# Are school uniforms a good idea or a bad one? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 9, 2017, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-school-uniforms-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/784110 "2017-04-09T12:56:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-school-uniforms-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/784110/121 "2017-04-18T19:13:42Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Having worn a uniform for five years, I can assure you this definitely was not true. Might not have been true for you- but I know that once we got home and changed out of our uniforms, my peers and I did a lot of stuff we would have never done in uniform.\* Although I wouldn’t have described it as being in school mode or having the right attitude for learning - it was more “they can’t identify me and call the principal” when I was out of uniform. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-school-uniforms-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/784110/122 "2017-04-18T21:36:34Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Also think about this. > > When you put on some clothes, any clothes, do you find yourself also putting on a “costume” and an “attitude” or “personality”. Think of the people who wont watch their favorite sports team play on tv if they arent wearing a specific team shirt. Think of how your personality is when you wear say a Hawaiian floral shirt. > > Now think about how you feel when you dress formally like when putting on a formal business suit. > > With kids putting on a uniform its also about putting on the right attitude for learning. It’s like "Hey when I wear this, I am in “school mode”. They can be 2 totally different kids the minute they get home and take it off. When I put on a suit I feel like I am either a car salesman or a fraud. Not everyone likes to play dress up or act. But this is the point about uniforms being problematic for those in different socioeconomic or physical trait groups. To many this seems dehumanizing, heteronormative, classist and culturalist. Can you explain why putting on a Eurocentric, heterosexual and anachronistic upper class costume is “school mode?” ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-school-uniforms-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/784110/123 "2017-04-18T21:54:18Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > No, there’s a standard school pants and a standard school shirt, they’re just not the preppy kind.Yes. That’s what makes it a “uniform”, it’s the same for everyone.You could say that, yes…“Business casual” here is chinos and no tie with your shirt. > But, personally, I can (and do) wear boardshorts and a Cthulhu tee to work if I’m not actually meeting a client. > To school? I don’t know it’s ever been tested. To my work? Sure. I’ve worn a kikoi a couple times. > Which industry? I work in IT, and we’re pretty damn casual. This exactly demonstrates the cultural implications of this model just that it changes based on context. While it may be more common in the West of the US where the Levi Strauss company formed slacks are a very real class indicator in my area. And typically when someone has a suit on it is often a reason for suspicion or concern about someone trying to hide something. At best it is a anachronistic class statement or in the case of polo shirts a relic of a rebellion against starched collars in jock culture. But in ever case I have seen provided in this thread uniforms are an assertion of some moral failing or lesser value to a particular style or clothing type. Mostly from my perspective these efforts are driven by people who identify with the proposed look and which may not understand the objection to them. As for my very very brief experience in SA I was there for work with a medical device manufacture. I do work in IT but had I dressed as our clients did in an interview I would be at a great risk of being passed over for the job due to being a poor cultural fit. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-school-uniforms-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/784110/124 "2017-04-19T09:38:51Z")
> [@rat\_avatar](#): > > This exactly demonstrates the cultural implications of this model just that it changes based on context. I’d be very worried of any model that _didn’t_ adapt to context, because it would be a shitty model. But “adapting to context” Doesn’t automatically, or necessarily, entail “Eurocentric, heterosexual and anachronistic upper class costume”. > [@](#): > > While it may be more common in the West of the US where the Levi Strauss company formed slacks are a very real class indicator in my area. Where are you in Seattle, that jeans are a _class_ indicator? > [@](#): > > And typically when someone has a suit on it is often a reason for suspicion or concern about someone trying to hide something. This says _way_ more about you than it does about people wearing suits, I think. > [@](#): > > At best it is a anachronistic class statement Suits, or school uniforms? > [@](#): > > or in the case of polo shirts a relic of a rebellion against starched collars in jock culture. Jocks? To you. To me, they’re an icon of[Mod culture](http://parkaavenue.blogspot.co.za/2011/01/mods-and-fred-perry-long-lasting-love.html). > [@](#): > > But in ever case I have seen provided in this thread uniforms are an assertion of some moral failing or lesser value to a particular style or clothing type. I have no idea what you mean by this - care to explain further, with quotes? > [@](#): > > Mostly from my perspective these efforts are driven by people who identify with the proposed look and which may not understand the objection to them. The only identifying I see being done by anyone but you, is with the group “school child” > [@](#): > > As for my very very brief experience in SA I was there for work with a medical device manufacture. I do work in IT but had I dressed as our clients did in an interview I would be at a great risk of being passed over for the job due to being a poor cultural fit. I don’t understand - do you mean if you wore a suit to an interview, people would think you were a poor fit for IT? That may be, but what does that have to do with school uniforms, which are a) not suits; and b) a different culture from adult workplaces ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-school-uniforms-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/784110.md?page=6)