[RickOShay]

I am from the States, so I'd like to give a few observations about school uniforms there and in Japan. In the states most schools that require school uniforms are private/catholic (to my knowledge), and to me they seemed sometimes snobbish, or maybe used as a form of disipline.
In Japan however, though the intent might have been discipline at first, today I think school uniforms help form a sense of solidarity among students, and help give them their identity. I would even say many students enjoy wearing their uniforms here.

Now whether I am for or against them.. personally I do not think I would enjoy wearing one, but it is not like it would have been the end of the world had I had to wear one when I was in school.