Uniformity

I had to wear a school uniform and I can see the benefits, though I was irked by its introduction at this stage of my children's education. I was additionally troubled by the probable pedantry that made it more or less impossible to purchase items from non-accredited suppliers. For example 'The grey colour for trousers and skirts is not charcoal, or very light grey'. Apparently in some brands it's called, 'Harrow Grey' and in others 'school grey'. Consequently the choice of shops and access to reasonable pricing was made 'difficult' to state the least.

Both of my kids exhibit their parents' genes most apparently in their above-average height. The result of this apparent freakishness is that getting an appropriate-length skirt for my 14 year-old daughter was near to impossible. It almost gave my wife a nervous breakdown and the shop's staff got to hear a tone of voice that I thought only I was privileged to be subjected to. It had to be a very specific pleated skirt in the colour previously specified but any rumours of collusion between schools and suppliers are strictly in the realms of conspiracy theory.

The current economic climate clearly had no influence either. The references to cost-implications in the increasingly-worried notes from the school were of little comfort and seemed not to acknowledge the necessity for multiple items of uniform since - with the exception of the blazer - few could be worn more than twice per week. The last time I looked it appeared that the school week seems not to have been shortened to accommodate the clothes required.

I continually tell 'the kids' that the purpose of school is not simply about the educational subjects it is also about social skills and the ability to interact, amongst many other things. It's not just education; it is also about life skills.

Consequently they now know about the complexity of life, where decisions can and will be made on your behalf. They also know that they will inevitably be forced to conform to a greater vision, usually someone else's, for a goal you cannot see or understand. To think that employers often reckon that schools don't prepare kids for work, what better way can they be prepared than by forcing them to accept decisions that seem unreasonable but may be merely political? It's a solid grounding for the continual disappointments and frustrations of life in my opinion.

At any rate, returning to school on day one they looked very smart. It won't last.