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Since childhood I have had a love-hate relationship with school uniforms for various reasons; however, when I have to carry it, I carry it in a disciplined and strict manner. In society, mothers, teachers, and students have different opinions on the mandatory use.
It is believed that the first uniforms were designed by religious figures who ran educational institutions and featured very simple navy blue garments to maintain a certain standard of modesty, especially for girls. Currently, they come in a variety of modern designs and colors and are often made from fabrics that are particularly resistant to frequent use and washing.
(frasepzp1)
There are conflicting arguments about its obligation. Among the disadvantages we can consider arguments such as that it represents a high cost, especially for institutions that seek to profit from the sale of these products. This cost represents an economic effort for families. It homogenizes students, restricts them from expressing their individuality, limits them from using clothing that defines them and makes them comfortable. When girls are forced to wear skirts, usually below the knee, it reinforces gender stereotypes; it limits their activities, while children wear trousers, which are much more versatile.
Among the advantages, some believe that they create equality because everyone wears the same design and material, which avoids noticing the differences in purchasing power of each family. Promotes the learning of values such as belonging and solidarity. Improves performance because the students’ attention is completely based on learning. Generates confidence and self-esteem by getting along as equals. Reduces family expenses and contributes to environmental sustainability related to clothing wearing and purchasing. It enhances students’ safety and control when they wear it in extra-curricular activities.
Its use in public education around the world is also divided between countries that make it mandatory and those that prohibit it, such as El Salvador. In the case of Guatemala, preschool and primary school are no longer mandatory. During the pandemic, the Ministry of Education warned private institutions not to make its online courses mandatory.
In our educational program, we have formed a community that makes decisions in a council composed of scholarship students, fathers, mothers, community leaders, the director of the city library and myself, the director of Yo’o Guatemala’s educational program. In 2020, we decided to intervene in education due to the impact of the pandemic on education. It was decided to implement school uniforms donated by a prestigious school in the city. This is enough for everyone. This year, we received a generous donation of high-fashion uniforms from a custom-made company, which are made of high-quality materials and embroidered logos. We provide two polo shirts, a t-shirt and a sweatshirt for each registered student.
This way you can alternate your uniforms throughout the week and wash them once a week. However, like every action taken in this community mired in extreme poverty, I gained new knowledge about pros and cons that I could not have imagined from my privileged urban perspective. For example:
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Many children have only one set of clothes and one pair of shoes; when their room gets dirty or wet, they miss classes. Uniforms partially address this need.
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In summer, tap water supply is insufficient to meet usage and consumption, while in winter it becomes turbid and can damage clothes.
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Due to the cold and humid climate in Yunlin, it takes several days to dry the clothes.
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Many of the students who attend Nuestra Escuela do not have piped water service, so mothers must bathe in the river.
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For students and their families, the opportunity to wear a full school uniform is a source of dignity, gratitude and pride.
From another perspective, seeing with empathy and a mother’s heart definitely allows me to have a more humane stance, beyond the qualifiers like “good or bad” that use uniforms.
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