Comments on: Parents applaud Prime Minister’s extension of education tax break

By: admin

admin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 07:26:24 +0000

@Richard, for "actual research" that directly contradicts Brunsma and Rockquemore's 1998 study, there is Ann Bodine's 2003 study "School Uniforms and Discourses on Childhood" (here, but it's not free). A little bit more than a homily, you'd have to agree. Those authors actually had an interesting bit of back-and-forth on the issue. Oddly enough, they didn't seem to need to demean each other's points of view. From both @Richard's comments ("it made me feel repressed") and @Susie's ("wearing mufti to school daily was the worst thing about my entire primary life"), personal feelings on this issue run deep, in both directions. @Kylie's suggestion of exploring other models is a forward-looking one. Here are some more aggregations of points of view - pro & con: http://www.helium.com/knowledge/16882-the-benefits-of-mandatory-school-uniforms http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/pros-and-cons-of-school-uniforms-182.html Clearly more research is needed that pertains specifically to Australia.

By: Susie

Susie — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:03:29 +0000

I am a volunteer mum in a p&c run uniform shop. Three years ago we officially changed our Uniform. This process took up two years of polling students, parents and teachers alike before we agreed on something. Those who feel their school councilors are not giving over their views need to look into replacing them. Councilors like government are supposed to be voted in to do the wishes of the many. If they don’t do the job…. get new ones. Now I went to a school where uniforms were not required, we were not a well off family and clothing options were limited. I was teased for not having the cool clothes and couldn’t wait to get to high school where I could wear the same as everyone else. I can quite easily say wearing mufti to school daily was the worst thing about my entire primary life. Last week I had three year 5 girls come in to buy a new jacket for one of them. While Shania was trying on the top she said to her friends “man I hate school uniforms…I wish we could wear mufti every day” to which her friends said “yeah! me too” and “yeah uniforms are stink”… I then said to them “well if you really didn’t want to wear uniforms you could write letters and ask your SRC members to bring it up with the teachers and the P&C then we could all discuss it and maybe you wouldn’t have to wear them… this got the girls excited then I added, but just remember some people have lots of money and some don’t so some people will have “cool” clothes and some “wont”… can you imagine how the ones without lots of clothes are going to feel and also I’ve been in your house Daniella and know how long it takes you to choose something to go to the mall….can you imagine choosing something every day you have to go to school”. The girls paused for about a second then said “yeahhh nahhh we don’t wanna write a letter… Thanks for the jacket” and left happy. I say yes its possibly a stunt by politicians as we are nearing a vote… but that doesn’t mean we cant see it for what it is.

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:43:58 +0000

Research on the effect of school uniforms:
“Mandatory uniform policies have been the focus of recent discourse on public school reform. Proponents of such reform measures emphasize the benefits of student uniforms on specific behavioral and academic outcomes. Tenth grade data from The National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 was used to test empirically the claims made by uniform advocates. The findings indicate that student uniforms have no direct effect on substance use, behavioral problems, or attendance. Contrary to current discourse, the authors found a negative effect of uniforms on student academic achievement. Uniform policies may indirectly affect school environments and student outcomes by providing a visible and public symbol of commitment to school improvement and reform. ”
http://www.gate.net/~rwms/UniformBrunRock.html
http://www.members.tripod.com/rockqu/uniform.htm
But lets not let actual research get in the way of our little homilies.

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:58:49 +0000

I have seen over more than 2 decades in state schools the way that uniforms are used to exclude, stigmatise and bully students. It is so commonplace that it is regarded as “normal” and indeed some “positions of responsibility” in the schools I have worked in, and some Assistant Principals, have seen this as the core business of their job.
Students in difficult circumstances – say as carers (and I could provide examples, if you do not believe me) find the going so tough that they leave, and the schools are happy about it because they were “disruptive” and did not have a “sense of belonging”.
I have seen no evidence of uniforms providing “positive self image or a sense of belonging”. I challenge Mister Garrigan to produce any. I wore a school uniform and it made me feel repressed and of inferior status, and this is what al the students I know say too/
I fear the main reason for uniform is a desire to create a society of unthinking conformists.
The argument about social levelling was tried in Cultural Revolution Era China, when everyone wore identical Mao Suits. Does ACOSS like that idea too?

By: Kylie Bailye

Kylie Bailye — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 01:46:36 +0000

I agree with the PM, however I am concerned about how much power a school council has to make a uniform policy that could be totally unrealistic. For example if the bottom half of the uniform is a nominated school colour – such as bottle green, it shouldn’t matter where the items are sourced from or what design they are as long as they are the right colour. Some school uniform policies are very restricting (one type of long pant, one type of short pant from only one supplier) and we know that even young children have different shapes – why not give them the opportunity to choose from a wide range of styles in the one colour? Uniforms also need to be affordable for everyone. I like Indonesia’s uniform policy that is accessible to everyone. There is no separation of the private schools from the public schools based on how expensive your uniform is.

By: Rupert Macgregor

Rupert Macgregor — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:03:16 +0000

Interesting point, Martin.

Is the government just window dressing – or does this deliver a real benefit to parents?

What do other parents around the country think about this from their perspective??

By: Martin Black

Martin Black — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:59:46 +0000

Well, I certainly do not agree that this is a good idea.

This will push the price of uniforms up.

It will encourage schools to change uniforms to have even more complex uniforms, to look more like private schools.

The allowance is far too high and a burden on taxpayers.

There is no sign of the computers in our school, there is no hall big enough for the expanding student cohort.

Teachers need PD but there is no money in the budget for it.

The text books are years old, out of date, dogeared.

School uniforms are low level concerns, except for parents who are too focussed on ‘looking good’ while ignoring what actually goes on in the classroom- frequently not too much according to MySchool findings.

This is a cheap stunt by a PM who has no idea at all about what it takes to raise children.