Wetsuits, police uniforms and skirts from special collections: the story of school uniforms in Israel
Ahead of the start of the school year, school uniforms are returning to the streets - but they don't look the same in every school. From youth villages to Haredi institutions, the uniform has become part of the school identity. Does it reduce gaps - or does it actually cause harm?
Have you already printed the school emblem? Every September 1st, the streets fill with colors: simple t-shirts in a variety of shades, with the school emblem printed on the chest. This is the classic school uniform we all know. It is intended to create visual equality among students, save the morning dilemma of "what to wear?" and create a sense of belonging. For most institutions, this basic shirt is the most practical and comfortable solution.
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However, alongside the familiar shirt, there are special schools that have chosen to take the dress code in a unique direction - partly due to the nature of the school. For example, in the youth villages of Kannot and Hodiyot of the Administration for Settlement and Boarding Education at the Ministry of Education, students arrive at school in police uniforms. These are students who study in a police studies track in boarding conditions and lead a semi-police lifestyle and study routine; they wear uniforms with ranks and pins, alongside studies in sociology and criminology.
At the Atid Mevo'ot Yam youth village, wetsuits are an integral part of the school attire. Students in the maritime track obtain a yacht skipper license, a diving license, and conduct research work underwater as part of their matriculation exams in marine agriculture and marine sciences.
And what happens in the Haredi sector? If you peek into girls' schools in the Haredi sector, you will discover that the school uniform is an integral part of daily life. Usually, it is an entire collection produced specifically for the school, including the institutional emblem and a selection of skirts and shirts that everyone wears. For boys, the story is slightly different. In the 'cheders' and Talmud Torahs, it is rare to find a school emblem on the shirt, and instead, they practice a kind of "alignment". The institution defines a clear dress code - certain colors, button-down or plaid shirts, and appropriate trousers - and in some cases, the school even sells the items itself.
According to Prof. Izhar Oplatka, head of the leadership and administration in education program at the Tel Aviv University School of Education, the origins of the school uniform are in prestigious schools in the UK and the US, where it served as a distinct status symbol. "To this day, one can see students in these institutions walking around in suits and ties decorated with the institution's emblem. Over the years, the practice trickled down to all schools and became natural."
According to him, the main advantage of the uniform is the reduction of focus on economic gaps, especially in middle schools where students from different socio-economic backgrounds arrive: "The visual uniformity hides these gaps and allows the student to focus on learning instead of material comparisons. In addition, it prevents morning friction between parents and children and creates a sense of identity and belonging to the school. In some countries around the world, the uniform is even perceived as a protective factor that separates teenagers from the world of crime and prevents conflicts."
However, Prof. Oplatka also has criticism against the move. "A school uniform can create a feeling of tracking and harm to the child's self-expression, which arouses much resistance, especially in adolescence where the need for personal expression is critical. The feeling that the school is operating as an 'assembly line' without allowing a choice is problematic from an educational perspective. This is a decision that must be made at the community level."
