Today is the only school uniform, mandatory for all schoolchildren, has not been introduced in the country. But individual schools, according to their internal charter, can make it compulsory for their students if both the administration and the majority of parents agree. In this regard, the debate about the pros and cons of regulated school clothing continues, so we tried to understand the arguments of both sides.

Pledge of Equality

PRO: Teachers say that many children, especially in elementary and middle school, still like to tease each other about clothes. If a child is dressed ugly by the standards of his classmates, his clothes were bought in a “nameless” store or at a clothing market, then he will most likely become an outcast, or at least an object of cruel jokes. A school uniform allows children not to compete and not to judge each other at least “by their clothes.” Thus, both schoolchildren from poor and wealthy families have the opportunity to dress absolutely the same, regardless of their social status and financial situation.

CONS: Others believe that it will not be possible to equalize the poor and the rich with form alone. Today's children pay a lot of attention to clothes, but they pay even more attention to various gadgets and other fashionable things. Wouldn’t a child in uniform with a brand new iPhone feel the difference between a child in uniform and a Chinese smartphone from seven years ago? Cheap and expensive pencil cases, notebooks and bags also only intensify the rivalry. And if the uniform is sewn not by the school, but by each parent according to the presented sample, then wealthy families will be able to order more quality clothes from good materials, and this will also be noticeable.

Saving money

PROS: According to supporters, school uniforms can be a help for poor families. After all, it gives them the opportunity to avoid buying large quantity clothes, limiting ourselves to only purchasing a few sets of uniforms. Parents don't have to think about how to dress their child, and the child won't spend hours hanging around the closet with a mirror, choosing what to wear today.

CONS: Firstly, one set of school uniform can cost more than a pair of regular jeans and shirts. And you need at least four such sets: two for the warm and cold seasons, and two replacement ones for them in case of force majeure, unscheduled washing or damage. Secondly, ordinary clothes can be combined endlessly, and if you alternate a couple of sets of uniforms, they will quickly wear out and you will have to buy them again. The worse the materials (and in poorly funded public schools this is usually the case), the faster the clothes deteriorate. And if you consider that children are constantly growing... Obviously, a good school uniform can cost parents a pretty penny.

Improving academic performance and discipline

FOR: 20 years ago in the USA, where many public schools are now returning to school uniforms, a special Scientific research, which studies the correlation of uniform and school performance. It showed that students in educational institutions where school uniforms have been introduced demonstrate top scores in their studies than students from schools with a free clothing style. This is due to the fact that the school uniform has an educational function: it disciplines the child and clearly makes him understand the difference between behavior at school and behavior at home or in the yard.

CONS: But there are also those who want to argue with this advantage of the school uniform. Comparing the performance ratings of schools where school uniforms have been introduced and where school uniforms have not been introduced is not representative because good grades students depend on many different factors: the professionalism of teachers, the microclimate in the school and class, the family environment and upbringing of each student, etc. Therefore, it is impossible to say unequivocally that it is the presence of uniform that influences the difference in academic performance.

Aesthetics and cohesion

PROS: School uniforms for girls and boys are a great way to distinguish children in society: this is how they look neat, beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, and not like a motley mass. From an early age, they accustom themselves to the corporate culture and dress code that awaits them in the future when working in large companies. In addition, children who wear the same clothes as their classmates feel more united and like each other more.

CONS: Children in the same uniform look beautiful and neat only in the opinion of those who support this uniform, which means this argument is subjective and unconvincing. Quite the contrary, most children strive to show their exclusivity among their peers, their difference from others, especially teenagers, and the school uniform simply depersonalizes and unifies them. Even schoolchildren with uniforms are trying hard to stand out from the crowd by shortening their skirts, rolling up their sleeves, changing their hairstyles and the colors of their socks. And you need to understand that every boy and every girl has his own body type, the school uniform will fit perfectly on some, but it will completely ruin someone - it’s unfair.

More arguments for school uniforms:

When a child wears a beautiful, strict uniform with an emblem patch, this not only makes him a worthy student in the eyes of others, but also puts the school itself in a good light: the educational institution seems more reputable and organized.
Some parents dress their children simply disgustingly, tastelessly, and children's school uniforms can hide this from prying eyes.

But there are even more arguments against:

What is the truth? Obviously, in the “golden mean”. An absolutely identical school uniform of the same type can hit parents’ pockets and limit the freedom of children, so it is better to compromise, as many schools do - to establish a moderately strict dress code. For example, prohibit wearing open blouses and tops, miniskirts, torn jeans, sleeveless vests to school, high heels and flip-flops, but don’t limit guys to comfortable jeans, T-shirts and hoodies, especially in cold weather; introduce a ban on bright makeup, but not ban cosmetics completely. Then the students will look decent, and the parents will not spend more money than usual, and the children themselves will be able to continue to express themselves in clothes, just in a more strict form.

Interesting facts about school uniforms in other countries of the world

Perhaps the most famous school uniform in the world is the Japanese one. There are several varieties of it, but the most popular is the school uniform for girls, which is called “seifuku”: this is a shirt with sailor collar, a pleated skirt above or below the knee, long knee socks and low-top leather shoes. The Japanese school uniform for boys is called "gakuran": straight-cut trousers and a dark-colored jacket with a stand-up collar. Clothes stylized as uniforms are worn not only by schoolchildren and schoolgirls, but also by other young Japanese, and fans of Japanese culture around the world also happily order “sailor suits” on the Internet.

School uniforms are an obligatory element of ancient and prestigious schools in the UK, as they emphasize belonging to a specific educational institution with its own history and list of merits. Children and teenagers in such schools are proud to be their students, so they always wear jackets and blazers with a distinctive emblem with pleasure.

An indicator of belonging to an educational institution, first of all, is the uniform in American and Canadian private schools. In public schools, uniforms can be found very rarely, although its introduction is actively discussed by parents and teachers in many states, but sometimes there is a dress code - moderately formal clothing in soothing colors and without revealing elements.

In Germany, the classic school uniform is also a rare occurrence, but some institutions, with the consent of parents and students, introduce uniform clothing for attending school, and the students themselves participate in its creation.

Junior schoolchildren in South Korea do not wear uniforms, but starting from high school, regulated clothing becomes mandatory for all students.

But in Cuba, uniforms are a mandatory element of absolutely all schools and even universities.

An interesting video with the school uniform adopted in different countries world, awaits you further:

During the first week of school, many mothers are already quite tired of washing and ironing school uniforms for boys and girls, primary schoolchildren and teenagers. Does your child also have a uniform at school? And how do you feel about this? Arguments for and against school uniforms are expressed by psychologist Lyudmila Petranovskaya.

School uniforms, who is in favor?

There are usually three arguments in favor of school uniforms.

1. The form creates equality and eliminates the difference in the wealth of families. Very funny.

Firstly, differences in family wealth have long existed not so much between children in the same class, but between different schools. The likelihood of the son of a cleaner and the son of a deputy/prosecutor/businessman/showman sitting next to each other at a desk is close to zero. It's already too late to drink Borjomi here. And in those schools where abilities are important, where there is no corruption in admissions and such proximity is quite possible, they usually don’t bother with uniforms, and children, like teachers, are violet, whose parents are richer.

Secondly, the difference in income will still be visible. In addition to the uniform, there are shoes, sneakers and a suit for physical education, outerwear, watch, phone, way to spend holidays and a bunch of other things. Shall we equalize everything?

On the other hand, the difference between expensive and cheap clothes is now very small in appearance. This is not the difference between velvet with pearls and tatters with bast shoes, but only nonsense like brands and the “latest collections”. The jeans that I bought for my daughter in the summer on sale in some chain store like New Yorker, for 10 euros, look no different from jeans for 1000 euros, just completely (and are half the price of the lousiest synthetic shiny and floppy uniform school trousers, and not lousy ones - five times). What kind of huge difference in appearance are we talking about?

Thirdly, who ever said that solving a problem by sweeping garbage under the carpet is The best way? Social inequality exists. The task of parents and teachers is to teach children to cope with this circumstance with dignity, without equating the value of a person with the value of his rags.

2. The second argument also delights in its hypocrisy. Uniforms, they say, support a sense of belonging to the school and corporate pride; it’s not for nothing that the best private schools in Europe have them. Wonderful. That is, our schools are no different, there is absolutely nothing to be proud of there, children do not like them and, to put it mildly, do not value belonging to them - but the uniform will PICTURE that ours is like in Europe.

It would be interesting to make a correlation - how the quality of the school, including the love of its students, relates to the degree of zeal in requiring uniforms from its administration. Something tells me that the addiction will be quite telling. Not to mention the fact that in those same " best schools Europe" the autonomy of the school operates, and if there is a form, it is the decision of the school itself, its personal tradition, and not a consequence of something said and imposed from above.

3. Well, and about the fact that school teaches you to wear a suit. This is no comment at all. Why would anyone think that a child would definitely need an office suit in his future? I live without him and don’t complain. And my daughter, I hope, will be okay. And my son wears it with pleasure on occasion, although he wore jeans to school. Is it possible that my children will not be programmed in advance on how to dress and how to live?

This is where the arguments in favor end. At least I haven't heard others.

Arguments against school uniforms

Now let's see what we have to say against school uniforms.

1. Form comes first bullying of mothers. Because a normal second-grader boy (and many girls) buys an average of three sets of clothes per school week. And either mom has to wash, dry and iron the creases at night, or spend money on three sets to wash and dry all weekend.

The fabrics and styles of school uniforms are usually impractical: either they wrinkle, and there are all these folds, pintucks, and buttons, you’ll have a hard time ironing them, or they have a large percentage of synthetics, which means puffs, pilling, and a very short service life. Often on the label it says that machine washing is prohibited. How is this in general? Hire a maid for the sake of external social equality?

2. Uniform is expensive. For example, I often have work on weekends, or even business trips. That's why I always buy my daughter a lot of clothes, with a reserve for those times when I can't help her get ready for school on the weekend. Buying four jeans and a dozen blouses, T-shirts, and sweaters is much cheaper than buying four uniform sets. And besides, these same jeans and T-shirts are suitable for visiting, going to a club, going for a walk, or going on vacation during the holidays.

3. Shape is discrimination against children with a non-standard figure. The difference in body type, which jeans and knitwear hide, is emphasized by uniforms. In advertising photos we always see slender girls who suit pleated skirts, ruffled blouses and waist-length sundresses. And the suffering of girls who are not so slender or, on the contrary, very thin, who are forced to cling to sundresses or walk in something like a bag with buttons, the discomfort of tall and short children, or teenagers whose width is still a child’s size, and their length is quite adult and everything sticks out everywhere and is not taken into account.

4. The shape is uncomfortable. Shirts tucked into trousers, jackets with stiff shoulders, skirts that ride up or cling to tights, buttons that come off easily. It presses, cuts in and presses, it must be constantly corrected and pulled back, but for a child with sensitive skin typical uniforms are simply torture. What kind of study is this?

5. Form provokes conflicts. Where there is arbitrariness, there will be protest. Teenagers will fight for their right to go without a uniform, violating the requirements without appearing. They will be scolded for this at school and at home. They respond by snapping back. Parents will bully their children or cause trouble with the school. And why, one might ask, is it necessary to create a known point of tension? Not enough stress in your life?

6. Sometimes parents say: but you don’t have to think about what to put on him (her), otherwise he will start to sort out the whole morning. There is such a thing, some people start. But isn’t one of the tasks of childhood - learn to manage your appearance, including? Learn to dress appropriately, comfortably, and to please yourself? Why not set expectations that help you learn to think and decide what to wear?

For example, the requirement of modesty and strictness of clothing is high-quality, reasonable and developing. There is an opportunity to think and evaluate: are jeans with holes and rhinestones suitable? Can there be any inscription on the T-shirt? And again there may be different traditions in different schools. OWN traditions, and somewhere it’s normal to come in a T-shirt with the inscription: “I’m kind of strange today,” but somewhere it’s not okay, and you need to navigate this. No, of course, if the goal is to talk less with children in general, and only give instructions, then, of course, the form is better.

7. In this place, psychologists usually talk about the harm of equalization and leveling of individuality, that the form prepares for the role of a “cog” or “office plankton”, but I won't. It’s not so easy to neutralize individuality with clothes. The children will fight back. Their eyes, smiles, and characters cannot be neutralized by sundresses.

It seems to me that the harm from violence is much greater. The same clothing for everyone is generally characteristic of places not created for joy: the army, prison, hospital. If the uniform is not about love for your school and not about pride that you study here, then it is about the fact that the state has you as it wants, and teachers and parents, instead of protecting you from it, help it in this . However, maybe this is precisely the true deep message of the innovation.

In short, the only school uniform that I can recognize as reasonable is jeans (skirts) without frills with T-shirts, sweatshirts, and sweatshirts in the school colors or with the school’s emblem and motto, which the children themselves want to wear and wear when the school council decides. And if for some reason someone doesn’t wear it, then that’s okay too.

Firstly, do not exaggerate the possibilities of school tyranny. No one has the right to restrict your child's access to education or bully him because of his uniform. Whatever the rulings and decisions, the law is stronger, and the law speaks about your child’s right to education. You, as a parent, are obliged to provide him with the conditions for this - clothes suitable for going to school. CLOTHES. Not the uniform.

The school can decide on a mandatory uniform - it has the right. The school's parent committee can protest this decision - it also has the right. If the parent committee bends or craves equalization, it is very easy to re-elect it at the next meeting.

If obvious nitpicking begins with the stripes-width of the pants, if the child is kicked out of school and class on a day when for some reason he is out of shape (hasn’t had time to dry), don’t run to buy other shirts-pants and don’t start making excuses.

Tell them that you and your child respect the school's choice of uniform and will follow those guidelines WHERE POSSIBLE. No, you won’t iron out creases on your trousers, you don’t have time and you don’t like it. And no, you won’t get up at 6 am in order to have time to dry your only proper vest with a hairdryer. And if your child has sensitive skin, then he will not wear a jacket with a chafing collar and cutting armpits, but you promise - when you can - to buy a matching knitted jacket.

Finally, you can always write a statement addressed to the director that, due to financial circumstances, you cannot provide your child with a school uniform of the required type and really hope that this will not affect the attitude of teachers and administration towards him. Are we all for the sake of equality between the poor and the rich?

It doesn't matter what your actual circumstances are. After all, you are in charge of the budget and you may think that it is better to spend money on your child's holiday in England or on his diving lessons than on a uniform. But you don’t have enough for both. In some cases this may sound mocking, but who started bullying first? You submit a statement for the record, and after the first case of a child being brainwashed because of his uniform, you write a complaint to the top about the fact that your child is being bullied because the family is not rich enough. Of course, this is an option for teenagers who themselves do not want to wear a uniform so much that they are ready to withstand some pressure and are confident in the support of their classmates.

There is no need to artificially put a child in the role of an outcast; then it would be easier to change schools. Well, the clothes that the child wears instead of a uniform should look decent - not provocative, not very worn, dirty, or obviously not the right size. Otherwise you'll end up with problems with custody.

You can also write a statement about a child with sensitive skin. Just prepare the child himself what to answer if it “starts.” The best option: “Marya Petrovna, I wear what my mother (father) orders. All questions should be addressed to my parents.”

In short, I really sympathize with everyone who “got it”, let it poison the life of you and your children as little as possible. Don't offend them.

The director of our school obliges all junior schoolchildren to wear a uniform. But many parents are against this. What should we do?
A. I. Nikonorova, Moscow

IN SOME schools the board may decide to make it compulsory to wear a school uniform. Such precedents have already existed in certain Russian regions. Is this legal? Absolutely, if such a decision is written in the charter of the educational institution.

The people perceived the abolition of school uniforms during perestroika as a revolution. Indeed, in Russia, back in the 19th century, high school students wore paramilitary uniforms and uniform caps. There were special clothes for girls too. In Soviet times, the tradition was continued. And suddenly - the children went to school in different clothes. There was a lot of controversy then. School uniforms have many supporters and opponents. However, many misunderstood the essence of the transformation. The state only abolished the compulsory wearing of school uniforms. But no one banned it. Now no one is stopping any school from introducing a certain standard of clothing.

Law Russian Federation“On Education” states that the school has the right to independently determine the rights and obligations of the student on the basis of its charter, if this does not contradict other laws. There are no documents on this matter. In order to dress children in standard jackets and dresses, all that is needed is the good will of the administration and parents. If the decision is made, your child is required to appear in class only in uniform. But, as they say, there is a moment...

Your child cannot be forced to go to school, say, in extravagant, provocative clothes.

This is already contrary to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that school discipline can be maintained using methods that “reflect respect for the human dignity of the child...”. Therefore, make sure that the school uniform is normal business attire.

By the way, contrary to popular belief, there are still more advantages than disadvantages in a school uniform. Child psychology experts believe that standard clothing fosters a sense of belonging and pride in the school. In addition, it eliminates clothing competition among children. A child from a rich family will no longer have a reason to bully a poorer classmate. And most importantly, from school, the child will get used to wearing clothes in the right place and time.

IN Lately A lot of parents are in favor of returning school uniforms.

According to a sociological survey conducted by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM), the number of supporters of uniformity in students’ clothing (compared to data two years ago) increased by 16%, and today this is two-thirds of respondents. The Ministry of Education and Science also spoke in favor of a unified school uniform. There are still the same number of opponents of the school uniform - 31%, but its supporters are already 64%.

The main arguments of opponents of schoolchildren dressing on one face are the elementary reluctance of children to wear it (32%) and “loss of individuality” (18%). Low quality fabrics and tailoring were noted by 14%, an increase in expenses for a child’s education - 15%, and parents’ time wasted in connection with the purchase of uniforms.

Here are the opinions of children and adults on this matter.

Anastasia Petrova, 9th grade student:

"School uniforms are not my style. I feel like I'll feel self-conscious in them, so it's better to wear my own clothes. And it's not that I want to distinguish myself from everyone else. I just want to wear something that makes me feel feel comfortable."

Vasily Gruzdev, 10th grade student:

"I am against a school uniform. I think that this will not solve any problems. Of course, it’s good when every morning you don’t have to think about what to wear today. You just put on your school uniform and that’s it. But you feel more comfortable in your clothes. Then every person your image, and therefore I want to emphasize my individuality."

Alexey Pimenov, teacher:

"It would be better if all students wore a school uniform. Firstly, this erases the differences caused by the social status of the students' parents. As a teacher, it is important for me that there is equality between students in the classroom. If this is not the case, then there is a struggle, or, in other words, in words, rivalry."

Tamara Sokolova, teacher:

"I talked a lot with students on this topic. In principle, there are no stratifications in schools now social status No. Such a “cool” student, who allows himself excesses in clothing and shows off the wealth of his parents, himself feels great discomfort. The students themselves can put such “cool” people in their place, saying, for example, that he belongs in a private school. In general, I believe that there is no great need to dress children in school uniforms. This is most likely more suitable for private schools rather than municipal ones."

As for foreign experience, in the USA, where more and more children go to school in the same clothes, a survey was conducted among teachers. He showed that the introduction of uniforms in 60% of cases improved discipline in the classroom and increased the level of attention of students. Yes, the teachers agreed, on the one hand, the school uniform neutralizes the individual, but on the other hand, it unites the team. According to the results of another survey, parents of American children are sure: the uniform is a sign of elitism educational institution.

School uniform: for or against? A thousand articles, hundreds of broadcasts on television and radio - and still not a single concrete answer to this question. On the eve of each new school year, this topic is raised many times in completely different circles, starting from teachers who are often dissatisfied with the sometimes too modern appearance of their students, parents, with whose money they have to buy the uniform itself, and ending with schoolchildren who cannot get used to strict shirts and pants.

At the beginning of studying this topic, I, like all schoolchildren who do not understand the meaning of the form, first of all went to the Internet. It turns out that the main reason is discipline. The main argument against is the infringement of children's rights. But more on that later. How was it for them? Those same teachers, head teachers, directors and our parents.

The concept of school uniform first appeared in pre-revolutionary Russia. To be precise, the adoption of a law approving a separate type of civilian uniform was adopted in 1834. However, at that time, only the children of the intelligentsia, nobles and large industrialists could afford a high school uniform. And therefore, it was a kind of source of pride: the uniform was worn not only on weekdays in the schools themselves, but also on all holidays.

Already in 1918, school uniforms were abolished as a bourgeois relic, but were reintroduced 30 years later. (By the way, it did not differ significantly from the pre-revolutionary one). There was even a punishment for students who did not follow the rules, that is, did not wear a uniform. In the USSR, school uniforms changed several times. In the 60s, boys had blue trousers and jackets, girls had brown dresses with black collars (for holidays, white collars and bows). What really surprised me was that even many hairstyles were banned. All the girls had to wear braids; hair coloring was out of the question. In the early 80s it was introduced new form- dark blue three-piece suit. It was worn by students after completing seven grades, and from the first to the seventh grades, girls wore a brown dress, and boys, a trouser suit. Hairstyle rules have been relaxed. In 1992, the form was canceled.

Was this the right decision? The debate has not stopped for many years.

Pros of school uniform:

Form is a sign of belonging to something. In this case, to school.
Form is a kind of synonym for the word discipline.
The form unites and makes children part of one large team.
Shape reduces competition and envy.
Form hides social difference.

Disadvantages of school uniforms:

Form does not allow individuality to develop.
Form is an element of the equation for all children.
The uniform may be too expensive for poor families.
The uniform is extremely uncomfortable and not fashionable.
Form - can sometimes create complexes.

While the issue of returning school uniforms has not been raised, most schools require their students to wear business style. Business style is one of the clothing styles that is close to conservative and is little subject to fashion trends. Strict, discreet and simple, this is how the right suit should be. In schools, however, this concept has become very vague. And what, according to children, refers to business style, then, according to teachers, sometimes it is better not to wear it even on the street.

Is business style the optimal solution or should we return to the previously well-tested school uniform? We decided to ask different parties about this.

Parent:

School uniforms are pointless. In other parts of the world it is mainly worn at will. Psychologists have long proven the fact that a schoolchild’s clothing does not affect his perception and learning. As for business style at school, this is not bad, in my opinion. But the thing is that in adolescence Boys have absolutely no figure, and the suit, as a rule, looks awkward. This can confuse children, forming complexes in them, as a result of which they develop isolation and then a reluctance to be among their peers. Therefore, I believe that a school uniform or business suit should be encouraged, but not enforced, for students to wear to school.

Teacher:

I have a positive attitude towards school uniforms. In my opinion, this erases the inequalities between children. Firstly, when you put on a school uniform, you are already somehow mentally preparing for the work day. Secondly, school uniforms do not distract children’s attention during lessons, and they are completely focused on the subject. Thirdly, a kind of team cohesion. A uniform is a sign of belonging to something, in this case to a school.

Pupil:

How nice it is sometimes to watch American, English or, for example, Spanish TV series about schoolchildren. All of them are required to wear a uniform. When they show class, everyone is dressed the same, neatly, and in the end it turns out very beautiful. Business style, in my opinion, is a big stupidity.

Parent:

I am for school uniforms. School is not a catwalk or a fashion show. This is an educational institution where you need to learn directly. Form will create discipline. Business style is an absolutely incomprehensible phenomenon to me, and the concept itself became too vague at school. Although I would allow boys free style. A real business suit sometimes looks very ridiculous. And for girls, school uniforms will only benefit.

Pupil:

I used to always get angry when the teacher once again scolded me for my “unbusinesslike” style of clothing. I sincerely could not understand why they force us to wear these ridiculous school suits, because the same jeans are very comfortable and practical! But last year I decided to switch to this business style, which was strange to me at that time, in order to understand what it was like. My parents offered me a compromise option: not to buy ready-made factory suits (which, by the way, look completely unattractive!), but to buy what I like, keeping up with fashion, so to speak. At first it was very uncomfortable and unusual: either my shirt would come out of my trousers, or I would pull on another pair of tights. But after two months of “torture,” I got used to it so much that I even forgot about my favorite jeans! I finally understood why teachers force us to wear school uniforms - so that we get used to it. After all, not every employer or just a person will take seriously, say, a lawyer in sneakers and jeans. Plus, wearing formal clothes makes me feel older and more serious. And you can wear jeans for a walk too!

What really surprised me was that most of the children, parents, and teachers are in favor of school uniforms. And if we take rounded numbers, then out of 10 respondents, 6 will be for school uniforms, 1 for business style, and only 3 for freedom in clothing. Having met with ninth-graders who were wearing neat uniforms blue color, I was even more amazed. The girls were completely satisfied, but later admitted that they would still like to dress at their own discretion more.

So what is better, the same school uniform or free style? I still haven’t found a specific answer to this question. And now it began to seem to me that the correct answer simply does not exist. However, there are many compromise solutions. An example is a school uniform of the same colors, from the same materials, but different styles. As a result, every schoolchild will sew something for himself that he will be happy to wear later. Someone has a cardigan, someone has a pleated skirt, or maybe it will be an interesting vest? Here both imagination and design skills can be trained.

The choice is up to the administration, and all students can do is study well.

IN 2014 academic year uniform became a mandatory attribute of school life. As always, the decision of the Ministry of Education split the public into two camps, because absolutely all citizens of our country were, are, or will be schoolchildren. Involvement in the discussion of why school uniforms are needed is widespread, and the number of arguments of opponents of the dress code usually outweighs sentimental memories of one’s own wonderful school years supporters of uniformity appearance students. But this is due to the inability to participate in the discussion. Let's leave emotions and turn to the facts, rehabilitating the school uniform and even speaking out in its defense.

Form and discipline

Discipline is not a phenomenon where children march in formation and praise the party in chorus, as many people imagine. Discipline is compliance with certain rules adopted in a certain organization, even unspoken ones. A school is first and foremost an educational institution, and talking about complete anarchy of self-expression within school walls is very short-sighted. There are some absolute rules: arrive at a certain time, sit at your desk during class, address the teacher politely, work on assignments. Everyone respects them, and no one thinks of being outraged by such violence.

For some reason, school uniforms fall out of this category in the eyes of the public. As an optional element: it seems that both in uniform and in “civilian clothes” children follow the same rules. This is true, however, a schoolchild who sits in class in the same clothes, plays football, walks the dog, goes to the cinema, in a word, goes about his daily business, ceases to perceive school as a special place. And then the rules established within its walls begin to seem like a burden. A person naturally observes them, but this observance brings internal discomfort.

What happens when a student puts on a uniform? There is a feeling of detachment from life outside of school, studying goes beyond the range of ordinary affairs, entertainment, activities and becomes a special, respectable and responsible matter. And there is a mood to follow the rules, because school is a place where the rules should work without causing internal rebellion.

Here you may come across the opinion that for this it is not necessary to introduce a school uniform, just some general uniformity is enough. In fact, if a child has a more or less strict classic suit “for school” in his wardrobe, it will fulfill its disciplinary function without in any way affecting the child’s sense of taste, the parents’ wallet and the ability of both to express themselves. Can be limited color scheme and the length of the skirts, and leave the color, style, cut, and material at the discretion of the parents and students themselves. This would be true if the form was designed to work only for discipline, but it functional purpose much wider.

Form and social equality

The favorite argument of supporters of school uniforms is the memory of how in Soviet times all students were equal, and the children of ministers and cleaners studied in the same class, not formally different from each other. In fact, this, of course, is a myth revealed to us by altered memory. Children of high-ranking officials always studied separately, and if anyone ended up in regular school, then he was still different from the rest. The uniform itself does not socially equalize children, and in this the antagonists are absolutely right: gadgets, accessories, jewelry, cars and cash will do their job, even if the children are dressed the same.

The school uniform only excludes one element from this series of status criteria. Here, a uniform made of one material and a standard model plays into its favor: there is less reason for emotions. True, the optimal solution should still be a choice between externally similar styles, which are designed to fundamentally different types figures. Children are different, just like adults, and forcing them to wear clothes that, for a number of reasons, do not suit them would be stupid.

In addition, identically dressed schoolchildren receive relatively equal opportunities for self-affirmation, feeling the status superiority of their comrades only at the moment of obsessive demonstration of this superiority. Until your desk neighbor gets a new smartphone or game console, he is your equal. When the opportunity arises to demonstrate one’s superiority through appearance, it is exploited as fully as possible: it is simple, the effect is permanent, and the feeling of equality does not appear at all.

Form and educational process

It seems that the school uniform and the process of acquiring knowledge are in no way connected, and the teacher’s tasks do not include either cultivating taste, or controlling appearance, or monitoring the moral character of the student. The main thing is that children study and do not interfere with others doing the same, and whether they sit at their desks in jeans, tracksuits or classics is a tenth matter.

In fact, wearing bright colors and flashy styles distracts you from your activities. Our visual apparatus is designed in such a way that attention is attracted by something different from the general background, not even necessarily a red sweater among gray jackets. With the same success, the eye will be caught by the calm blue among the green. When attention is involuntarily dispersed between the text, bright spots of clothing, and extraneous sounds, it is quite difficult to retain a thought, especially since it tends to fly away on its own. The diversity around and the variety of forms are good for relaxation, but in collective work, uniformity can only be a blessing for the central nervous system and sensory organs: the brain should not be overloaded with information arriving simultaneously and belonging to different categories and categories.

In addition to schoolchildren, the teacher is also involved in the educational process. Imagine what it’s like: looking at the diversity for many hours every day, trying to concentrate on the lesson. Both your eyes and your head will hurt, and by the end of the day there will be no strength left, because others are constantly being added to the color irritant. What can a constantly tired teacher teach?

In addition to distracting unconditional attention, clothing also distracts conditional attention. A high school girl's deep neckline can make not only her classmates, but also her teacher forget the basics of arithmetic. Discussion of appearance and related psychological characteristics a person becomes an important part of school life, especially since teachers sometimes cannot resist making comments. A powerful distraction factor on the learning process has Negative influence, what if there are thirty such factors?

To be fair, it is worth saying that not only bright, expensive and revealing outfits disturb the calm of the class, but also those that are simply different and arouse curiosity. Thus, in mixed schools, women's hijabs are the subject of constant attention of both children and adults. Anyone can play such a role. custom clothing, from ripped jeans to grandma's knitted skirt.

Form and self-expression

It turns out that our schoolchildren express themselves exclusively through clothing. This argument is one of the main ones in the declared opposition. As soon as it comes to school uniforms, parents begin to demand respect for the right to express their own personality. This, of course, is very important during its formation.

But what do we see without rose-colored glasses and theories? Self-expression ends where fashion, supported by the parent's wallet, begins. Some teenagers who consider themselves to be members of informal subcultures are somewhat freer in this regard, but certain trends set the tone in small groups. Someone who expresses something personal through clothing has every chance of becoming a pariah. Brands, price and runway combinations of color and model have nothing to do with self-expression. Most schoolchildren want to look “like everyone else,” and that’s what they look like. Only the details vary. Will a young person want to go to school in a formal suit if everyone around him is wearing jeans and bright, fashionable sweatshirts? Does he want to sit in class? tracksuit, if classics are trending? Very doubtful.

The mantra of Soviet times “become interesting in uninteresting clothes” has been completely forgotten today, because due to “ interesting clothes” can attract attention without making any effort. You don’t need knowledge, hobbies, charisma, you don’t need to build relationships and be able to listen to others. Just looking is enough. Is this what parents want? Children are not children forever, but once in a real, not school world, can break down in a clash of worldviews: personal and professional quality, self-expression must have a solid foundation. The form, having equalized everyone outwardly, allows us to pay attention to other human characteristics (to be fair, they do not always have real value outside of school).

It is also worth saying that taste in clothing can develop over time or not develop at all, so the aesthetics of such self-expression can be very illusory. Inability to dress fashionably or wear certain things (strict suits, for example, classic pants, high heels) can do young man the butt of jokes. Mandatory wearing of a uniform eliminates this stress factor: for those who do not understand and are not interested in fashion, life with a uniform is much easier.

Form and family budget

A very interesting point - dependence family budget from school uniform. What do parents who oppose it usually say? School uniforms are sewn to order, often in Russian fashion - in one designated atelier for a designated amount, which is clearly not comparable to the cost of a set of clothes from a stock store. School is becoming very expensive. There will no longer be a single uniform for everyone (as it used to be - brown dresses, blue jackets), and the school administration is not holy seraphim, and if the opportunity arises, someone will definitely make money on tailoring somehow.

This is fair, but these are problems of the system, not the school uniform itself. It, however, costs much more than what is written on the price tag: it requires two sets of shirts or blouses, a pair of trousers and, very preferably, a replacement jacket. Nobody likes wearing one set for months and putting it on immediately after washing. Moreover, children grow very quickly, sometimes they lose weight or gain weight so much that their shape has to be adjusted. Accordingly, the cost increases.

On the other hand, the thesis “we are not rich enough to buy cheap” is very true in our case. Instead of a uniform made from wearable and durable materials, a growing person will wear casual sweaters, T-shirts, skirts, jeans to school, and after school they will wear them to walk, play, and go about their business. Naturally, children don’t want to wear the same clothes every day, and their clothes deteriorate at the speed of sliding down a hill on their own backside. The cheaper, the lower quality the material. Schoolchildren do not really want to wear cheap clothes. So, instead of a couple of uniform sets, you will have to purchase non-uniform sets several times a year. Considering that parents are not eager to buy synthetic or cheap knitwear themselves, the difference in cost is reduced: jeans, a shirt and a sweater may turn out to be only slightly cheaper than a school suit, but you can’t get by with just one thing. The savings are doubtful.

More important point: a school uniform relieves parents of the constant desire of children to dress in something even more fashionable and new. After all, young people spend most of the day within the walls of an educational institution (at least, that’s what I want to believe), so refusing to buy Armani will not lead to the young lady feeling like Cinderella, or even a pumpkin, for many hours in a row. Enough of these impressions outside of school.

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