With my youngest child – and only girl – set for Junior Infants in September, I’m practically giddy at the thought of purchasing a pinafore.
Sad, I know, but the thoughts of finally getting to dress Her Ladyship in her little socks, skirt, and cardigan, is highly appealing to me despite the fact that her school contravenes my feminist stance that gender-neutral uniform options (i.e. trousers for girls) should be available. But I must confess, after buying nothing but school trousers over the last number of years for her brothers, I wouldn’t be in any sort of rush to dress her in a similar fashion – even if it was a possibility.
Trouser equality or no, I am a big fan of the school uniform and will remain a defender of the dress code, in the face of those who claim grey garb is an attempt on individual freedom. My children can wear whatever they want and free-think all they like, once they’ve gotten themselves into college and stopped ripping the arse and knees out of their trousers.
Mornings are stressful enough without my various children having to stand in front of their wardrobes every morning, having a lengthy think about what clothes or style they would like to devote themselves to that day. And it’s not just parents’ time that is wasted when there is no compulsory school uniform; precious teaching time can be taken up by policing inappropriate clothing and footwear.
Yes, uniforms can be sexist, expensive, and difficult to source, but they also eradicate branded social pressure, bullying, and promote discipline. The simple act of putting on a uniform each morning teaches kids that they must abide by the rules, just like they will have to in the grownup world.
We live in an age where financial and social pressure to be on-trend is rife, even amongst very young children. Although the idea of allowing kids to carve out their individuality through clothing choices does appeal to my liberal sensibilities, the reality is that many children will choose to wear branded clothing or the latest must-have fashion item, something not all parents can afford.
Why make our young learners stand out from their peers unnecessarily? School uniforms nullify a lot of potential harassment and emotional stress. When children go to school in uniform, they are all the same. This can have a negative impact on children’s concepts of themselves but, as a parent, my preference is that each child is valued for their contribution as a person, and not for what they are (or are not) wearing.
