Students Dislike Uniforms, Respond By Burning Them

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While in American public schools, dress codes (let alone full uniforms) are often hotly contested, they're very common Britain. So much so, that, traditionally, every student's uniform included a blazer -- which is in addition to the dress shoes, slacks and polo shirt that were also required.

These regulations have become increasingly relaxed over the past couple decades, and -- much to the delight of students -- the blazer isn't routinely mandated. However, in a move intended to bring greater order and discipline back to the classroom, some politicians are demanding that more traditional uniforms (including the blazer) be reinstated, and many schools are falling in line with that policy.

But not the kids at Abertillery Comprehensive School in South Wales. Students there staged a protest against the blazer, by abruptly leaving their classrooms at 11 a.m., walking outside, and burning their jackets in front of the school.

While obviously these kids were out of line (not to mention that they were breaking the law), it's always interesting to me how intense the debate surrounding school uniforms always becomes. Students are almost always adamantly opposed to being told how to dress, yet many educators and parents (myself included), seem to think uniforms could be a good idea.

So where's the balance? It seems that, at a school were children were so upset that they staged an organized, public protes

Act of rebellion, or they really, really didn't like the uniforms?