Sir, – Brenda Morgan contends that schools spend a great deal of time reaching a “consensus” on their uniform policies, while also acknowledging that parents and teachers do “their utmost to explain the reasoning behind their school’s policy” to the students (Letters, January 6th). Surely, if the former were true, there would be no need for the latter? Unless the consultation processes, to which she refers, included the possibility of allowing students to wear their normal clothes, the process would lack any authenticity. Indeed, it would be harmful from the perspective of student empowerment, as it would be modelling the acceptance of a false consultation. Arguments for uniforms are threadbare and have more to do with social control than preventing bullying. If it were otherwise, perhaps someone could explain why five-year-old children have to wear ties or why why 18-year-old adults must wear the same colour socks and itchy trousers. Having worked in an international school for five years, and been the principal of an Irish secondary school for the past eight, I can think of no good reason to deny students self-expression and the ability to be comfortable in school. On the contrary, I can confirm that allowing students to be themselves brings levity and light to classrooms and corridors.
As with the role of religion in our schools, our approach to uniforms only seems normal due to familiarity; in reality, we are an outlier in European terms. – Yours, etc,
COLM O’CONNOR,
Belgooly,
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Co Cork.
A chara, – Concerning Gearoid Ó Riain’s letter (January 11th), it should be noted that we all wore “uniforms” while attending primary school in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In those days, most children wore short trousers, a shirt and a woolly jumper. The colours were black, white, brown or grey and the shoes black or brown. Economic circumstances dictated the uniformity of school attire. During my 46 years in education as a teacher, a principal and a school inspector, I too succumbed to the pressures of parents, society and boards of management chasing down aberrant students, which in hindsight was a complete waste of time! I am not, therefore, convinced by the arguments for or against the modern obsession with school uniforms.
Uniforms are an integral and essential part of society, particularly in frontline services, such as the Garda, the Army, security personnel and medical staff. Many businesses including financial services, the hospitality industry and airline companies, insist on uniforms. In sports, uniforms are mandatory, particularly in team events. One could not conceive of football team members wearing whatever they wished. In all of the above instances, the main justifications for the wearing of uniforms are identification and safety. Can these principles be applied to schools so that student individuality is respected, student safety assured, and the economic pressures on parents alleviated? – Yours, etc,
SEAN Ó DIOMASAIGH,
Dunsany,
Co Meath.
Sir, – Perhaps a middle road ought to be taken on the issue? A traditional uniform could be maintained for more formal occasions and when a student represents the school publicly. However, on a daily basis students could follow a broader dress code which would encourage a sense of responsibility and individual expression, while being more practical and comfortable. – Yours, etc,
KIERAN SPARLING,
Corbally,
Limerick.