Timothy Wu (11) | Staff Reporter
School uniforms have long been a controversial topic in the world of parenting and education. Many argue that their uniformity restricts students’ freedom of expression, while others reason that it helps students focus on their studies. Other times, concerns lie with the comfort, affordability, and availability of uniform options. To get a grasp of the sentiments towards uniforms at St. Robert, I interviewed some students and parents for their opinions on the subject.
What Students Said:
Most students were indifferent towards the St. Robert uniforms. They acknowledged that they had both their benefits and disadvantages. Regarding comfort, affordability, and uniforms options, however, students had a lot to say. One student said that he liked the uniforms because they were dark green — his favourite colour. Another said that the green sweater was ‘pretty comfy to be honest’. On the flip side, a couple of students complained that the uniforms cost too much and were uncomfortable. They mentioned that the polos could have been ‘softer’ and were not on par with their clothing standards. Another common complaint was that there were no alternatives to wearing black dress pants in the summer, especially from those that commuted to and from school by walking and biking. These students wished that St. Robert offered trousers specifically in the summer, or alternatively, the option to wear shorts.
What Parents Said:
While students had a lot to say about the practical aspects of St. Robert’s uniform catalogue, parents mainly focused on the effects of uniforms on learning and education. The majority of parents said that uniforms looked ‘fine’ or ‘okay’ and emphasized their belief that the uniforms at St. Robert benefited their child’s learning. They believed that the mandatory uniforms put less stress on their child’s daily wardrobe and allowed them to focus more on their academics and extracurricular activities instead. One parent pointed out that the school uniform made it quicker and easier for their child to get ready for school in the morning. They did not have to spend time searching for what they wanted to wear for the day.
Conclusion:
Overall, albeit from a small sample size, the St. Robert community seems to lean more in favour of school uniforms. Although the student body was more divided, sharing both their likes and dislikes, parents supported the uniforms for their perceived positive impact on their child’s learning.
Note: Due to the lack of teacher interviews, this information should be interpreted with nuance.
