Uniforms are about vital factors: school spirit and discipline

With the new school year now well under way, let us consider the utility of requiring pupils to wear a school uniform, reviewing what the objectives are and to what extent, if any, those objectives are being met.

All good schools are the same; their pupils are smartly and appropriately turned out, displaying pride in their school uniform as well as self-respect.

However, to judge from some of the sights seen on Hong Kong's streets, the point of wearing a school uniform seems to be completely lost on some students. That means it is apparently also lost on their parents, and lost as well on the responsible staff of their schools.

It is sometimes said that a school uniform provides an egalitarian mode of attire. The better-off youngsters wear exactly the same as children from poorer families. Thus the impecunious need not look any poorer than their richer classmates.

This is a fine idea, though the flaunting of expensive accessories, such as watches, mobile phones and school bags, does rather detract from that desired equality of attire - and probably reflects more accurately the differing parental income levels.

A team spirit can certainly be inculcated by a common mode of dress. That is no bad thing, but it must be remembered that such a desirable team spirit does not just drop from the sky, it needs to be encouraged and developed in other ways, as well. Students can be taught the meaning behind the school badge, and to respect it.