The case for uniforms: Jackets and ties ... - Bedales School Green - .The... · School is one of...
1
first communities a child enters. When I talked to our leavers this summer, I was struck, as I always am, by what they said about that essential quality of a good school. ey had made friends, they had been impressed by (some of) their teachers, they had tried their hand at new experiences, failed at some things, excelled at others. And they felt powerfully that they had been part of a community. ey had looked round at Speech Day and seen everyone wearing their Rugby uniforms and had been moved by being part of it. Uniform is also a great leveller. e pupils of Rugby come from all backgrounds and you couldn’t tell from looking at them who comes from a wealthy family and who is on a 100 per cent bursary. ere’s no space for pursuing the fashionable, no time for projecting an image or displaying a label. ey put on their uniform and start their day with the freedom to be who they are, not who they might be trying to be. ere are no restrictions to get in the way of the rhythm of their days. Friendships are made on the basis of how people behave, not on how they look. Why do all the new academies impose a uniform on their pupils? To encourage a sense of pride, belonging, loyalty and discipline. If you wear a uniform, you don’t want to let down your friends and colleagues or disgrace yourself. It makes you want to do well in whatever you are doing or at least try your hardest. When I was a schoolboy in Scotland, I used to meet my pals in a pub called e Pins and Needles (in my last year, I hasten to add). We piled our distinctive green and gold blazers just inside the door so that, in our white shirts and black trousers, no one knew we were schoolboys. But of course they did, and which school we came from. Even people who say they don’t approve of uniforms or think they’re old-fashioned, often wear one without realising it. Look at all those men wearing their MCC and Oxford and Cambridge ties. Tying that tie and going out to face the world says: “I am a member of a group of people with whom I have lived and worked and enjoyed myself, with whom I have shared memories and ideals, and whom I don’t want to forget.” When I was acting-head of Ampleforth, it fell to me to introduce a change in the school dress code that meant all the boys had to wear black trousers (fully appreciating that black trousers really do not go with tweed jackets). e head boy came to see me on behalf of his peers. ey all hated the trousers, he argued passionately. Too bad, I said. Starting next term, you’ll all have to wear them. I arrived at the sports centre for the first assembly of the new term. As was the practice, the head boy met me outside. He was wearing black trousers. Good man, I thought. He’s persuaded them. I entered. Everyone – boy and girl – was wearing their Sunday suits. ey weren’t rebelling against the wearing of uniform; they were protesting at the black trousers. I lost the battle, but perhaps won the war. behaviour Wearing a uniform marks you out; it also embraces you. ink of the straight back and polished boots of the soldier as he or she receives his medal. Of the English rugby players as they go out on to the pitch in their bright white kit (based on Rugby School’s original and still worn by our players). ey are wearing uniforms, and doing so with pride, knowing they represent their country, their company, their team – a group of people with whom they share values and aspirations. When it comes to school, I come down firmly on the side of wearing a uniform. e girls and boys of Rugby wear gender-neutral, old-fashioned tweed jackets. None of them seems to be able to acquire one that fits properly but they tell me they like them. And the girls love their ankle-length grey skirts, which are warm in winter, cool in summer, and hide their pyjama bottoms if they get up too late to dress properly for chapel. Our 2016 head girl said: “e skirt is a comfort blanket. Slipping it on after an exeat is oddly reassuring.” Why do I approve? Because wearing a uniform gives you the sense of belonging to a community. School is one of the “Wearing a uniform is a great leveller – there’s no time for projecting an image” Rugby pupils all wear gender-neutral, old-fashioned tweed jackets Peter Green Head master, Rugby School e virtues of uniform “ ” The case for uniforms: Jackets and ties encourage a sense of pride, belonging, loyalty and discipline The Week Independent Schools Guide / 11 Schools Guide
Transcript of The case for uniforms: Jackets and ties ... - Bedales School Green - .The... · School is one of...
first communities a child enters. When I talked to our leavers this summer, I was struck, as I always am, by what they said about that essential quality of a good school. They had made friends, they had been impressed by (some of) their teachers, they had tried their hand at new experiences, failed at some things, excelled at others. And they felt powerfully that they had been part of a community. They had looked round at Speech Day and seen everyone wearing their Rugby uniforms and had been moved by being part of it.
Uniform is also a great leveller. The pupils of Rugby come from all backgrounds and you couldn’t tell from looking at them who comes from a wealthy family and who is on a 100 per cent bursary. There’s no space for pursuing the fashionable, no time for projecting an image or displaying a label. They put on their uniform and start their day with the freedom to be who they are, not who they might be trying to be. There are no restrictions to get in the way of the rhythm of their days. Friendships are made on the basis of how people behave, not on how they look.
Why do all the new academies impose a uniform on their pupils? To encourage a sense of pride, belonging, loyalty and discipline. If you wear a uniform, you don’t want to let down your friends and colleagues or disgrace yourself. It makes you want to do well in whatever you are doing or at least try your hardest.
When I was a schoolboy in Scotland, I used to meet my pals in a pub called The Pins and Needles (in my last year, I hasten to add). We piled our distinctive green and gold blazers just inside the door so that, in our white shirts and black trousers, no one knew we were schoolboys. But of course they did, and which school we came from.
Even people who say they don’t approve of uniforms or think they’re old-fashioned, often wear one without realising it. Look at all those men wearing their MCC and Oxford and Cambridge ties. Tying that tie and going out to face the world says: “I am a member of a group of people with whom I have lived and worked and enjoyed myself, with whom I have shared memories and ideals, and whom I don’t want to forget.”
When I was acting-head of Ampleforth, it fell to me to introduce a change in the school dress code that meant all the boys had to wear black trousers (fully appreciating that black trousers really do not go with tweed jackets). The head boy came to see me on behalf of his peers. They all hated the trousers, he argued passionately. Too bad, I said. Starting next term, you’ll all have to wear them. I arrived at the sports centre for the first assembly of the new term. As was the practice, the head boy met me outside. He was wearing black trousers. Good man, I thought. He’s persuaded them. I entered. Everyone – boy and girl – was wearing their Sunday suits. They weren’t rebelling against the wearing of uniform; they were protesting at the black trousers. I lost the battle, but perhaps won the war.
Uniform behaviourWearing a uniform marks you out; it also embraces you. Think of the straight back and polished boots of the soldier as he or she receives his medal. Of the English
rugby players as they go out on to the pitch in their bright white kit (based on Rugby School’s original and still worn by our players). They are wearing uniforms, and doing so with pride, knowing they represent their country, their company, their team – a group of people with whom they share values and aspirations.
When it comes to school, I come down firmly on the side of wearing a uniform. The girls and boys of Rugby wear gender-neutral, old-fashioned tweed jackets. None of them seems to be able to acquire one that fits properly but they tell me they like them. And the girls love their ankle-length grey skirts, which are warm in winter, cool in summer, and hide their pyjama bottoms if they get up too late to dress properly for chapel. Our 2016 head girl said: “The skirt is a comfort blanket. Slipping it on after an exeat is oddly reassuring.”
Why do I approve? Because wearing a uniform gives you the sense of belonging to a community. School is one of the
“Wearing a uniform is a great leveller – there’s no time for projecting an image”
Rugby pupils all wear gender-neutral, old-fashioned tweed jackets
Peter Green Head master, Rugby School The virtues of uniform
“
”
The case for uniforms: Jackets and ties encourage a sense of pride, belonging, loyalty and discipline
Schools Guide
The Week Independent Schools Guide / 11
Schools Guide
