[jacquesm]

True, but he can wear it to school, maybe not in school.

That said, I really think schools have enough of a problem with kids teasing each other to go and invite more of that with cross-dressing pupils.

In plenty of countries they have school uniforms simply to reduce the friction between kids due to wealth differences between parents, a side effect is that there is much less teasing for not wearing the 'right' kind of branded clothing, jewelery and so on.

This kid is just basically demanding something that is not going to give him any real satisfaction, it's just going to cause a bunch more trouble so I think the school is probably right in their decision.

As for the road to school, that's his own problem, he can wear there whatever he wants, but it is quite ok with me if the school asks that their pupils do not engage in dressing up in such a way that it will cause trouble, I'm sure they have their hands full as it is.

[m_eiman]

If everyone wears the same clothes, they'll just use something else as markers of identity (and wealth). Maybe the kind of mobile phone they have, jewelry, or some other minor detail where they're allowed some options.

If someone feels a need to bully someone, they'll find a way and a reason. The solution to the problem isn't to try to remove all the "reasons" for bullying, it's to do something about the bullies (sp?).

[jstevens85]

Most schools ban jewellery, and mobile phones are not allowed to be taken outside of a student's bag. You're arguing that every single student who wears less fashionable clothes and is bullied or singled out would've been bullied anyway, even if a uniform was made compulsory. My experience is that wouldn't be true in quite a few cases. There doesn't have to be a single golden bullet solution to bullying. Many small ideas put together can be very effective.

[ebrenes]

Instituting a uniform is quite effective in cutting down on this, but it's not foolproof. Having attended a school where uniforms were mandatory there was still discrimination based on the brand name of the uniform.

The uniform code basically consisted of stating the style, color and form of the items of clothing to wear. Leaving it up to parents to buy clothing that suited their budget (within the uniform guidelines). So kids would be mocked if they used a lesser known brand name instead of say, dockers.

I think current rules have been made stricter so now the school shirts are sold by the school itself.

Granted, it does solve all the problems of kids just coming to school dressed in attire that would be the cause of derision, either because the kid is eccentric or because the parents are neglectful.

[m_eiman]

I'm pretty sure that bullying in general isn't something you do to make someone behave properly, it's something you do to scratch an itch. Forcing everyone to dress the same won't scratch that itch for the bully, but it will definitely make a lot of students who are used to dress the way they like upset. I'm not sure that the benefits are bigger than the drawbacks.

(And the mobile phone and jewelry were just examples, I'm sure you can visit any school with a dress code and ask the students how to tell the rich from the poor by some physical property and get a quick answer)