In this article, extensive attention is paid to all the advantages and disadvantages of introducing a uniform in schools.
In the Netherlands it is very common for children to go to school in their own clothes. In this way, every parent can choose what the child wears to school according to their own taste, insight and wallet. Yet this is very different in many countries in the world. There the children wear prescribed clothes, the so-called school uniform.
Some time ago, a discussion about this also arose in the Netherlands, because the question was raised whether the school uniform should perhaps also be introduced in the Netherlands. Fierce discussions erupt from all sides about all the pros and cons. Still, more and more secondary school students are in favor of a uniform. This is also apparent from the fact that a mother will send her children to school in uniform in 2018. In this article, extensive attention is paid to all the advantages and disadvantages of introducing a uniform in schools.
There are a number of advantages to wearing a uniform at school:
– Children are no longer bullied for clothes, because every child wears the same
– Schools can be kept apart by uniform
– Schoolchildren are easily recognizable on a trip
– Uniforms can be made quite cheaply, because they are mass-produced
These are just a few of the advantages that advocate wearing a uniform at school. On the other hand, there are of course also disadvantages that can be put forward.
A number of arguments put forward by opponents when it comes to wearing a uniform at school:
– The child is forced to wear a uniform, so no more freedom with clothing
– It is to the taste of the parent
– Parents want their child to stand out from the rest
– It is not beautiful
– Some are also afraid that a uniform is more expensive than wearing regular clothes
To be able to answer this question, I will start from my own experiences:when I was at havo in the Netherlands, my girlfriend and I once had a discussion about whether or not to wear a uniform at school. Although in most cases we always thought the same about things, in this case, to my great surprise, it turned out not to be the case.
On the contrary, our opinions were at odds:she was in favor of wearing a uniform at school, while I was very much against it. We both pretty much used the aforementioned pros and cons. Unfortunately we couldn't figure it out and we each stuck to our own opinion.
Years later, now married with two children, I would move to Suriname where the school uniform had been reintroduced a few years earlier. Right, it's been out for a while. However, due to certain circumstances, which I would like to come back to in a moment, the school uniform has been reintroduced.
Now I suddenly had to believe in it, in the form of my children. At least, from primary school, because the toddlers were free in their clothes. And miraculously:suddenly I saw only benefits! No bullying, no distinction between the children (rich or poor, everyone wears the same and it costs the same everywhere), nice and easy.
True, this was handy, such a school uniform! After kindergarten, my son was the first to wear a uniform:a green checkered unisex shirt (with short sleeves, because of the heat). Underneath a dark blue jeans and shoes of your choice (they had to meet certain conditions, they may not be slippers without a strap in connection with safety when a child is running).
Well, the jeans and shoes are still the parents' choice, but hey, for a child, jeans are jeans. Counterfeit brands are relatively cheap in Suriname and difficult to distinguish from genuine, so few problems in that regard. The girls are also allowed to wear a skirt (provided it comes to the knees and is not shorter). The following applies to gym:shorts in a certain color (schools are free to wear them, usually just red, yellow, blue or green) and a white t-shirt, in some cases this shirt is gray. This is the school uniform of the primary school.
On the Mulo/LTS (only these options are available for secondary education) the green shirt is replaced by a simple light blue shirt, the shoes and jeans remain.
In this way, children are easily recognizable as being a primary or secondary school pupil. After secondary school, one can go to Havo, Vwo, etc. and there the uniform simply consists of a polo shirt of a certain color, jeans and shoes.
Unfortunately, bullying at school does exist, especially in the field of discrimination. However, this has nothing to do with the clothes, because everyone wears the same uniform.
Personally, I have made a case for the introduction of a uniform in the kindergarten at my children's school after my daughter's preschool period. A shirt in green or yellow with the logo (designed by my husband) of the school. Nice and easy:everyone now recognizes the youngest very easily and the teacher immediately knows who her students are during a trip. It is now the case that uniforms are worn in most kindergartens, but it is not an obligation from the Ministry of Education.
As indicated earlier, the uniform was abolished in Suriname for a while. However, circumstances forced government leaders to straighten things out and reintroduce the uniform. There was a large increase in children who were bullied. Children whose parents had money showed this through their clothing. While poor children had to go to school in 'normal' clothes.
In addition, it was found that students were increasingly dressing sexier, especially in secondary education. This resulted in very unpleasant situations between the boys and girls. Girls came to school with the so-called navel shirts, skirts that barely went over their buttocks and the like. This was also reflected in the increase in the number of teenage pregnancies. Reasons enough to reintroduce the uniform and since then Surinamese schoolchildren have been wearing a school uniform again.
In Suriname there are a number of exceptions, whereby children do not have to wear a uniform, namely:
– If a child has a birthday, he/she may come to school in self-chosen clothes. In this way, the entire school immediately knows that it is the child's birthday. The child then feels extra special)
– If there is a party at school where you are not obliged to come in cultural clothing (here you increasingly see children prefer to choose their own clothing rather than cultural clothing)
– On certain outings, only in consultation with the teacher and the school principal
– If it is cold, a sweater with long sleeves or a cardigan may be worn over the uniform
– If one is in the mourning is for a deceased relative (mourning clothes are then worn)
Suriname is actually no exception:there are many countries where wearing a uniform at school is common practice. Even in European countries you often see uniforms that are worn at school (for example in Great Britain). In many countries outside Europe, children also go to school in a uniform. In some cases, these are private schools.
Brazil makes good use of the fact that uniforms are worn at school, as witnessed by this story:
'Schools in Brazil make truancy a lot more difficult. A chip has been sewn into their new school uniform so that all movements can be followed for their parents. When the children arrive at school, their parents get a text message to start with. Even if they are late, the home front will immediately be forwarded:“Your child has still not arrived at school”.
And if, for example, a lesson has already been going on for 20 minutes, a message is also sent:is the child perhaps truant? After three truant texts, the parents have to come to school and explain. The use of the 'smart' uniforms is intended to improve the relationship between teacher and parent. The city's education director, Coriolano Moraes, told the AP news agency that the system was necessary because many parents do not even realize that their children are truant:"We see that many parents take their children to school, but do not check whether they enter the building because they themselves are in such a hurry.”
The chip is sewn under the school label or in the sleeve. The system was initially introduced in the northeastern city of Vitoria da Conquista, where 20,000 children up to the age of 14 must wear the chip.' (Source:www.waarmaarraar.nl)
Perhaps the introduction of a school uniform should be considered in the Netherlands. A mustin times when the economic outlook is not so rosy. Especially in this day and age, parents may not be able to afford to send their child expensive designer clothes to school. Many children will certainly breathe a sigh of relief when they are no longer bullied for the clothes they wear. In the end, my girlfriend was absolutely right. Now I am personally only happy that my children have worn a school uniform.
