we did it without uniforms. Despite that, or perhaps it helped play a part in it, we achieved a 94% graduation rate and just a 0.7% dropout rate. We routinely outperformed nearby private schools. Uniforms weren’t necessary for success.
My family couldnt afford name brand shit either. Most of my clothes were hand me downs until I got a job at 16 and was able to buy new (cheap) clothes from target.
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u/Ultraempoleon 1d ago
Sure but none of that matters because uniforms make it so that the school has to deal way less with rules about outfits.
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u/WOLFMAN_SPA 1d ago
Is convenience for the institution worth the cost to student individuality and comfort?
Sure - schools may deal with fewer infractions related to clothing, but that’s treating the symptom, not the cause.
A strong school culture should teach students how to make thoughtful, respectful choices- not just remove the opportunity for choice altogether.
Also, students still push boundaries with uniforms - whether it's accessories, shoes, or how they wear the uniform- so discipline issues don’t vanish, they just shift.
Ultimately, the goal should be to foster responsible decision making, not just control it.
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u/singingballetbitch 1d ago
Eh. I went to school in England (uniforms are standard) and they were so strict with everything. I wear boots in the winter? Detention. I picked up my sister’s tie by mistake and she’s in a different house so it’s the wrong colour? Detention. I’ve had a growth spurt and my skirt is too far above my knee? Detention. I’m wearing the wrong colour hair tie? You guessed it, straight to detention.
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u/rSlashisthenewPewdes Grammar Hitler 1d ago
“Freedom for the people is too much of a hassle” is not the take I expected to see today
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u/CinderrUwU adhd kid 1d ago
Having to pay for uniforms is the only issue with them. I grew up in a town that was... on the lower end of the paygrade and there was only one shop fancy enough to even sell the uniform, and it cost ALOT more to get than just some basic casual clothes, and that's not even taking into account that kids grow and need new stuff every couple years.
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u/ThereAndFapAgain2 1d ago
Here in the UK where pretty much all schools have uniforms, if you buy them from the school they can cost an arm and a leg, but there is always a shop that pops up in every area selling them way cheaper.
It was called "ziggies" near us, the quality was slightly worse, but the colours were always a perfect match and he had all the different schools in the areas uniforms all with the correct school emblems etc.
I never had to get a uniform from there because my parents just got it from the school, don't even think they knew about Ziggies, but there wasn't a single time I noticed the difference between my uniform and the cheaper one a lot of the other kids were wearing just from looking at them.
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u/MadNomad666 1d ago
Yeah uniforms could be like $200 and we had to get them from a specific store as well.
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u/matthewpepperl 1d ago
Because is angers the students and would probably have alot of backlash that and probably opens them up to being sued for violating the constitution even if the suit failed it would be more trouble than its worth just my 2 cents
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u/CinderrUwU adhd kid 1d ago
The only reason it would be an issue is just because people would get annoyed about suddenly having to wear a uniform. If there was some magic button that says "Change to having a uniform as a full reset" then there would be no problem.
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 1d ago
In the US, public schools must provide parents an option to opt out
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u/itsfairadvantage 1d ago
This is not exactly true. It's generally the case that parents may request exemptions based on religious beliefs, and different states execute those exemptions differently.
But that's primarily with regard to dress code rules about hats and hoods to allow for religious headscarves, not to opt out of the school polo.
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 1d ago
You're thinking of vaccines. School uniform waiver has nothing to do with it
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u/itsfairadvantage 1d ago
You're thinking of vaccines
I'm not.
School uniform waiver has nothing to do with it
Nothing to do with what? I work at a public school in Texas that has no such waiver, and there are no laws mandating such a waiver. There is, however, a state law requiring schools to honor (in terms of disciplinary measures) parents' written requests for exemption from specific rules based on sincerely held religious beliefs.
Nobody ever sends those, though, because obviously no teacher (hopefully) is going around asking girls to take off their hijabs.
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 1d ago
We're talking about an actual uniform and not someone wearing a hijabs. Also, we're not talking about religious and/or private schools. Just public schools.
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u/itsfairadvantage 1d ago
We're talking about an actual uniform and not someone wearing a hijabs
I'm saying that the uniform & dress code usually prohibits hoods and hats, and that parents can send written exemption requests based on sincerely held religious beliefs.
Also, we're not talking about religious and/or private schools. Just public schools.
I have exclusively been talking about public schools.
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u/critter68 1d ago
If you think the uniforms are what stopped the bullying, you're stupid.
Bullies will bully about anything.
It wasn't the uniforms. It was how that school's faculty responded to bullying.
I moved a lot as a kid and went to a different school every year.
Every school had a different level of bullying and it was entirely because of how the faculty responded.
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u/ArtisticRiskNew1212 1d ago
Nah, some people enjoy fashion. Schools already stifle creativity enough
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u/RedditCantBanThis fishy 1d ago
Schools are too conformist, if anything we need more individuality and unique outfitting.
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u/Ultraempoleon 1d ago
That'd be nice but it causes too many problems at a school. It's easier this way
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u/Shigeko_Kageyama 1d ago
You're at school to learn, not put on a fashion show. Wear whatever you want after school.
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u/ThatDudeFromPoland 1d ago
You're at school to learn, not put on a fashion show
A mindset like this is what makes children hate school. Learning, while it is the most important, it is not the only thing kids do at school. They also socialise, meet friends, grow and develop. They spend a huge chunk of their formative years at school.
And, referung to OPs point - if kids are bullied, the school isn't doing enough anyway and uniforms are gonna be like a plaster on a broken leg
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u/Flemmo1317 1d ago
I think it's more about having a sense of individuality
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u/Shigeko_Kageyama 1d ago
If your sense of individuality is so fragile that wearing the same colored shirt as the person next to you destroys it you're not actually an individual.
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u/Flemmo1317 1d ago
Fashion is how a lot of people express themselves (especially younger people), it can be fun, and it's not hurting anyone. Forcing kids to wear the exact same uniform is boring as hell and doesn't really make sense unless it's military school or along those lines
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u/Shigeko_Kageyama 1d ago
Again, you're not there to express yourself. You're not there to put on a fashion show. Your sense of self should be built up, not made so fragile that wearing a non-preferred outfit will destroy it. And nobody should indulge that kind of fragility. Think about it, would you have still been yourself if they told you you had to wear loafers instead of gym shoes?
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u/Flemmo1317 1d ago
Oh my god it is really not that serious. You know you can wear what you want and still learn at the same time? No one should be forced to wear a uniform when it's just not necessary.
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u/Shigeko_Kageyama 1d ago
It's necessary so you can see at a glance who goes to the school, it cuts down on dress code violations, and it just makes the whole place nicer all around.
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u/Fevernovaa 1d ago
devil's advocate: we had uniforms and they were dogshit, they rarely fit and they were polyester or some weak chinesium fabric, no one was allowed to wear anything other than the provided uniform even if its the same (eg. black jeans)
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u/Express_Buffalo7118 1d ago
I have mobility issues and trying to alter new cheap ass white polos and black slacks to be usable sounds like a pain.
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u/am_i_the_throwaway 1d ago
People want freedom so bad; and then when they're given freedom, they want that freedom taken away
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u/Diesel07012012 1d ago
You paying for them, hoss?
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u/Elmindria 1d ago
In my country all schools have uniforms. Most public schools use a combination of a coloured polo shirt ($10 from a variety store) and black, grey or navy pants or shorts ($20 -$40 from a variety story).
Uniforms don't have to be fancy or anything expensive. They can be very basic.
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u/AzSumTuk6891 1d ago edited 1d ago
That's what your experience is. Here, in Bulgaria, if you happen to be in a school where uniforms are mandatory, you're out of luck - there are very few suppliers, and their prices are ridiculously inflated. Depending on the school's requirements, a school uniform here costs up to 350 euros. This is a lot, especially for a teenager who is very likely to outgrow it within a few months.
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u/Elmindria 1d ago
Private schools here have expensive uniforms, public schools do not. My point is school uniforms do not have to be expensive. They can be very basic and affordable. It is up to the school system to decide. So a blanket statement that uniforms are expensive may be true in countries where only rich private schools have uniforms but it isn't true about uniforms in general. A white polo and black slacks is pretty affordable, more so then buying fashionable clothes for your kids every few months
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u/RedditCantBanThis fishy 1d ago
Mandate is a word salad literally translating to "force people to do so-and-so against their will".
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u/wibbly-water 1d ago
This is a bizarrely American opinion...
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u/CopperGPT 1d ago
What? Most other countries have school uniforms, not America.
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u/Theonearmedbard 1d ago
Which would explain why an american thinks it would stop bullying when it doesn't at all
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u/PsychologicalMurl 1d ago
School uniforms in the US specifically seem so controlling and dystopian.
Also bullies will exist to be a nuisance for any reason. Hell the most bullying I experienced was the unstable ass teachers that nobody talks about lol.
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u/Loser_geek_whatever3 hermit human 1d ago
Uniforms are shit. Kids will be bullied for anything even nothing. I’d much rather be bullied in clothes I feel confident in than a shitty uniform. You shouldn’t be forced to conform to all look the same at the point in life when you’re figuring out who you are the most. Expression is extremely important especially for kids and forcing them to wear the same shitty outfit and all look the same is awful.
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u/MissNikitaDevan 1d ago
Children/teens should be able to dress in a style/fabric thats comfortable for them and allows them to express their individualism in colours/style /creativity etc
Uniforms wont help against bullying, the poor kids will have ill fitting/more threadbare uniforms etc
People want to turn schools too much into a job for children, as prep when they have adult jobs, we need to remember that these are children, they have a short time in their life where they can get to know and explore who they are before stupid shit like work related dress codes (but not safety related) are forced on them
Let children be children, thank fuck my school didnt have uniforms nor the absurdity of dress codes, no bullshit about shoulders distracting boys
Being pro uniform also makes no sense if you are an American with their attitude towards freedom
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u/Amy47101 1d ago
I mean, it's plain niave to think that everyone wearing the same thing won't cause bullies to find other reasons to pick on you. I went to a Catholic school too, and I was bullied relentlessly because the students and teachers thought I was a lesbian. I am not a lesbian, but that didn't matter to the good old Catholic church. No hate like Christian love, you know? The bullying was way worse there than the public school. At least at the public school, no one really cared to acknowledge me, irregardless of what I wore.
As for my opinion on uniforms... try being a girl, forced to wear an itchy, cheap white polo shirt whilst also wearing a bra. If your bra wasn't snow white or nude, you could see it through the shirt. The boys used to purposefully dump water on us because it was easy to see through the shirts. Also, in my experience, schools with uniforms are WAY stricter on girls appearances than boys. Off the top of my head, at my school;
- Girls were not allowed to wear makeup. If we were suspected of doing it, the teacher would stand us in front of the class and force us to wash off our faces with a Clorox wipe. Not fun if you have acne. I also got in trouble for this A LOT because I have naturally long eyelashes and the teachers thought I was wearing mascara.
- If our tights were "to sheer" we would get a dresscode violation.
- If we let our kneesocks bunch around our ankles, we would get a dresscode violation.
- There was a teacher who would measure the skirt length of the girls skirts when we walked into the classroom. If they were to short? Dresscode violation.
- If our hair was "unkempt", dress code violation. Seriously, try being a girl with naturally frizzy hair, I got dresscoded every time it rained.
- Anything outside of black hair ties or "uniform compliant scrunchies"(as in, scrunchies they sold at the shop that sold our uniforms that EXACTLY MATCHED the plaid pattern on our skirts) were forbidden.
So you see, a lot of these issues are girl-specific. Boys never got dresscoded to the same degree as us girls.
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u/SupaSaiyajin4 1d ago
that sounds unfair
If we let our kneesocks bunch around our ankles, we would get a dresscode violation.
they seriously gave dress code violations for that?
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u/AcademicMessage99 1d ago
You can still be picked on in school regardless of uniforms but I agree. We should have had them and still have them and I mean school mandated issued ones tailored for the students body but still something you can’t just causally buy. It creates less bullying based on clothing style and choice due to income. If we eliminated that part there would be less incentive to bully based on clothing style but it would still not eliminate bullying.
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u/Appropriate-Let-283 1d ago edited 1d ago
Uniforms only make sense for it to be easy to point at who is a worker at a place. School doesn't have that problem. Schools would need to take in consideration a lot of things. What if I don't want that color? What if I don't like sweats, shorts, short sleeved shirt, or a long sleeved shirt, or short sleeved shirt? What if I wanna wear a hood? What if I don't like the material?
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u/FastGoon 1d ago
I don’t think a school would give a shit if you didn’t like the color of the uniform, or honestly anything else you said
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u/Appropriate-Let-283 1d ago
Which is why school uniforms are bullshit. You aren't working there. You're learning there. It's not the type of thing you need a uniform for. Let schools have freedom and creativity. Not everyone has the same tastes.
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u/Shigeko_Kageyama 1d ago
What if I don't want that color? What if I don't like sweats, shorts, short sleeved shirt, or a long sleeved shirt, or short sleeved shirt? What if I wanna wear a hood? What if I don't like the material?
Why would they have to take any of that into consideration? Here's the uniform. Put it on your body. Take it off when you get home. Uniforms make sense so you can see at a glance who belongs at that school. They keep dress code issues down too and honestly, it's just nice. You only need two sets of clothes and you know what you're going to wear every single day.
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u/SupaSaiyajin4 1d ago
i have issues with a lot of fabrics
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u/Shigeko_Kageyama 1d ago
Real issues or you just don't like them? Because if you have documents and medical issues it would be your parents' job to work with the school find an acceptable alternative to the uniform.
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u/SupaSaiyajin4 1d ago
itchy, constricting, hot(i should not be sweating)... all the issues are sensory. if it's overstimulating i don't wear it
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u/Shigeko_Kageyama 1d ago
So if you have documents and issues why aren't your parents on it? Why don't you have an IEP or 504 plan? Sounds more like lazy parenting than anything else.
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u/Horror_Vegetable_732 1d ago
School uniforms shouldn't be mandated. Kids should be able to express themselves through their clothes. Schools do enough damage trying to make all these kids think the same. They don't have to look the same. Regardless of their clothes, the children are going to know who's family has money and who's doesn't, so why infringe on their right to expression to unsuccessfully curb the issue?
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u/Colseldra 1d ago
I never wore name brand stuff even though my parents would probably of bought me it if I wanted
I just watched rated R comedies and stand up as a kid and could make everyone laugh at the person making fun of me
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u/tnscatterbrain 1d ago
I get the theory, but uniforms can be expensive, depending on the school requirements.
That means that some parents have to buy second hand and hand me down uniforms, or the buy cheaper versions.
I’ve known kids over the years who’ve worn uniforms, the students who are going to tease kids wearing cheaper clothes still do it. Worn uniforms are a little harder to spot than Walmart tshirts, but still make a kid a target. Then there are shoes, bags, and all the other status symbols.
Uniforms don’t solve the problem, unfortunately.
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u/Express_Buffalo7118 1d ago
Uniforms are such a pain, you need to have at home clothes and school clothes, at a glance everyone knows what school you go to, it’s just annoying.
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u/MelbsGal 1d ago
Most kids in Australia wear a school uniform. I don’t know that it works as well as you think. If you can’t afford name brand stuff, you should see how expensive school uniforms can be.
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u/itsfairadvantage 1d ago
As a teacher, I am 100% comfortable with permanently failing to do the uniform enforcement part of my job.
Uniforms are (mostly) fine, but fussing about students' sartorial choices is not worthy of a professional educator's time.
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u/Bawhoppen 1d ago
And every decision comes with consequences. This teaches children from a young age they are less important as individuals and more as members of a unit. It violates teaching a spirit of independence, of self-expression, key features of our ethos in America of building strong individuals. Additionally, it also counters cultivating our principles of freedom.
So yes, it's a shame there is bullying. But any tradeoff is absolutely not worth it. (Though even then I suspect they'll just find a different way to bully, so I doubt this ultimately solves it.)
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u/kilroy-was-here-2543 1d ago
In my middle school and high school nobody seemed to care. We had some of the poorest kids in the area in class with kids from some of the richest families around
Sure maybe people getting picked on for dressing strange, or wearing knock off tennis shoes, but no outright bullying
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u/ddbbaarrtt 1d ago
Welcome to the rest of the world
But here’s an uncomfortable fact for you: bullies don’t stop being bullies because you take away some of their ammunition. They’ll pick on you because they’re assholes
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u/Carlpanzram1916 1d ago
It’s very strange to me that people think bullying doesn’t occur just because everyone’s wearing the same clothes.
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u/Lacey_The_Doll 1d ago
I went to school in Australia, we have mandatory uniforms, I can personally tell you that bullying based on appearance is still an issue regardless of how strict the school uniform rules are. There are several factors that can cause bullying outside of clothing:
- Socks and Shoes.
- Bags that you are using.
- The hairstyle you choose (that's if you are allowed to choose the hairstyle you have.)
- Your natural skin.
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u/Cloud_N0ne 1d ago
“I was bullied, therefore everyone should be stripped of their individuality and personal choice”
Really, dude?
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u/ninospizza 1d ago
I agree with this solely because just think it would lead to me not having to buy so much clothing for my kids and that sounds nice financially
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u/General_Ad80 1d ago
you already know that’s not gonna work in USA. we got too many cultures and not even an official language.
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u/RollingGirl_ 1d ago
School uniforms are terrible for kids with sensory issues or skin conditions. My school required a certain brand and a certain material which gave me a terrible rash every single day, and I got bullied over it.
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u/LoqitaGeneral1990 1d ago
My ex boyfriend was a middle school teacher at a charter school that went from uniforms to no uniforms. It sounds like hell. One thing I never thought about was he told me he was never going to enforce the dress code for young girls because he didn’t feel comfortable making comments about their bodies. And he made the same point you are, that poor kids get teased. I’m 100% with you OP
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u/BillyBainesInc 1d ago
Then we would have to tolerate the douche whose life got flipped….turned upside down….that wears the jacket inside out to be original
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 1d ago
Public schools must provide a waiver for parents if they want to chose that option
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u/Whole_Horse_2208 1d ago
If schools would take more pride in their uniforms. Instead we've got kids running around where I live in ugly polyester collared shirts and equally ugly khaki pants or skirts. These uniforms do not look nice.
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u/cryingstlfan 1d ago
The high school up the road from me (that all my nieces and nephews attended) did have a semi uniform policy for a while. Students had to wear collared shirts that were school colors, khakis, and shirts had to be affiliated to school (i.e. school name or school team). This is a public school too.
Now, when I was in high school, we were not allowed to wear holey jeans. My sophomore year, students decided to have a holey jean "war" and protested it...that was 20 years ago. Anyway, now students are free to wear holey jeans! I really find holey jeans tacky nowadays.
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u/Cantstopmedreams 1d ago
I don't think they should mandated as much as I think we should try to teach these kids that harassing/bullying someone because they don't have name brand clothes is unacceptable
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u/brnnbdy 1d ago
I had 1 pair of pants and 2 Tshirts one year. And found an old bra of my mom's in an old bag downstairs that was too small for me, but was all I had. I would have loved to have school uniforms. I washed my pants every 2 days. Usually wearing wet pants to school because I didn't get them in the dryer in time. If I could have had even 2 sets of uniform, that would have made so much difference for me.
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u/Marxism_and_cookies 1d ago
I’m in theory pro-uniform, but a bunch of things would have to change culturally tho. They should have the goal of building a collective identity and community, but in a highly individualistic society they are incredibly difficult to implement.
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u/No-Understanding-912 1d ago
Right now, I think it's going to be hard to mandate reading, let alone uniforms. Actually, they might go for uniforms as forced conformity.
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u/GnomesStoleMyMeds adhd kid 1d ago
I went to a school where the only uniforms were in gym. And I preferred it that way. As a teenage girl I was not comfortable with my body. I felt really self conscience about the clothes I worn. I also have ASD which comes with sensory issues.
Dress pants with a belt and tucked in polo would have smashed my self esteem’s. Collared shirts are a sensory nightmare for me. My stims included sitting cross legged on the floor while doing work so a skirt would have been wildly inappropriate.
I’m not opposed to a strict dress code (etc. only solid colours, only specific colours, no labels or prints, no sweat pants etc…? But making a strict uniform dress code can create a lot of problems for some kids, particularly teens.
And in children, well. Kids get messy. It’s what they do. The slide across grass, step in mud, drop yogurt on thier clothes, get paint everywhere during art class. And kids are active! At recess there are kids on the swings, monkey bars, slides, running, climbing trees. Little girls can’t take part in a lot of that with skirts or jumpers on. All kids will get stains and tears and uniforms are expensive. Strict uniforms for young children just isn’t practical.
Poor kids will always have something that makes them stand out to kids whose families are better off. Even with a uniform, do they have the expensive socks? do the girls have the super popular barrette? Do the poor kids only have one maybe two complete uniforms with no extras like sweaters and belts? Do their shoes come from Walmart? Is there backpack old or damaged or cheap? There is no way around it. Kids have a way of finding something to judge.
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u/knuckboy 1d ago
I couldn't afford trendy or nice clothes but that was another age. Apparently it's worse now, though my kids don't have or get 8nto particular clothing.
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u/TheSnarFe 1d ago
I liked expressing myself with clothing during high school. But there were times I wish we had uniforms because they are just so sleek, clean, and professional looking.
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u/Idle_Redditing 1d ago edited 1d ago
The way that schools are structured is the real problem.
John Taylor Gatto wrote a few great books about it.
edit. Producing people with well-educated minds is not the real goal.
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u/zoomoovoodoo 1d ago
Thinking back, if I had to wear my own clothes to school I would've been absolutely horrified. I got bullied anyway but I guess the uniforms did help a little bit
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u/SteveArnoldHorshak 1d ago
I agree with you 100%. I have always felt this way. It would be such a wonderful equalizer.
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u/electric_mindset 1d ago
Ya if uniforms were not skirts for girls. I see them now and keeps getting higher and higher
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u/Familiar_Invite_8144 1d ago
Attempting to suppress human nature (by removing offending objects of apparel) won’t address the problem. Your comfort in dressing in a uniform is the same as the comfort you would take in adopting the popular fashion of your peers. The common factor is both options deprive you of individuality.
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u/MyFaceSaysItsSugar 1d ago
Correlation doesn’t equal causation. I went from a public school being heavily bullied to a private school with no uniforms and the bullying stopped. Kids who are going to bully will pick whatever they want to make fun of. They will find something even if everyone is in uniform. They’re looking for the children who get upset when they’re bullied. They want a reaction. You switched to a school where parents were likely parenting better and that means less behavioral issues and bullying.
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u/jeseniathesquirrel 1d ago
Middle school with uniforms, still got bullied. Also at one point they banned boots. 2006-2007ish. All the girls had boots, apparently it was a competition, so they just banned boots.
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u/Angelpaca-Devillama 1d ago
My school uniform is way more expensive than just regular clothes, gives me eczema, and triggers my sensory issues so I gotta disagree here…
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u/Psychlonuclear 1d ago
In Australia the schools monopolize where you can buy the uniform from and parents pay way too much. You can't win.
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u/MotherofaPickle 1d ago
I loved uniforms in high school. I never had to think about what I was going to wear that day, unless it was cold and then I wore my sweater on top of my uniform.
I even was picked on because I wore a white shirt every day. I didn’t care. It was all I had and all I wanted. That was the time I started losing all of my fucks. Now I have none.
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u/AltForBeingIncognito quiet person 1d ago
The problem is that it's quite literally unconstitutional, see freedom of expression
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u/neonjewel 1d ago
I wholeheartedly agree. Sometimes school dress codes are ridiculously strict. If everyone just has to wear the same thing a lot of drama is eliminated
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u/PopulationMe 1d ago
Our public schools had that for a while. It was basic khakis with red, white, or blue short sleeve polo shirts. All were basic and could easily be found at thrift stores. It also made dressing quicker in the mornings.
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u/Newt5137 1d ago
School Uniforms in the UK are mostly a good thing for the reasons OP listed, but recently, schools have been making them outrageously expensive for the terrible quality they make them with.
£60+ for a crappy blazer that the kid will grow out of in less than a year. don't even get me started on the school-branded PE kits that change every year, and the kid gets in trouble if their kit isn't up to date.
it's like the reason for having a uniform in the first place is negated by the schools themselves placing ridiculous price tags on their own shitty merch
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u/TheBrasilianCapybara 1d ago
I find the concept of not wearing a uniform strange. At least here in Brazil, it is mandatory, mainly for safety reasons. For example, if a child is injured, faints or something on the street, if you recognize their uniform, you can go to the specific educational institution to pick up their parents, for example. Furthermore, in the case of high school, it is unlikely that a crazy person will invade the school because it is necessary to have a uniform from that institution to do that.
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u/AozoraMiyako 1d ago
When I was in highschool, we had this girl who would be scantely clad on purpose to, who according to literally every student, would do this so she could sleep with teachers.
She was sent home to change daily.
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u/hellfire6661313 1d ago
This can put undo stress on the parents by adding a new expense. We all know these programs don't help everybody. I had no uniform, and there was no bullying because of clothes at my school. Perhaps I am limited in my experience. Book "RENTAL" costs enough.
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u/wizzard419 1d ago
Pre-2000's it might have worked, but the reality is that unless all personal items are removed, everyone wears the exact same uniform, from the same vendor, and discussion of life outside of school is banned, they will still know who has less money.
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u/Ultraempoleon 1d ago
I'm for it in the sense that it covers the schools ass really easily. Don't have to deal with as much variance and stuff.
But there's also the problem of having to buy the uniform that's pretty bad
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u/Alway5BCl051ng 1d ago
Our local charter school requires uniforms but they all have to be purchased from a particular prestige brand. You’re not allowed to wear any other brand even if it’s the uniform colors they’ve chosen. The cost of these uniforms would be a financial hardship for some.
And, as one commenter said, bullying and displays of wealth can happen even if you’re all wearing the same school uniform.
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u/Space19723103 1d ago
why stop at school everyone should wear a uniform alll the time, and goose-step everywhere..
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u/BuildNuyTheUrbanGuy 1d ago
In my school, we had uniforms, and the kids who were poor were obvious.
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u/infinite_five 1d ago
No. Absolutely not.
I’m sorry you got bullied. I was, too. But that doesn’t mean you should get to take other people’s choices away. I remember feeling suffocated as a teenager, like people were actively smothering me. My way of dressing—and people now who are the age I was then would absolutely call it cringe, and to be honest it was weird even in 2010–made me feel unique in a time when I desperately needed that. It gave me purpose and a sense of joy when I was getting very little elsewhere. I needed to express myself through clothing, and I’m not sure I’d have made it out of high school if I hadn’t been able to at least have that. So… no. I’m not gonna agree with something that would have actively harmed me.
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u/Empty_Curve_1821 1d ago
My mom hated uniforms. Just an extra set of clothes for me to dirty every day. I played sports hard as a kid. They were so dirty every day
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u/Miracle_wrkr 1d ago
After I bought a black leather motor motorcycle jacket - and start listening to some kick ass music- I didn't have to worry about that shit
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u/chipface 1d ago
School uniforms do nothing more than to prop up monopolies. And it's an added expense to families. Sure, you can go and get pants that look like the uniform pants for half the price at Walmart, like one dude I knew did. But don't get caught. Otherwise the school will freak the fuck out. Like what happened to the dude I just mentioned.
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u/MouseJiggler 1d ago
I went to school in the soviet union (yes, I'm old). Never, ever I will send my kids to a place that suppresses individuality in the name of performative appearance of "equality". Fuck that collectivist hivemind thinking.
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u/PretendAccount69 1d ago
this is such a naive take because bullies will always find a way to bully you.
I went to a private school with mandatory uniforms. while the school didn't require it, they "highly recommend" one specific school uniform brand. this brand is well-known enough that once you walk into their warehouse, all you need to do it tell them your school and the sale rep will pull out a reference sheet for your school and take you shopping for the items. they will even sew on your school's emblem/patch for an added fee.
but since they aren't technically required, we are free to wear whatever brand we want as long as it aligns with the rules of the student handbook. so anyone who didn't wear that brand stood out like a sore thumb. and you guessed it. those people got bullied.
People also got bullied for the snacks they brought, the lunches they brought if they didn't eat school lunch, their dress/sports shoes, their cell phone (slide, flip, or smartphone mattered), their backpack/gym bag, even the color of the notebooks they used in class.
in fact, I think bullying in private school is worse because they tend to try to cover it up. so, no. mandating school uniforms isn't going to shit about bullying.
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u/ForeignSleet 1d ago
Kids still get bullied in schools with uniforms, the bullies will just pick something else to bully you about
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u/umokaygotit 1d ago
I agree that even in public school there should be a strict uniform policy down to the number of accessories. I feel that the children will be less distracted and insecure.
But, uniform or no uniform, a bully will always be a bully.
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u/SupaSaiyajin4 1d ago
i guarantee that a uniform would've made me more distracted
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u/umokaygotit 1d ago
How so?
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u/SupaSaiyajin4 1d ago
they're uncomfortable. if my shirt touches my neck i pull on the collar till it doesn't. i also try to rearrange and recrease the collar with my hands. put me in loafers and they'll be on and off constantly. a tie would just fully come off. pretty much i'd put more focus into trying to stretch everything out than schoolwork
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u/Majsharan 1d ago
Agreed, it also has been shown to improve outcomes with the theory being you are preparing your kind/psyke for school and learning more by putting on a uniform
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u/itsfairadvantage 1d ago
There are at least as many studies finding no correlation or a negative correlation as there are showing a positive correlation. It's definitely a significant overstatement to suggest that any kind of clear causative link has been conclusively demonstrated.
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