Olivia, a mother of 4 children, in favor of the uniform. “Getting ready in the morning is no longer a topic, it’s freedom for me”

Little blonde and brown heads in matching polo shirts are about to populate our playgrounds. On December 6, the Minister of National Education and Youth, Gabriel Atal, announced the launch of a “large-scale experiment” from 2024 aimed at the generalization of uniform uniforms in schools, colleges and voluntary high schools. The complete package will be available for around 200 euros, with funding that the state plans to support with municipalities, departments and regions. In test facilities from the municipalities participating voluntarily in the operation: Tourcoing, Reims, Nice and Perpignan.

But after this announcement, some voices were raised against the mandatory wearing of this new dress. We point out the futility of such an initiative to fight against social inequality and harassment in schools. For others, however, the process is necessary, particularly because it involves fewer comparisons between children and less mental strain for parents. This is the opinion of Olivia Alix, a former expatriate in Istanbul and then in Mexico, a married mother who returned to France five years ago. It has been several years since the Saint-Jean de Passe School, a Catholic institution ranging from kindergarten to high school located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, where it accommodated its two boys and two girls, until the second has a unique uniform wear For Madame Figaro, he discusses the advantages of this device. Interview:

Mrs. Figaro: Did you have any reservations when you found out that your children were going to have to wear uniforms in their school?
Olivia Alix. – Not really. I was in uniform all my youth, navy blue and white, and it didn’t traumatize me. Obviously I took a little time before putting this color back on because I overdosed. But since I once accepted the rules of the game, so did my children. My only concern was the price. clothing package 350 euros per child (including pants, belt, short and long sleeve polo shirt and sweater, editor’s note). It was a bit complicated with 4 children, but in the end, no. it is for the year and the brands that sell these kits are of very good quality. In Saint-Jean de Passy, ​​we even have a WhatsApp group between parents. Every year we swap our boxes, giving the little ones from our big ones. In fact, we recycle, we are very united.

What are the benefits for you as a parent?
We often talk about mental strain. For me, I can really see the difference, it’s one big less worry. I no longer ask myself in the morning, it’s no longer a battle with my girls because they don’t have a tank top with a skirt. For large families, it’s liberating, it’s magical. Because having 4 children, the organization must be impeccable, even military. Things should be ready the day before for the next day, school bags should be in the hall, etc. Making a uniform outfit is no longer a topic. This saves a lot of time. Therefore, I see budget and energy savings.

Do you agree with the idea that wearing uniforms will eliminate social inequality in schools? This is perhaps less obvious in wealthier circles…
But even in more favorable environments there are social differences. Not everyone has the same funds, nor the same value for money. In Saint-Jean de Passy, ​​which welcomes upper-class families, some parents will find it no problem to buy a coat for their child for 1,500 euros. I think not, I will not buy this coat that he will wear for 10 minutes during the day. Therefore, there are still social inequalities, we should not delude ourselves, but there are few objects of comparison, which is what it is. And then putting on a uniform also means conditioning yourself to a certain state of mind. I think the kids look at each other less.

So this will reduce school bullying which is mainly based on social inequalities…
I do not agree, inequalities are not only social. We’ll no longer make fun of the kid who doesn’t have the latest fashion shoes, but the girl who has a skirt for him, or the boy who’s too big for his ankle-length pants. Bullying unfortunately exists because at this age we look at each other, compare ourselves, we no longer have the notions of good and bad, truly naughty and beautiful. Also, I often hear people say that the uniform is more “gendered” – skirts for girls, pants for boys. As far as I know, teenage girls have a choice between the two. Some wear pants to school and there are unique gender neutral outfits. This is a false argument.

But we need to stop believing that young people aren’t developing their personalities because they don’t have their super ripped jeans.

How do your children feel about this commitment?
Kids become regimented, conditioned to think the uniform is bad, and therefore necessarily feel bad about it. For my eldest, who entered first grade this year and therefore no longer has to wear his school uniform, it’s a revelation. Now she steals clothes from me and it’s a hassle to prepare her outfit the day before for the next day. But I don’t think he was having a bad time because everyone is in the same boat, there is no awkwardness in wearing a uniform.

Clothing is a vector of expression, it reflects our personality. Between the ages of 13 and 17, we may think that imposing our own style is more important for self-development…
We need to stop believing that kids aren’t developing their personalities because they don’t have their Super Jeans on the playground. Today, young people all dress the same, we follow fashion. Sometimes, I walk around Paris, I pass by middle schools, high schools, and they are all identical; everyone has the same sneakers, the same designer tracksuit, or the same trendy bag. And then, it’s also funny to see that they often bypass this limitation. When I was young, I wore a uniform, and the way I stood out was to wear a “skull headband.” And then, they express their individuality on weekends, holidays, outside of school. Not having everything about fashion in school also allows you to focus on something else. We can’t make fun of each other’s outfits, so we’ll express ourselves through painting, beads, books, whatever. And when you get out of school, you can wear your ripped jeans again if you want. My kids wear whatever they want when they’re not in class, their closet is full of all kinds of clothes.

In your opinion, will the uniform restore some rigor in the school environment?
I think we should be very proud of our education system. In England they’re all in uniform, and I think that implicitly enforces a form of respect that we’ve lost in France. The uniform rewrites, reasserts rules for this time, which are given through learning, listening to teachers and not so much, ultimately, self-expression or other more cultural things. I believe that a unique outfit restores the depth and meaning of the concept of school.