Facial Piercing and School

[Bathsheba]

This is just my opinion and I'm going to try to put it out there as respectfully as possible.

I agree that children ought to able to express themselves however to me school is a team sport (analogy only). If school is going to be a true representation of life then it should help students to understand the concept of "when in Rome...". It's reality that sometimes you have to temporarily put aside your desire to express yourself in the acknowledgment of a greater focus. Sports people decide to wear a uniform to enhance team spirit, create a sense of unity and as a practical means of understanding who is who. If every member of your footy team decided to wear whatever he felt like on the day there would be mass confusion. Now you might disagree and say "but school is different" but I think there are a few more similarities. A uniform can foster a sense of pride. I love being a Doggie's supporter and I wear my footy jumper with pride and I'm sure the players do too. If a child is at the right school for them they should be proud of that school. I know my DD is. When she is representing her school at combined sports days she feels proud to wear her uniform. If her school had no uniform...?

I know this thread is not about uniforms but it is about "uniformity" and i think that it has gotten a bit of a bad rap. Y'know it's not so bad being part of a group to the point that you decide to share a dress code. I don't believe it stifles individuality just as long as there is an opportunity for each person to express themselves with hair colour/piercings/tattoos etc when not in the team focused environment. I have a tattoo and I choose when to show it. It is discreet. I don't need an audience to feel validated. These are just MY feelings.

I know there are many people who would like to feel accepted regardless of whatever they chose to wear at all times. However no one can escape the fact that the way we choose to dress is a language. We have to accept that some people might read our appearance "language" in a way that we don't want them to. So we have to be careful what we choose to "say". How would you feel if you were about to undergo surgery and you were on the operating table about to go under aneasthetic. Just before you passed out the operating surgeon leaned over you and you saw that he had a face full of piercings and a tattoos peeping out from under his gown? Maybe this is an extreme example but it is an example of trust and when parents send their children to school they have to trust that the kids at the school are happy to follow rules.... or be a part of the team.

I am a very strong believer in individuality. I have lived an "alternative" life and hope to become an art teacher. However, I think, (once again JMO) there is a certain degree of maturity in being able to set aside your own preferences for a while and to adopt an agreed mode of conduct. Another example: It is a possibility that my DH will get the opportunity to work in the United Arab Emirates. If I have to wear a head scarf then fine, easy done. I personally don't agree with the idea of women having to cover up, BUT I will be more than happy to accommodate the mode of agreed conduct in this country. I think this will be a wonderful lesson to my DD too.

I hope that, being the only person to have a differing point of view, that I won't be set upon I do understand and agree with the importance of individualism but I also understand the benefits of team work and I think that children need to experience both situations.