Skirting the issue
Opponents might claim they repress individuality but psychologists argue that wearing a school uniform can have a positive effect. Let’s not cut our ties with school uniforms just yet…
Love them or loathe them, school uniforms are an intrinsic part of school life for the majority of Irish children. And while many might argue that the act of wearing a school uniform stifles creativity and represses a child’s sense of individuality, uniforms can have a substantially positive effect on a child in terms of learning and self-esteem.
Clair Breen, a child and adolescent psychotherapist and mother of one, believes the act of wearing a uniform can have a positive psychological effect in the long run.
She also believes enforcing a dress code can actually have a positive effect on adolescent development and behaviour in the classroom.
‘Children thrive on boundaries,’ she explains. ‘Research shows that, and by adults taking that decision and teaching children that you do have to conform to society’s rules and standards, it also teaches children of all ages respect for themselves and respect for others.
‘The uniform gives the students a sense of community and a sense of belonging. A sense of belonging is key for emotional growth and self-esteem all the way along through school. They may not fit in at home but they fit in that community.’
Clinical psychologist Dr Eddie Murphy also supports the concept: ‘A uniform can create a sense of community in the school and even between the class groups, even if the children don’t know each other.’
Clair Breen also believes the act of putting on a uniform every morning is crucial to changing a child’s attitude, getting them into a positive frame of mind for the day ahead and reinforcing a positive attitude towards learning.
‘It absolutely changes the mindset. They’re preparing to go to school and it’s now school time. You’re differentiating between home time, playtime, and bedtime,’ she says.
‘When children are making the transition from infancy to school, it helps them mentally prepare. If a child is struggling with the idea of going to school, you can practise going to school with them by putting the uniform on, and the whole process of buying the uniform can be a really special day. While it can be stressful for parents, it’s a pivotal moment in a child’s life so you can nearly make it into a celebration. That’s what I did and what I would encourage others to do with children going into junior infants or going to secondary school. You can sometimes lose that sense of ceremony but you can try and keep that going.’
This technique, known as behaviour mapping, is something Clair does with her clients who are struggling with school.
‘You can’t change how you feel psychologically, you have to either change what you’re thinking or what you’re doing. And with a uniform, the step-by-step act of putting it on is getting yourself ready. It goes back to if you’re already stressed and anxious – the added stress of what you have to wear in the morning is removed, and it becomes something the child has control over. They can choose to get their uniform ready the night before and talk about what it will feel like to wear it.’
According to children’s charity Barnardos, the average cost of sending a child in senior infants to school is €360. By the time they reach secondary school, parents can expect to spend €785 on average for a firstyear pupil. It also found that 11 per cent of primary school parents and 21 per cent of secondary school parents are forced to borrow money to cover the costs.
However, Clair also believes school uniforms don’t necessarily have to be a drain on parents’ wallets, can help them save money in the long run and also have an egalitarian effect in the classroom.
‘Financially you’re better off if you have to buy a uniform over children’s clothes,’ she says. ‘And when children have to wear non-branded items, every child comes is on the same playing field, regardless of how much money their parents have. Children going into school are equal and that’s so important for their self-esteem. My daughter’s primary school didn’t have a uniform but her secondary school did, and the difference in stress levels in the morning was huge. Uniforms, particularly for teenage girls, remove the stress of peer pressure and the question of what to wear in the morning.’
‘They’re a leveller in terms of social class,’ Dr Murphy agrees. ‘The reason armies wear uniforms is because it gives them a sense of anonymity. If you look at 1,000 people in uniform, you don’t really see the individual.
‘Uniforms break down the class barriers and you can’t distinguish economic privilege. I’ve two boys in school and the school uniform is the same the whole way though. It really doesn’t allow for that social stratification and allows children to be blended more.’
However, Dr Murphy believes we need national guidelines on school uniform policy, preventing certain schools from stipulating unique uniforms that costs hundreds of euro.
‘I am in favour of school uniforms but not bespoke uniforms, and I’d be in favour of a national standard uniform that is convenient and cheap for parents. With parental income it makes sense.
‘There are certain school uniforms that can only be bought in a certain shop, it’s bespoke, but that acts, in a way, as a barrier to some children entering those schools.’
And he also believes that schools need to revise their policies when it comes to the outdated notion that boys should wear trousers and girls, skirts.
‘With some schools, girls must wear skirts and this can create sexist conformity because some girls want to wear trousers.
‘What’s really interesting to see from a psychological standpoint is how children individualise themselves when wearing a uniform by rolling up their shirt sleeves differently, wearing jewellery or styling their hair different. Teenagers are more influenced by their peers than their parents but they form groups based on how they dress.
‘Even within the context of school uniforms, people will seek out their individuality.’