200 Children Sent Home From School In Uniform Crackdown

Walkden High headteacher, Elaine Hilton, explained that a letter was sent out to

parents outlining the uniform guidelines and non-compliance consequences prior to the start of the academic year. Hilton also insisted of the mainly positive response from parents, whose support has ensured the "swift resolution of most uniform concerns".

However, in a school of 1,200 pupils, 200 represents a sizeable proportion of the overall attendance. While school uniform has always stimulated much debate amongst pupils and teachers, as well as parents and school staff, and there are indeed similarities here regarding the pro-uniform case being put forward by Walkden High. Headteacher Elaine Hilton cites the same,age-old arguments in her defence of the strict dress regime, including the economical benefits, promotion of equality and mutual respect amongst students, and the betterment of the school's reputation.

It is inevitable that some students will fail to adhere to new and rigorous uniform requirements, but 200? The unusually high number may be explained by the unusually stern demands being placed on pupils by Walkden. From a look through the uniform policy available on the school website, one discovers the extent of the restrictions, which include; no make-up, no jewellery except a wristwatch, hair accessories must be of school colours, top shirt button must be fastened, and pupils are limited to plain white or black socks.

Not only does the school provide a digital reminder of the uniform policy should one wish to check if it is acceptable to wear stripy pants or perhaps if it is a punishable offence to roll up one's sleeves, Walkden have also provided an overview of shoes acceptable for school, apparently at the request of pupils; I predict this was more due to a sense of confusion and a means to prevent any more dismissals rather than any show of support for the regime.

School uniform is not a bad thing, it provides a sense of community, if only through a collective feeling of repression. However, to take it to the extremes as implemented by Walkden High school not only results in more time being spent on reprimanding pupils who perhaps have a blue ribbon in their hair rather than a red one than is being focused on the education of the children, but also stifles the need for at least some level of self-expression at this young age.

School uniform rules do not, by themselves, eradicate personality. When implemented without the appropriate level of leniency or common sense however, can serve to alienate and embitter pupils from a young age. This is an aspect of academic life which has been and will be around for some time (in places like Edinburgh school uniform is a familiar fixture of the city streets), and so we must learn how to handle the debate surrounding this issue.

200 Children Sent Home From School In Uniform Crackdown

By: Harvey McEwan

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