School uniforms: Good for kids or just another expense?

As the back-to-school date approaches, parents are reaching into their pockets to fork out for new kits.

It doesn’t stop with a shirt and pants anymore – most schools have seasonal uniforms, sports uniforms, and uniforms for different year levels.

In a recent survey, 88 per cent of parents said they were experiencing financial stress from having to buy school uniforms.

Uniforms are said to engender a sense of equality and belonging among students – even blur socioeconomic differences – but does it really matter what children wear to school?

David Bunnell, chief executive of uniform manufacturer NZ Uniforms said uniforms were a “wonderful opportunity for schools to present their brand and image” within their community.

Uniforms encourage pride and belonging – “imagine the All Blacks in just a plain black shirt”.

Bunnell said there was always a lot of emphasis on uniform price in January, but not on quality or longevity.

The father-of-five said he understands that paying a big lump sum at the beginning of the year can be difficult, but said it should be about value.

“Parents have an expectation of strength and durability … you get what you pay for,” he said.

People would be “pleasantly surprised” to hear that compared with ten years ago, uniforms prices are the same, if not decreasing, he said.

Catherine Rivers, the principal of St Mark’s School Catholic Primary School, agreed that having a uniform instilled a sense of school pride and community spirit in students.

St Mark’s, in the east Auckland suburb of Pakuranga, has a summer, winter, and sport uniform.

Rivers said she knows that it can be difficult to pay the initial costs if a student is new to school, but said uniforms “absolutely” save parents money in the long run.

“It takes the pressure off parents to keep up with the latest trends, so it’s not an one-upmanship.”

Rivers said the argument that uniforms hinder creativity and self-expression doesn’t take into account the outlets for creativity that schools can provide.

“Look at music, design and the arts – there is a lot of scope for individual behaviour,” she said.

MUFTI

Grace Hemingway is about to start year 10 at Western Springs College in Auckland, where students do not have a formal uniform.

Wearing mufti was nothing new to her, having done so in primary school – it was wearing a uniform while at intermediate that was different, she said.

“It was weird to wear the same things as everybody else.”

If anything, going back to wearing mufti at high school was stressful, she said.

“The night before I pulled everything out of my closet going through what to wear and was stressing out about it.”

That wore off quickly, she said, and now she “doesn’t really care about it anymore”.

Grace said sometimes kids get pulled up on what they wear, but mufti shows individuality – which is a good thing in her books.

Rangitoto College, New Zealand’s largest secondary school, offers both formal uniform and mufti.

There is a uniform for those in years 9-10, a senior uniform for years 11-12, and mufti for year 13 students.

Principal David Hodge said mufti is something that students look forward to, and is there to help transition them from secondary school to work or university.

Year 13 students value the opportunity to dress as individuals, and are reaching an age where they have the maturity to be able to deal with not wearing a uniform, he said.

“The first weeks they worry about what they’re wearing, but then they settle into their own niche and they don’t really care.”

WHAT PARENTS THINK

Tessa Rose’s daughter has been in mufti for the past eight years. Rose said she loves the fact that there is no major stress if something gets lost.

Now that her daughter is starting high school, Rose said she is finding it difficult.

“The cost of the uniform is almost crippling. I’m hoping she never grows and keeps it in good condition, otherwise I will need to take out a small mortgage to replace it.”

Uniforms can be good, but are “way too expensive for people who struggle”, Amanda Lee Coker.

“Mufti is better, but you have to set it to a standard, you want something that will only cost $30 and last two to three years rather than $100-400.”

Theodora Despotaki said uniforms allow for “one less social pressure” on kids who are already feeling conscious about their appearance.

Angela Reid said she thinks uniforms are great – but hated wearing one when she was at school.

“I remember being sent home to wash off mascara and lipgloss.

“I understand the rules now as a parent, but slightly disagree from a personal expression perspective,” she said.

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/88287494/school-uniforms-good-for-kids-or-just-another-expense