Wednesday, 08 July 2009

  • Response to "School Uniforms: Positive or Pointless?"

    Editor's Note: This entry is a response to, "School Uniforms: Positive or Pointless?"

    You people are lucky.

    Here, in Singapore, it's simple. Everyone wears uniforms to go to school. Every school's uniforms are different.

    For, me, my school uniform is a blue sleeveless sundress, with a square-cut collar. We have to pin on a badge, our school badge, and have to follow a strict set of rules.

    • The hem to the uniform CANNOT be 7 cm above the back of the knee.
    • Our hair accessories must be blue, black, or white. No two colors are to be in the same accessory.
    • Our earrings must be ear studs, not more than a diameter of 0.5cm, and  must be of a solid color.
    • No other accessories are allowed, other than a watch.
    • No make up is to be put on unless there is a school performance.
    • Our school shoes must be sport shoes/sneakers, full white.Socks are to be school socks and school name must be seen.
    • Hair must be tied up when it touches the shoulder.
    • School uniform/PE uniform must comply to timetable
    • Only school jackets shall be used.

    If we do not comply to these rules, we get booked and earn demerit points. Six demerit points and off you go to clean the smelly toilets. Electronics is another whole big issue. Phones are only used after school at certain areas, too. Since each school has a unique uniform, you must watch yourself and your school's reputation.

    My school has a pretty good reputation,with a 110 years of history. So, we are constantly reminded to act lady-like, especially in public, when we are wearing our school uniform, and have a stricter set of rules than some others, who are allowed to wear flats/ colored sneakers/multi colored hair accessories.

    We all buy from the same supplier, who has fixed sizes, the belt is sewn where it is supposed to be (at the waist line), but people tend to alter it by paying more.

    Still positive or pointless, especially with our situation here?

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Comments (41)

  • missANNUH@xanga

    that's a really strict uniform code. mm...seems like competition between schools of who has the better prestige. 
  • methodElevated@xanga

    That picture is hot.
  • StaineD_TeaR_DropS@xanga

    that's strict compared to other schools. usually people find a way to get around the dress code though, probably a silent rebellion of sorts. So depending on the situation it can go either way.
  • Shinbi_Belldandy@xanga

    That's very strict...wow. When I work a uniform, we had certain rules regarding how we wore them & the shoes but nothing big about hair & earrings.


    I think uniforms are good because in the long run, you save money on clothes & since everyone is dressed the same, there's no teasing & distractions. When I was in public school, it was crazy how they would rather talk about their Jordan's or whatever their PARENTS bought. I just concentrated on my studies & ignored people who wanted to copy my papers.
  • Chloe03

    I didn't participate in the first discussion. I just want to say that I would love uniforms for various reasons. Too bad we didn't have one at school. It would have made life a tiny bit easier.

  • Blood_Wolf_Girl@xanga

    I am so sorry for you. I couldn't do that, I hate dresses and skirts, it would kill me and the fact I have bright pink in my hair might get me in touble, just a little bit. I couldn't wear uniforms in general, I'd probably bend the rules a little bit or I'd some how add somethings in that are part of the rule. But you can't have anything other than watches and earrings. Yikes! Then I couldn't wear my sparkle braclets and necklaces. I can't go anywhere without my cross necklace. Your school is harsh.
  • helloworld

    I've attended public and private schools but for some reason I really like having a uniform. Maybe not all the time but most of the time. I remember our uniform was a blue and green plaid skirt that had to be knee length. We would have surprise uniform checks and if our skirts were above our knees, we would be reprimanded and receive detention. Our shirts always had to be tucked in and only the first button open, nothing lower. Our shoes could not have any writing and had to be worn properly, not like a flip flop or anything. The only accessories allowed were stud earrings, nothing dangling and nothing on our wrists except for a watch. We were not even allowed to have hair ties on our wrists. No necklaces were allowed unless it was religious (like crosses, etc.) We were not allowed to have our sleeves rolled up either. For dress down days, we were not allowed to wear shorts or open toe shoes, if we disobeyed then detention. At one point, we were only allowed to wear 2-4 hair pins and no more than that because they were believed to be a "distraction". No makeup was to be worn and only clear nail polish. But despite all this, I seriously do love having a uniform. haaah (:
  • m0leymol3y@xanga

    if i had to follow those rules, i'd runaway. FAR AWAY.

  • xiaosnowtenshi@xanga

    My experience with uniforms lasted one school year. It was kind of a waste of money for us because my mom bought me new clothes that I never wore again after that, aside from the belts. Sure, it was easier to pick out an outfit in the morning, but back in 5th grade it was a hassle to look prim and proper. Not to mention in high school I took mostly honors classes, so my classmates cared more about grades than clothes. I suppose in that sense I'm lucky to have gone to such a academically competitive school. 
  • MissPixieGlitter@xanga

    sorry, i didn't understand how this was a response. you disagree with the right to pose a question? you're sharing an experience, as did many of the previous post's commenters. and your school is strict, but what does that have to do with our prerogative to decide between "positive" and "pointless?"
  • ipinkyflower@xanga

    i think uniforms are hot 
  • AmistadBaby@xanga

    I can't stand uniforms. I've had one for two years, and going into high school, it's only getting more strict. Mine is different, but about the same level as yours. I think they suck. :P There's really no point. Like them at all? Please feel free to tell me why. (Except to say that it's easier to pick out clothes or that people won't tease. In my experience, both those points are bullcrap.)
  • imakeyoufree1@xanga

    The private schools I went to were similarly strict about the uniforms.
  • boredb3rry@xanga

    Completely pointless besides adding on to the student's discomfort

    I wonder what's nextUndies must be white or black? :P Bras can't be strapless? 8D 
  • merquryd@xanga

    I read this post and the previous one.  Seems people are of the opinion that uniforms help to eliminate judgments based on clothing, but in some comments, it seems as if the judging was just redirected.  Instead of students judging each other, they can begin judging public school students or students from other schools.  One commenter in the previous posted said something along the lines of "we looked better than the sloppy public school kids".  In some instances, even HAVING a school uniform is a status symbol to the outside population.  It can also exacerbate school rivalries.  Or it could pressure students to act as if their school is more prestigious or has a better reputation.

    I don't remember any of the above problems from when I wore uniform in elementary school, but that's just something I noticed from some comments.  What I DO remember from elementary school is noticing which students were able to afford new uniforms.  Being children, or even being a young adult, you are going to do things to stain or rip your clothing.  Some people would stain or rip their uniform and you never saw them wear it again, others would still wear it because they didn't have anything else.  Also, you noticed who wore the same item of clothing most often, or even everyday.  Granted, being that young, most of us didn't care in the way we would've if we had been older, but it didn't stop kids from being curious and asking "your shirt is ripped.  can't you get a new one?"

    School uniforms may be better for trying to have students focus less on fashion, but there's just too many other things we all could judge one another on.
  • thingamabobbie@xanga

    I think uniforms are hot. Who doesn't love plaid? Hah. 
  • Sugar_Sassy@xanga

    Still positive. We had the same at our school.  Skirts had to touch the ground when we kneeled on the ground, only one set of earrings allowed, no hair colours that weren't 'natural'. etc etc etc.  I used to wear nail polish (not allowed), make up (not allowed) and bracelets (not allowed), and would be given a 'blue card' which meant lunchtime detention. lol it was more a joke than anything as alot of us girls would be there for the 10 minute detention.
    Still think uniforms are a positive in the regard of bullying and peer pressure.
  • Sorrows_xx_Soliloquy@xanga

    This is interesting for me!  Never did I expect to get a response on my blog but here it is(:


    But your uniform seems pretty harsh :/
  • where_words_fail@xanga

    i think those rules are a little intense, but i had a less strict policy in high school and i liked it. it was nice not to worry about pairing clothing in the mornings, while still being able to wear whatever makeup, nail polish, jewelry, shoes, etc i wanted. we could also buy different kinds of pants, skirts, shirts, etc as long as they fit the dress code lengths and colors, which saved me from being self conscious of certain areas.


    i think that too strict of a policy makes student miserable, and no one is very receptive when they're unhappy and uncomfortable with what they're wearing. 
  • Meowmeowkimmaee@xanga

    Wow. Poor you. It takes the pressure off of looking stylish, but I like being stylish at school.
  • Imnotcrazyjustinsane@xanga

    The uniforms in China are UGLY.
    They're basically track suits... but uglier. Augh. I'd hate to wear them, but they do seem comfortable...
    The ones I wore when I was in first grade in China were the ugliest color blue ever... but I do remember that they spent a whole afternoon teaching us how to properly fold clothes.

    The ones that I've seen in HK are so cute!
  • MangoWOW@xanga

    In my case I don't care either way but I think school uniforms are a good idea. I mean, it's nice to have just my set of clothes and not have to pay for something I wouldn't be caught dead in out of class.
    So I guess that's an issue for me: why can't uniforms be cute? Thankfully I only had to suffer through pleated shorts/pants in elementary school. Supposedly in Japan they try to draw the interest of students by having designers design cute uniforms. I think if they weren't so drabby looking then maybe kids wouldn't oppose them so much.
    Something I'd appreciate from having school uniforms enforced would be the significant drop of inappropriate clothing seen in class. This includes boys wearing their pants too low, showing their boxers, girls in slutty dresses/tops, Brazilian jeans, pajamas, etc.

  • MangoWOW@xanga

    @merquryd@xanga - I definitely agree with you here that while people are no longer judged on clothing or style the students will find something else to judge others on. When I went to Japan as an exchange student my host sister told me that you could tell which families had money by the perfume girls wore. Or really, if they wore perfume. lol. And after asking friends who went to other schools they said that you could tell the cliques apart by shoes, purse, or anything besides the uniform.
    Also your last part struck me a little: When I was in elementary school I was forced to wear a uniform. Basically we had a buttload of the polo shirts but then you had to match it with either the pleated shorts/pants, the skort, or the jumper. My favorite was the jumper (I was little and thought it was the prettiest) but my mom could only afford one pair or shorts and the jumper so I often wore it two days in a row and I remember that one day my friend asked me "Didn't you wear that yesterday?" and when I told her yes she just said "ewww!" and I was so embarassed.

  • aiinos@xanga

    thats a bit TOO strict... we have so much freedom here, sometimes its sad how badly we use it. 
  • nnoif_fionn@xanga

    and u are complaining about those rules? we have even more inhumane rules in Hong Kong...


    with all this rules above, plus
    The hem to the uniform must cover our knees
    sweaters must not cover our butt
    no phone whenever ure in scl uniform, even when its school holiday.
    never wear PE uniforms to scl unless its below 14 degrees.
    no chewing gum
    double punishments for prefects.

    now i am complaining....

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