Uniform(ity)
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008School Uniforms.
These stifling expressions of fashion in the West share a much bigger spot in the limelight in the East. School uniforms are commonplace in Korean music videos, dramas, and movies. They also differ in style from school to school. It would certainly exhausting to catalog all types offered, although I’m pretty sure at least one or two bloggers have tried in the past.
School uniforms become mandatory at the junior high school level. I wonder if this is because the cirriculum gets harder at that time - hence requiring more professional attire. Maybe it’s because they are too expensive. Maybe it’s because elementary age children play outside more and would get them dirty much quicker. I wonder…
It’s important to note that school uniforms are purchased locally at retail stores. Okay okay, so Wal-Mart does the same thing over here, but we’re talking blue polo shirts and khaki shorts mostly, right? I was under the impression that Catholic school-style uniforms are purchased through a supplier linked to that particular school and not readily available at most retailers.
교복 prices vary but they most certainly cost more than their American equivalents. Cheapies will run around 250 000₩ while others go up to 500 000₩. Granted, many junior high school students will end up taking care of their 교복 and were them for three years straight until they reach high school where yet another 500 bucks can be spent on a new set. Joy.
Don’t get me wrong, I think they can be bestow a sense of distinction for students. They are unique to the students of that school and no two uniforms look quite alike from school to school. They help to foster a sense of community. They also help identify themselves in the larger community. It’s easy to spot a student with a uniform. What better way to place someone socially? Almost like a businessperson’s suit.
I did not wear a uniform in school. In fact, I didn’t even know anyone who did wear a uniform. Also, if you were to ask me in high school about uniforms, I’m sure I would have barked back some rhetoric on freedom of expression, celebration of diversity, and Slipknot. In retrospect, uniforms were probably a good idea on the grounds that they are cheap in America and they help put less focus on showing off your clothes and more focus on your studies. But then again, many Americans genuinely feel that uniforms are stifling. I suppose it varies by area. I say this because many American schools both public and private use school uniforms and seem to do just fine by them.
For that matter, I wonder which other countries have uniforms and to what degree? Do east European school students have uniforms? Are the dress codes strictly enforced? I don’t know exactly how a certain community adopts a new dresscode. Is it a smooth transition? Does it go quietly? Is it a heated debate? I pose this question because for most, uniforms are just business-as-usual; the students don’t think about them because they have always been there as long as they can remember. But certainly they were once without a dress code, right?
Thoughts?
Posted by Matthew in How Koreans Do It |
July 29th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I read an article a while back about uniforms that made an interesting point…while you think they stifle creativity, they actually challenge you to be more truly creative, because they make you find ways *other* than clothing to express yourself. Any loser can put a hole in their jeans and stick safety pins over it, but it takes class to be able to distinguish yourself through your visual art, or musical talents, etc. Ever since reading that, I’ve been for uniforms anywhere at any time.
Did you know that the Mitsubishi corporate uniforms were designed by famous Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto? (That might be outdated news, but that’s how it was a few years back.) How cool for designer clothes to be mandatory…
July 29th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I’ve asked many of my Korean friends how they felt about uniforms, and the majority of the females enjoyed wearing them. They thought that they were pretty. Of course if you think your uniform is ugly, than you won’t like wearing it at all, but for the most part, I think most people enjoy wearing them.
Which is a surprise coming from the West, where individualism is a quality that is held in such high regard. I personally thought they would all hate it… but there’s that whole East vs West thing.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
School uniforms are pretty lackluster in the US (except for the Catholic school uniforms) - most schools just stipulate a buttoned-up white shirt and some dark slacks.
In Indonesia, elementary and middle school kids usually wear white shirts, red shorts/skirts, a red tie, and a red & white baseball cap. High school students usually wear white buttoned shirts and black slacks/skirts.
However, I’ve heard recently that school kids in the area known as Cirebon/Cerbon (Northwest Coastal Java) are incorporating their local batik designs (called megamendhung ’storm clouds’ - which are strongly based on Chinese cloud designs) into their uniform shirts. As an aside, I think traditional batik shirts in general look elegant yet wild, so I wear them all the time to semi-formal events.
July 30th, 2008 at 4:19 am
since you brought up other parts of the world as well… i went to northern ireland last year for a few weeks - it was amazing! but the first thing i noticed when we were walking around belfast were the different school uniforms. from what i was told, all schools in northern ireland have “catholic school” uniforms (though don’t call them that there! the war is still going on..).
i have also spent a few weeks in london working with high school kids. generally there, the younger kids had uniforms, and the students who came back for their last two years of high school are required to wear business clothing. that was strange to see - 16 year old kids dressed in business suits and the like.. though i think some schools still have uniforms through high school.
all of the schools in my area now have a dress code, but not necessarily a uniform.. usually it’s black or khaki pants and specific colored polo shirts. when i was in school, we could really wear whatever we wanted (except for revealing clothing or distracting clothing). my school didn’t even care about hair color or facial piercings.. i think schools are becoming more strict even in the last 5 years here in america.
i personally like the idea of a uniform, though. it just makes life so much easier! hehe..
July 30th, 2008 at 10:11 am
I wore a school uniform for 9 years of my school life. I went to a private school (in England a “public” school) and any form of self expression with regard to appearance was banned.
Have a look at my uniform here: http://www.newingtoncollege.nsw.edu.au/index.cfm
Even to this day I can do a tie knot (double windsor) in 2 seconds, from 9 years of doing it on my school uniform.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Also, remember to watch out this Friday! 정은 will tell everyone what’s fashionable uniform wear these days in Korea. It’s not just hiking up the skirts, and pulling down the pants anymore!! These kids are pretty creative!
August 3rd, 2008 at 8:18 pm
It seems like about half of the school kids here in DC wear uniforms and half do not from seeing them riding home from school on the metro. There are a mix of public, public charter and private schools, but I’m not sure where the lines fall with respect to uniforms. At the least I can say that the kids at the public arts school nearby dress in pretty trendy clothes of their own choosing.
August 4th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
http://www.koreanclass101.com/2008/08/01/advanced-ab-15-school-uniform-whats-in-these-days/
Check out Jeongeun’s blog on this folks!
August 9th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I’m from the UK, went to state school (funded by the government) and was in uniform from 4 years old to 16 years old. The point of a uniform is to create a sense of belonging to the school, to dampen down sense of individualism, (making it easier to handle the kids, and to instill a sense of responsibility as an ambassador of the school) and so that children can be identified easily by a teacher, or another adult in the community for the child’s safety.
Wearing school uniforms and creating ‘uniformity’ at a young age is not just confined to the East.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Personally, I missed wearing uniforms after I went to university because I realised how many more clothes I have to own to avoid wearing the same thing too often, I have to spend time deciding on what to wear etc (obviously I’m no fashionista).
I remember a teacher mentioning though, school uniforms take away the problem of how some kids will be able to afford branded clothes and jewelry while other kids who come from poorer backgrounds will have to wear “unfashionable” clothing, and this may lead to rifts and discrimination etc.
I thought that was quite a good point. Unlike all the american teen drama I’ve watched, we never had the “rich snobbish cliques vs the dorks vs the wannabes” etc in my schools.