This article was originally published on We Are, The Student Media Site of William Clarke College, Sydney, Australia, and it is republished here with permission as part of Teen Scene, Inc.’s international student voice partnership. 

“Miss, her eyeliner’s distracting me.”  

“I can’t focus his hair’s touching his collar.” 

“I’m upset because she has two earrings.” 

Before joining our college, I went to a public school like many students of WCC. Yes, it may have been primary school, so obviously, there were very different expectations; however, the main difference I noticed was the uniform expectations. While uniform rules help with maintaining certain standards, the emphasis on the appearance of how we present ourselves or what we look like may sometimes overshadow what’s truly important. 

Now let’s get into the heart of the reasons why, by providing some examples of things students have never once said.

Often many schools have strict uniform policies regarding jewellery, hair, shoes, etc. As teenagers, we understand why there are rules in play; however, many of us find these rules quite frustrating – as we want to strive to be our own person and make decisions about our appearance.

Many private schools follow a similar set of rules with the amount of jewellery, colour of hair, hair length for boys and facial hair. Schools do tend to explain why they have these rules set, such as getting students ready for real jobs. While certain professions do have strict dress codes, many modern and growing workplaces embrace individuality and creativity. We often see many professionals expressing their unique styles without it impacting their performance.

At William Clarke College, many people encourage us to wear our uniform with pride and they are right – we should be proud to go to this school. However, pride in one’s school also includes the experiences we have, our friendships, and our achievements. Allowing students small personal choices, like a favourite hairstyle or a simple piece of jewellery might seem like a silly request but can help students feel more connected and confident.

In Australia, wearing a uniform is very normal – every school, private or public, has a uniform; however, some of the points when bringing up rules regarding accessories or hair or makeup might feel outdated or misaligned with the goals of students. Students go to school for the same reason, to get an education and many of us, I being one of them, ask the same question:    

“How does my appearance affect my education?”