The recent row over school uniforms at CedarBridge has sparked some lively debate in the letters to the Editor and probably elsewhere too.

At first glance, sending a child home because her or she has on the wrong coloured socks seems extreme and it would make sense to give the child a warning the first time.

But that does not mean that uniforms should be abandoned or that the rules set down by the school should not be followed.

Uniforms serve several purposes. They identify students as belong to a particular school. They negate "clothes competitions" and ensure that children from different backgrounds are not made to feel superior or inferior based on their appearance. They should teach children the benefits of a neat appearance and give some sense of school solidarity and morale.

Schools have to have the right to lay down standards of behaviour and appearance and students need to learn that rules are in place for their benefit and are there to be obeyed, not ignored. These are life lessons and they should not be neglected.