School uniform enigma

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#3185467 23-Jan-2024 11:42

Eons ago when i was at secondary a lot of the blazers were recycled. A group of mothers replaced any binding that looked dirty. If necessary the school had a supply of replacement embroidered pockets. It wasn't obvious who had hand me down vs new.

About 10 years ago we spent a week in a home stay in Khayelitsha township at Cape Town. Supposedly one of the five biggest slums in the world yet each morning when we headed out there were large groups of children in clean uniforms waiting for school buses.

ezbee

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#3185476 23-Jan-2024 12:31

Originally it was standard low cost clothing for the great majority.
Mine were from decades ago were very simple and only school ID were sock and jersey stripes in winter.
No badges or monograms.

For fancy end of town private schools, well they could afford so they went with fancy.
Maybe trickle down from donations for poorer students on scholarship.

Somehow its been subverted from choosing simple low cost practical.
Schools get drawn into special deals and kickbacks as they lack funding, so its a default school fee.

Uniform companies seem to have a lot to explain re sales tactics and where they are buying them to be so expensive. Heck you even see directors wearing relatively plain single color t shirts.

Schools seem to have strayed to elaborate expensive options.
Wrong people on school boards, and schools who will sell out poorer parents to get extra money by forcing more elaborate items.

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#3185478 23-Jan-2024 12:43

Fine kids have uniforms... but why do the merged schools (Intermediate/College) have to have two different uniforms altho they operate under the same name/boards etc. Its frustrating as hell.

I remember at college (Aorere College FTW ;) ) they tried forcing students to ONLY wear school purchased jumpers/jackets. 3rd party stuff was not allowed at all.

Was hell of a stink kicked up by students and parents. Why did we have to pay $40 for a "school" jumper that was exactly the same as what we could get from Warehouse for $10 apart from a school logo on it ? School gave up on that.... long as it was school colours it was allowed.

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robjg63

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#3185479 23-Jan-2024 12:45

Rikkitic:

My prejudice says let's make them all look alike so they will all think alike and be good cogs for the machine. That is just my prejudice, of course.

Well that is true - But I think at times learning that you are in fact a cog in a machine, is an important life lesson.

I dont have a problem with a school uniform, but they could keep them more economical by just having a plain coloured Polo shirt and plain pants.

The schools could have different coloured tops in an area. Say White/Blue/Black/Red. They should be a standard Kmart/Warehouse item.

Perhaps a 'plain' polarfleece for Winter. Again - perhaps a handfull of standard colours as above.

They should be able to wear 'normal' shoes too. I don't see why they should insist on black/leather shoes or sandals either - These arent things people wear in real life these days.

The problems seems to come from insisting on Shoes, Blazers, Jackets, Jerseys etc, all with embroidered logos and colour themed clothes etc.

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Inphinity

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#3185484 23-Jan-2024 12:56

The cost is ridiculous, especially with primary now needing them in many cases. Just spent $1300 on uniforms to start the year... sigh.

kotuku4

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#3185490 23-Jan-2024 13:03

It's become a money maker for many schools where you only buy from them which a an additional hassle. Some countries have national uniform, that you can buy anywhere cheap as chips, eg Indonesia white shirt, grey pants/shorts/skirt. Wouldn't work here though, far too sensible.

heavenlywild

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#3185492 23-Jan-2024 13:12

kotuku4: It's become a money maker for many schools where you only buy from them which a an additional hassle. Some countries have national uniform, that you can buy anywhere cheap as chips, eg Indonesia white shirt, grey pants/shorts/skirt. Wouldn't work here though, far too sensible.

Schools don't make money from uniforms. You are wrong.

The supplier of uniforms make the money, but based on my chat with a supplier of uniforms to many schools, it's tough going considering the cost of the goods and the pressure of not increasing prices too much.

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Senecio

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#3185495 23-Jan-2024 13:23

caffynz:

Senecio:

I don't have any kids but I keep hearing about the cost. Are the uniforms more expensive than a similar quality piece of clothing? Say a polo shirt, are the uniforms more or less expensive than a similar quality polo shirt that you'd pick up at Farmers or other equivalent reatiler?

This article looks into that a bit https://thespinoff.co.nz/opinion/14-01-2022/why-are-school-uniforms-so-outrageously-expensive-2

Thanks for that, very informative.

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#3185503 23-Jan-2024 14:00

Earbanean: One of the main reasons for uniforms is to try to reduce apparent inequality amongst kids. i.e. Without uniforms, some kids will wear the latest, expensive cool brands and fashions, while others will be forced to wear noticeably 'poorer' clothes. ...

A group of local boys look on with curiosity and amusement at two Harrow schoolboys in their formal uniform at the Eton vs Harrow cricket match on 9 July 1937 at the Lord's cricket ground, London.

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Rikkitic

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#3185507 23-Jan-2024 14:11

I could (reluctantly) live with plain clothing in school colours. What I really have a hard time with is dressing kids up like military officers.

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Zigg

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#3185541 23-Jan-2024 15:41

I think our school was the only primary that had uniforms here in the 70s, being a Catholic school that didn't half make us targets 😒

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#3185542 23-Jan-2024 15:44

Arriving from the Netherlands as a 15 year old in 1981 having to wear a uniform was probably one of the biggest culture shocks. My mates back in NL though my having to wear shorts was hilarious, it was the uncoolest thing amongst Dutch teenage boys in those days, it just wasn't done (unless at the beach or participating in sport).

Did Eric Clapton really think she looked wonderful...or was it after the 15th outfit she tried on and he just wanted to get to the party and get a drink?

wellygary

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#3185546 23-Jan-2024 15:56

Sideface:

A group of local boys look on with curiosity and amusement at two Harrow schoolboys in their formal uniform at the Eton vs Harrow cricket match on 9 July 1937 at the Lord's cricket ground, London.

Other that the hats and canes, it doesn't appear to have changed much over the last 80 years :)

Goosey

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#3185549 23-Jan-2024 16:01

Anyone without kids shouldn’t have an opinion on this

also, uniforms have always been expensive….it’s nothing new.

im in my 40s and remember my parents telling me uniforms were expensive…

I think the millennials are just now appreciating what their parents spent on uniforms and now don’t wanna have a bar of it….

just my two cents.

(I’m pro uniform, makes it easier across the board on so many levels…. And yes I have kids).

Bung

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#3185562 23-Jan-2024 16:28

When i was at school it was just clothing whether uniform or not, made in NZ so there probably wasn't a cheap option.

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