School uniforms and selective denial

When Obama acted to revolutionise the American healthcare system, the British public were quick to recognise the benefits of the NHS; the national healthcare system. In the UK at least, the British public are fortunate to have a nationalised healthcare system that ensures healthcare remains a right rather than a privilege. At least for now although if Cameron gets his way, the NHS will rapidly be privatised making healthcare a privilege not a right, yet I digress. My focus for this post is on school uniforms in British schools. So while the British were quick to acknowledge the benefits of the British healthcare system and the faults with the US system, they remain surprisingly blind to the social apartheid imposed by school uniforms which is equally shaming, shocking and wholly indefensible. Whilst there may be valid arguments to impose uniform policies within academic environments, it would appear that few if any of these factored in the implementation of school uniform policy within the UK. After all, choice of uniform is not uniform across all schools within the country. Some uniforms, notably those which will be worn by students of state-funded schools, or let’s be honest, the poor kids, are often sold by large chain stores. As school uniforms are not the choice of clothing for children during leisure time, in essence, this strategy imposes a clothing tax onto the poor who more likely than not already face financial restriction on free income. In contrast, the selection of school uniforms chosen by other academic institutions may be available in more limited supply, with little market competition. A situation which may be acceptable for rich families, for whom cost of school uniforms is not a factor in where they deem their children will receive their education. And variation in school uniform nicely highlights class variation. Further highlighting class distinction which is merely a form of social oppression. 

However, for some, the cost of school uniforms is a deciding factor in the choice of institution selected for where their children will receive their education and the foundation for the rest of their lives. Clearly Britain has lost the ability to see the forest for the trees! The only crucial factor which should define the selection of institution for a child’s education should be the suitability of the academic on offer, never whether the parents can afford the additional burden of clothing their children in the arbitrary selection of school uniform. 

Either way, I think that school uniform policy in British schools needs a serious rethink. What is the intended effect, and is this being achieved by current policy? Absolutely not. School is for education, not enhancement of class-based subjugation.