We have had school uniforms since the dawn of time, one thing as a parent back in the day is you buy 2 sets of uniform and that was that for the whole year when it came to school clothes for the kids.
They won't worry about how they look with uniforms bcos they all dress the same they all look like dorks so there is no fashion worries no peer pressure. And yes the boys uniform was a bit dorky, grey shorts, grey socks which had to be pulled up to the knees if socks were found down to their ankles it was a reported detention. Black shoes, grey shirt, grey jersey & a yellow green jacket for winter. Only senior students were allowed to wear long trousers during winter the juniors had to brave the cold & to bad if you lived in the south island of NZ you then had to brave the snow - girls were allowed to wear black stockings in winter. No jewelry, no nose piercing no dyed hair.
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NZ is a bit different to American education we have primary and secondary schooling.
Primary schooling ages 5 to 12 = no uniform unless its a private christian school then its uniform.
Secondary (college) ages 13 to 18 = uniform
18 onwards polytech or university = no uniform