Breaking News English

Parents anger at $730 Armani school uniforms

Designer Uniforms - Level 4

Elementary school parents are angry at the price of their child's school uniform. The Tokyo school decided the luxury designer Armani would design its new school uniforms. The uniforms include a hat and bag and cost ¥80,000 ($730). Parents are protesting at the very high price. School officials said they wanted a uniform that reflected the rich area around the school. They visited department stores and asked Armani to design the uniform.

The uniform price has been discussed in Japan's parliament. A lawmaker said that since the school is public, "a certain price range" is needed. Japan's finance minister said it was expensive and would be a problem if parents could not pay. Japan's education minister said the financial burden on parents should not be too high. The school principal accepted the criticism. He said: "I will go on explaining carefully to those concerned."

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3    |     Speed 4

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Designer Uniforms - Level 5

Parents of an elementary school are angry at the $730 price of their child's school uniform. A public elementary school in Tokyo has decided its new school uniforms will be designed by the luxury designer Armani. The special uniforms include a hat and bag. It all costs ¥80,000 ($730). Parents are angry at the school's decision. They are protesting at the exorbitant price of the uniform. The school said it wanted a uniform that represented the rich area around the school. School officials visited department stores and asked the fashion brand Armani to design the uniform.

The uniform has created a fuss. It has been discussed in Japan's parliament. One lawmaker said that since the school is public, "a certain price range needs to be considered". Japan's finance minister said: "Clearly it's expensive. It would be tough if a student could not afford to pay." Japan's education minister said the financial burden on parents for uniforms should not be too high. Twitter users said children are not interested in designer clothes. The school principal accepted the criticism and said: "I will go on explaining carefully to those concerned."

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3    |     Speed 4

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Designer Uniforms - Level 6

Parents of a Tokyo elementary school are up in arms at being asked to pay $730 for their child's school uniform. A public elementary school in Tokyo's upmarket Ginza district has decided to adopt new school uniforms designed by the luxury Italian designer Armani. The bespoke uniforms, which include a hat and bag, are priced at over ¥80,000 ($730) each. Parents are angry at the school's decision and are protesting at what they view as the exorbitant price for a uniform of an eight-year-old child. The school said it wanted a designer uniform that represented the rich area of Ginza. School officials visited top department stores and decided to ask the fashion brand Armani to design the uniform.

The expensive uniform has created such a fuss that it has been discussed in Japan's parliament. One lawmaker said that since the school is public and not private, "a certain price range needs to be considered". Finance Minister Taro Aso said: "Clearly it's expensive. It would be tough if a student could not afford to pay for it." Japan's education minister said steps would be taken to ensure the financial burden placed on parents for uniforms, "would not be excessive". Twitter users said young children are not interested in designer clothes. The school principal said: "With humility, I take the criticism that the explanation has been insufficient and not well-timed. I will go on explaining carefully to those concerned."

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3    |     Speed 4

MORE

25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson