Are school uniforms really a good idea?

As that time of year approaches again, when parents send their kids back into the welcoming arms of their teachers, the debate over school uniforms, and the advantages and disadvantages of them is sure to begin again. Most schools around the country have a strict uniform policy, where children must turn up every day in the full school attire, although more and more schools are adopting a more relaxed approach to the clothes their pupils wear during school time.

There are many good arguments in favour of children wearing school uniforms. The equality argument is probably the strongest. When every child is wearing the same uniform there is less room for children to feel inadequate, and less pressure put on parents to purchase the branded clothes that many kids feel gives them a status among their peers. It could also be argued that wearing a uniform instils a sense of discipline in children as they learn that they must abide by the rules and regulations of the institution that they belong to.

On the other side of the fence many parents are under huge pressure already with the bills that constantly come during the school year. Books, lunches and school tours all add up considerably and the school uniform is another big expense, especially if you have more than one child going to school. And then there's always the question whether uniforms are breeding conformity in our next generation, when they should be learning how to express their individuality.