School Uniforms by Maggie Alderson

How many American films can you think about based on the apparently universal experience of the nightmare of high school?
From Carrie, to Diary of a Wimpy Kid (middle school, but seems to be same difference…) via Glee, Twilight and so many others it has always struck me as being the nation’s defining drama.
A big part of the collective trauma is based on being judged on how you look. How attractive you are. What you wear. Which tribe that puts you in and how you rank on the squash ladder which has the Homecoming King and Queen at its apex.

They’re right – it is a bloody nightmare!
And then the state-run, nationwide institutions which endorse this code of values – good looks, popularity and social success – officially encode it at the end of each graduating year with that terrible concept: the year book.
I loathed every moment of school, but give thanks daily there was no year book, or ‘prom’ at the end of it. I did barely enough work to scrape through anyway, I was so busy thinking about how I looked and how popular I was and if a certain boy liked me. If those anxieties had been an official part of my academic life, I would have imploded.

And if I’d had to choose my outfit for school each morning? I simply would never have got there. My father was always sitting in the car blowing the horn and fuming anyway and I only had my pimples to cover and my greasy hair to tie back. A daily outfit? It would have consumed my life.
Which is why I’m a big fan of school uniforms. How terrible it would be to be the poor kid who couldn’t have the cool new clothes at a US high school. It would scar you for life. Or make you into Oprah Winfrey.
And that’s not the only equalising effect. School uniforms make everyone look equally hideous. Obviously we are not talking about the St Trinian’s or Britney version here… I mean real, nasty, polyester school uniforms.

I love those shapeless dresses Aussie teenage girls wear to school. I can always imagine their inhabitants getting home and sliding into their real clothes. The contrast must be extraordinary, but for the daily grind of school, those polyester sacks really do their job.

As a parent, though, I have found you sometimes have to bend the rules a little. My daughter’s school has an adorable tartan winter uniform. Here she is on her first day at school, five years ago. Aged FOUR, too too young, I should have kept her locked at her home, but there you are. That’s what happens when your birthday is all the way the wrong end of the school year (and read the excellent book Outliers, to see how that can disadvantage you your whole life…)

Three years later she graded up to Year 3 when the uniform changed from the dear little pinafore to a kilt. A nice idea, but hard when you’re the smallest child in your year and don’t have anything resembling a waist to hang it on…
Thus she would go off to school looking reasonable. And come home looking like this. Pure Eloise.

With a lot of very uncomfortable hours in between. That stupid uniform ate her alive. In the end I couldn’t stand it for her and changed the swamping kilt for a discontinued mini version I found lurking deep in the second hand uniform shop and swapped the stupid cravat for a nice comfy tie.
As you can see, she felt a lot more herself in this get up. And her results improved almost immediately.

So I’m a big fan of school uniforms for many reasons. They equalise the effects of income and beauty differentials and they can make inculcate collegiate spirit. But they do need to be comfortable.
What do you think? I would particularly like to hear from American readers (yes, that’s you Toby!)
And here’s one last (forgive me…) pic of Miss P wearing her uniform the way she thought it should be worn…

VICTORIANA GAYE
EAST COAST TOUR July 2011-Sawtell Golf Club
Friday 29th July 7.30 - 10pm $10 entry
Ticket from First Avenue Boutique, First Avenue Sawtell & at the door.


Victoriana Gaye are leaving the cold south westerlies of Aireys Inlet traveling up the East
Coast for a month of gigs in July and an exhibition at Nine Lives Gallery in Brisbane of
Raglus’s fresh pure pop paintings.
Husband and wife duo Vicki Gaye Philipp (singer songwriter) and Jeff Raglus (Multi
instrumentalist, ex Bachelors from Prague, Black Sorrows, Feeling Groovies), have packed
a lot into the 3 years since they formed. Recording an EP “5 Songs” in 2009. Touring and
playing their original tunes at festivals and venues in Japan and Australia. They released
their Debut album “Our Pleasure” in 2010 through Vitamin records.
Sometimes whimsical, sometimes romantic and sometimes rockin'. They describe their
sound as a quirky combination of pop, folk and a tiny bit of grunge. Playing a mix of
acoustic and electric guitars, trumpet, ukelele, harmonica and sweet harmonies.
A Supa trooper Vicki’s songwriting is a knock - out. Vicki has created original theatrical
shows using puppetry and performance. Now together with her love of 24 years she’s
giving it all she’s got.
Raglus is also a well known visual artist having many sell out solo and group shows
throughout the land and worked for Mambo for most of the nineties,.
The show MERZ at Nine Lives Gallery Brisbane 14th July to 31st July
will feature the work of Jeff Raglus, Gerry Wedd, Christina De Rosa and Ben Waters as well
as a performance form Victoriana Gaye!
enquiries www.wehaveninelives.com


****”Vicki and Jeff are a wonder couple. Their music is beautiful folk pop. I
have been in awe of them for years!” Mama Kin
***"Victoriana Gaye make beautiful music!" Abbe May.
***”The Melodies leave a lasting impression with forest folk fusing with
mariachi, Nu-Folk pop and sprinkles of 80’s new wave.
Our Pleasure = win.” Rhythms Magazine.

http://www.myspace.com/victorianagaye
victg@bigpond.net.au
http://www.vitamin.net.au/default.asp
Phone 0400 006160