On 6 Feb 2014 at 4:36pm Priory parent wrote:
Someone else - thank you for the sense you talk in the previous thread.
I know a lot of parents like uniform because of the levelling effect and the idea that no one is shown to be richer/poorer than anyone else. But to assert (as LB&B) that it teaches kids anything other than conformity is a load of bollix. When these teenagers start their working careers, they will quite easily adapt to wearing suits , smart clothes or uniforms as required by their employers without having to have worn uniform at school. Or are our children thicker than those in other countries and need to be taught how to dress as well ?
I too wear jeans to work at a global very successful company in the city. It doesn't affect my ability to do my job (very well), and get paid well for it too.
On 6 Feb 2014 at 5:07pm lewes born and bred wrote:
Ok priory parent, my child has worked hard at school and achieved good gcse grades enabling her to get into college. She's chosen a career that requires a strict dress code and a company uniform. Would you suggest she turns up in jeans and crop top ?
On 6 Feb 2014 at 5:43pm lewes resident wrote:
Aren't we missing the point of uniform?it's to do with discipline, children you take pride in wearing a uniform that represents your school. shoddy uniform shows lack of respect for your school.
On 6 Feb 2014 at 5:48pm lewes born and bred wrote:
Totally Lewes resident but not only for your school but, in the future, for the company you work for
On 6 Feb 2014 at 5:57pm Clifford wrote:
Sometimes I don't know whether to laugh or cry at the stuff that people post on here.
On 6 Feb 2014 at 6:28pm lewes born and bred wrote:
Oh i wondered how long it would be before you'd pipe up 
On 6 Feb 2014 at 7:21pm Country Boy wrote:
You are bang on there Clifford. It happens to me every time you post.
On 6 Feb 2014 at 7:23pm Alice Cooper wrote:
Surely this subject has been debated enough?
Schools Out!
On 6 Feb 2014 at 7:46pm bastian wrote:
if we are going to bring this dbate close to leveling you will ahve to understand that it is mostly the middle class cool club girls who have laddered tights, it's a fashion statement and the whole idea of a uniform is supossed to level out fashion so that youngsters can concentrate on their education rather than the vacuous obsession with "How you Look". Girls are particularly subject to this. I'm sure it would be better for your daughter to just put on a new pair, throw the old ones away and for you to explain why women have had to fight so hard to get anywhere in this world and that by conforming to school based fashion she is letting her sex down.
Rant over, I wouldn't like my daughter to be having to think about how cool she looked rather than getting her work done so she can get a job that gives her the stability that I would expect of any son.
On 6 Feb 2014 at 8:30pm Boris wrote:
Thank God for Steiner education.
We don't have any of these petty problems.
On 6 Feb 2014 at 8:46pm teacher wrote:
lewes resident you are so right. Of course its to do with discipline, mind you it would not be a bad idea if the teachers were made to wear a uniform as well. The idea is to put everyone on a level pegging. Can you imagine the children from poorer families having to sit with some of the children wearing designer gear etc. I can just see our troops parading in jeans and t shirts. I went to a technical school in brighton sixty years ago and uniforms were a must. I can remember my Mother picking me out a uniform in a thick serge because it was cheaper than the thinner smarter one. At school I still felt inferior to the boys wearing the more expensive one, so yes uniforms should be a must but lets make them all the same quality.
On 7 Feb 2014 at 12:49am Ukip Jim wrote:
Well said teacher. And people like you and me accepted our social status in school, which is what made you (an inferior student) good employee material, and made me a 'natural' employer. You can't argue with natural selection.
Students today lack this class awareness and they start thinking they're above the jobs we need them for.
On 7 Feb 2014 at 2:39pm teacher wrote:
Loved your reply Ukip Jim, our sense of humour is very much alike. Just to put the record straight, when I left school I went into the Merchant Navy and after a couple of years I received my call up papers and spent two years in the Army, I ended up in the Catering Corps and was in Aldershot for six months. I was then sent to Honiton which was a REME camp and after a word with the C.O. about how much I disliked catering he transferred me to the REME. I stayed in this regiment until my demob in 1969. I then took up an apprentiship as an engineer and ended up working for a classic car restoration company until my retirement. We done a lot of work on the famous Auto Union and also done a lot of work for John Surtees. So lads dont give up hope even from a humble beginning you can achieve success. I am going to have a cup of tea now.
On 7 Feb 2014 at 3:45pm priory parent wrote:
Teacher you make an interesting statement about uniforms that debunks the myth that they make everyone equal or on the same level - "I can remember my Mother picking me out a uniform in a thick serge because it was cheaper than the thinner smarter one. At school I still felt inferior to the boys wearing the more expensive one". Kids can always tell who are the more disadvantaged in the class regardless of uniform.
LB&B. If your daughter's chosen profession requires her to wear a uniform, then that's part of the job and she is obliged by her working contract to do so (unless of course her uniform is demeaning or offensive, but thats a different matter). But that uniform is obviously necessary to the job and I wouldn;t suggest she turns up in a crop top etc.
I don't think you will find any evidence, anywhere, that shows children learn better because they are in a uniform at school. A simple comparison with other western countries (most of Europe and the US) bears this out.
Bastian - intrigued by your response here "I'm sure it would be better for your daughter to just put on a new pair, throw the old ones away and for you to explain why women have had to fight so hard to get anywhere in this world and that by conforming to school based fashion she is letting her sex down."
Firstly, my daughter isn't in trouble over this tights issue. Secondly, I do guide my daughter in appropriate dress, but torn tights are not a feminist issue, and if she did have a hole in her tights it's ridiculous assertion to say 'she is letting her sex down'
My ORIGINAL point is that I think Priory is spending too much time on chasing MINOR uniform infringements, taking up teaching time and causing disruption to learning for other kids.
Priory is by no means the only school to obsess about uniform. I know another school where the boys started using their ties as an expression of individuality - fat ties, thin ties, ties tucked in, tied in different knots etc. The school spent so much time on the issue with kids being sent home regularly for tie-related uniform infringements, that they ended up, by parental vote, getting rid of the ties altogether, thus saving teachers much time and being able to get on with their task of teaching, not logging uniform misdemeanours.
I went to strict grammar school with a very expensive uniform which my Mum couldn't afford to update every year - with the consequence my blazer was up to my elbows by Y9, my hat was completely battered and my skirt short. Yes I looked like something out of St Trinians, as did many of my peers, but the headmistress did not make a big deal out of these infringements because it took away from the basic task of schools providing an education.
I'd also like to point out that there are teachers at the school who are very shabbily dressed and that if kids have to conform to uniform rules of looking smart, then so should the teachers......
On 7 Feb 2014 at 3:52pm Peter Pan wrote:
Teacher
I suspect that we are about the same age , I also served in the Forces as a engineer ,served a apprenticeship, and via a very roundabout route ,also ended up in the classic car game ,it sounds to me like you ended with Cr @ Ga
On 7 Feb 2014 at 6:41pm bastian wrote:
Priory parent, you have said it all, "many other schools obsess over uniform", why do you think you are special, and that your child should be traete any differently to all the others? Maybe, schools are under an Obligation form county to enforce the rules, had thta occurred to you or are you too busy fighting against the thing you hated at school on your childs behalf.
It is a feminist issue actually, if they all wore trousers it wouldn't be an issue.
On 7 Feb 2014 at 7:13pm teacher wrote:
You are so right Peter about C&G, what a grind. Now theres a clue.
On 7 Feb 2014 at 8:14pm Barry Cuda wrote:
"Uniform" says all you need to know. Too many parents happy to take the school place and then disregard the clearly stated policy, washing their hands of any responsibility. Shame.
On 9 Feb 2014 at 7:54am Heinz wrote:
what I think goes on is that the school establishment use the uniform issue as a behavioural stick - it's something to have a go at them about, keeps the rather fragile hierarchy exercised between teacher and pupil. Just come back from NZ - few schools have uniforms there, but then again they seem not to be so caught up with the materialism of our youth and the nuances of fashion that can make for such a stressful time in school. Not sure what the answer is but I do know it's not blazers.
On 9 Feb 2014 at 11:19am Respect wrote:
Priory Parent the school set uniform rules in consolation with parents & pupils. Those rules should be adhered to like any other rules they set. Surely as a responsible parent you should encourage your sibling to respect decisions laid down by the school whether you agree or not. The attitude you show to the school is frankly very disrespectful. I only hope that when your child gets a job they show better respect for the rules in their work contract or else they won't get far in life.
Maybe time to rethink your attitude perhaps & support the school?
On 9 Feb 2014 at 7:36pm UKIP JIM wrote:
Nice to be complimented teacher, if only by a jumped up squaddie.
Luckily for us, we grew up in the era of post-war government generosity towards the poor and got a good chance in life, we don't have scum like you rising anymore, thank god.