School Uniforms

Since Christmas, rumors have been flying around the international school that uniforms were to be implemented the following year. One minute we would hear that it was true, then we would hear that it was only to be optional, then that it wasn't true at all.

I would have gladly voted for uniforms when we lived in the U.S. I had previously taught in a private school that switched from a dress code to uniforms. The kids just shrugged over it and complied. In fact, a month into the school year, a 16-year old girl admitted to me, "It makes getting dressed every morning so much easier!"

Besides making the morning routine less stressful, uniforms also leveled the playing field. At most schools, even the private ones, there is a wide range of family incomes and uniforms does help make that range a bit less apparent. I have heard that in the higher grades at our current school, certain girls wear Gucci, Prada, etc. There has been talk that it is getting out of hand.

And as far as uniforms stifling kids' individuality? Sorry, but I never saw a sign of that while I was teaching. Kids will always find creative ways to express their individuality.

My only hesitation would be cost. Those uniforms my students wore cost a small fortune and many families needed financial aid to help cover the extra expense. I would only agree to it if the uniforms were affordable.

But all of that was not at the forefront of the debate among other parents. Recently, a mother from the Netherlands asked my opinion about uniforms. I was ambivalent. I like the idea of uniforms, but not if they were very expensive, and, in the end, we should be moving home anyway after next year. It didn't matter much to me.

The other mother continued, "Well, I and many other parents are not happy about this at all! Uniforms in Germany, especially among children, is too reminiscent of Nazism and the Hitler Youth. And it's not just non-Germans who are against it. The German families don't like how this will make the school and their children appear."

When I asked if other schools in Germany have uniforms, she replied, "I have never heard of a school in Germany having uniforms for the exact reason I gave you. (I have checked and there are only isolated cases of German schools having uniforms.) And we feel it is just an attempt by our school to stand out, to make it seem better than other schools. It needs to distinguish itself somehow and the administration thinks uniforms will help do that. Why do we need to stand out that way? My kids would be so uncomfortable if they had to appear in public in their school uniforms."

Finally last month, we received the final word from the head honchos and there seems to be a compromise. There will be uniforms -- mandatory for physical education (some girls were dressing too scantily for gym class), but the daily uniform would be optional.

Land's End is the uniform supplier and the company put up a display in the school's lobby. I had to admit to Micaela that I found the uniform choice unnecessarily boring. The only pattern on any of the clothes was found on the tie.

Emilie wants to get the cute little white dress. The thought that immediately sprung to mind was, "Not in a million years. That dress would be stained after one day. What are they thinking?"

The cost of the clothes, while still more than I would pay for similar regular clothes in the U.S., is not unreasonable. We are required to buy the uniforms for gym class, but my guess is we won't buy any other pieces from this collection.

It will be interesting to see how many students wear the optional uniform next year.