Have you ever had to wear a school uniform? Did you you love it, or hate it? I’m here today to explain my stance on school uniforms. I believe that having a school uniform would be a good thing for multiple reasons. The first being how it would completely and utterly eradicate the issue of dress code. The next reason is how it would be able to create a more focused learning environment by eliminating clothing distractions. The most important reason in my mind however, is how it could drastically increase student safety at school. Now I will go a bit more in depth as I explain these reasons… As aforementioned, uniforms are very beneficial for a multitude of reasons. The first being how dress code issues are completely eliminated through uniforms. I mean, even here uniforms and dress code issues have been brought up a ton! I was in honors civics last trimester and we had to do an issue project about problems at this school, and how we could fix it. We had to present these things in front of Mr.Farley and a couple school administrators. Something that was majorly brought up was dress code, and how unfair it is between the genders. Think about that! Even here dress code is a big problem, and if it’s an issue here, then imagine how bad it must be at some other schools. Another big benefit to having a school uniform is the increase of student safety in multiple things. The first, is the reduction of bullying. This happens at schools with mandatory uniforms because it gives bullies less ammunition. Bullies have less ammunition because social status and wealth are not visible to other students because everyone is wearing the same thing. Another thing more broad than bullying is physical student safety. For example, at a K-8 school system in Long Beach,CA enforced a two year mandatory uniform policy and the results were staggering. Assault reports dropped by 34%. Sex offences got cut by a whopping 74%! Fighting incidents decreased by 51%, and vandalism dropped by 18%. It is crazy to me how much things can improve in just two short years by having kids wear uniforms. One more thing, is that it makes it a lot easier to identify trespassers. I mean think of all the school shootings that have
Uniforms should not be required because they don’t stop bullying and intellectual decline. A uniform being put on a person doesn’t affect their grades because a uniform doesn’t change how one's mind works. When one school was required to wear a uniform for a semester and wasn’t required to wear a uniform for another semester and then the semester grades of students were looked at, in the article “Back to School Shoppers Debate” by Courtenay Edelhart she states “The transition didn’t affect grades” (Edelhart). Why do schools continuously still think that a uniform is a solution to their problems? The real reason is the schools think that uniforms will work as a band-aid for low grades, but according to this research that didn’t work. Another thing that schools want uniforms for is to decrease disciplinary problems and gang relations. They think that by making students wear uniforms they will not fight. Again a uniform doesn’t change how the brain works. In an article called “School Uniforms” it states “Several academic research studies, they point out, have found that uniforms have no quantifiable effect on academic achievement, attendance, or discipline” (School Uniforms 1). The study was done several times which clearly shows that the first study wasn’t a fluke. This study found things on discipline issues, and it backed up research on academic issues. Both of these studies suggest that a uniform will not help the growing violence and academic levels in schools.
Never once was there a time that I walked down the hallways at school without hearing at least one kid get picked on about their clothes. Everyone knew the popular kids from the weird kids, the rich from the poor, and the nerds from the jocks based on their clothing alone. Our school was divided into social groups because of clothing types. Then we got school uniforms. Once we got them, the school became more peaceful. No one got picked on because of their clothes; that was because we all dressed the same. The amount of bullying went down and the sense of kindness soon began to fill the school. The utilization of school uniforms in public schools creates many benefits for students.
Furthermore, school uniforms have the potential to make schools a whole lot safer. Think of it like this – if you were to see a student walk in wearing an ugly polo shirt and sweat pants, (s)he would probably be picked on just because of what (s)he is wearing. We as humans naturally judge on what we see first, and it’s usually their face / clothing. If school uniforms were implemented in many places, then it would eradicate school violence and students wouldn’t be indignant with each other based on what they wear. Also, since everyone on school grounds is wearing their uniform, it would be easy to pinpoint unwanted visitors and be one step ahead. Not to mention it would help kids with less money evade the bullying and teasing that they would usually receive, which brings me to my next point.
There are many positives to this idea. It is said to increase academic and discipline and even safety within the schools. Uniforms can decrease social competition and bullying, and also can make getting ready easier.
People say you are what you wear. Well, uniforms are expensive and are a violation of human rights, even though it’s professional and sober clothing, they don’t allow students to express who they are, so how are they supposed to be what they wear? People say it prevents bullying, but bullying can happen without uniform. School uniform promotes conformity over individuality. They are difficult to enforce in public schools. It is more money to pay for uniforms and normal clothes outside of school. There really isn’t a uniform in real life like working if you work as a janitor at a school it doesn’t matter what you wear it matters that you get the job done.
One of the positive things of enforcing school uniforms is equality between students there is not going to be a division by social classes. The most popular kinds won't be wearing the jeans, meanwhile the kids from the lower class are not gonna be made fun of. This can help the surrounding become bully-free. The students won't be wearing clothes with language and insignia, such as gang colours. They won't be able to pick on anyone based on what they wear. Even with uniforms teenagers can express their identity with the freedom to choose their accessories,hair style etc. Beside everything else schools that require uniforms look more formal and well put together. If the students don't focus too much on what they are going to wear, they can improve
Everyone has different views on school uniforms. People feel as if they have to be on either side but are unsure why. One can agree it could be a positive thing or a negative thing or in between it depends on the parents and students. Uniforms are not for everyone but for some it’s perfect. Will they (uniforms and schools) accommodate to religious beliefs or will financial assistance be provided for those who cannot afford yearly school uniforms. Uniforms prevent inappropriate clothing, as far as unfitting logos or gang related colors or attire. Uniforms have been linked to better behavior in schools and in the prevention of distractions in class. However, uniforms violate the freedom of expression. Not all school districts require uniforms and students should have a say whether they would like to wear them or not. There is also the additional cost of the manufactures the school requires to wear and how the school will enforce the uniform regulations. Is it worth the trouble? Or getting the students into trouble.
Some kids struggle with finding a group of kids to associate with maybe because of what their clothing looks like. Uniforms crosses that out. It would help with preventing bulling on one part because everyone essentially is dressed the same. There would be no more who has the better shoes or style. “A study of over 1,000 Texas middle school students found that students in uniform reported significantly more positive perceptions of belonging in their school community than reported by students in the standard dress group." (Procon.org, 2017).
Some benefits of having school uniforms is keeping the student’s focus on school and not on their outfits. The National Association of Secondary School Principals stated that by having school uniforms, students are less concerned on how they look like or how anyone could be possibly judging them. If students were to wear uniforms and focus more on school, their education level would increase by at least ten percent
Another advantage of students wearing uniforms is violence will go down. I can remember hearing stories of kids being beaten or killed for their shirts, shoes and jackets. No longer will students be trying to steal jackets or shoes from other students. With some students are wearing the very expensive shoes and jackets that other students want and cannot afford, when they are no longer able to wear them the violence will go down. Additional benefit would be that students would no longer be bullied for nor not wearing the latest
Several public-school systems across the country have instituted school uniforms for various reasons. The most common being to improve overall school performance and to reduce negative behavior. Standardized school clothing has become a heated national debate with experts, educators, and community members taking stands on both sides of the dispute. The commonly cited advantages of uniforms are increased academic performance, reduced behavioral problems, increased social harmony, and reduced costs of clothing students. Commonly cited cons of school uniforms include a reduced amount of opportunities for self-expression, a reduced sense of individuality, possible increased costs in clothing and possible reduced comfort. Many educators and experts believe that, although in theory uniforms should improve academic, behavioral and social outcomes they do not.
There is much to be desired in schools with no school uniform. Being there is a major ethical appeal to introducing school uniforms to schools nationally. An advocate for school uniforms, Hillary Clinton, “as a way to help students focus on learning: "... Puts the focus on school, not on what you're wearing" (Mike Wilson). When everyone is wearing school uniforms, equality would become more than a desired idea or way of life. It would become a reality. Visually accessible to anyone. School uniforms will reduce the amount of student-to-student discrimination. Social classes become much less visible, thus diminishing bully, conflict, or any kind of tension between students in school. Sexual violence, harassment, or distraction has always
As I talk with my daughter whose school utilizes a school uniform policy and I observe other families whose children are not required to wear school uniforms, along with the research I have completed I have come to the conclusion, school uniforms are beneficial and vital to the success of our Public School District. I am not totally against children wearing regular clothes; however, I recognize that there are more advantages of having students wearing school uniforms. Uniforms allow students to focus more on their studies and they create a cultural equal environment which is more beneficial in the long term. Uniforms are an essential and should be a basic component of every school system. School uniforms have scientifically proven
Uniforms, while restrictive, do offer a few positive points. One of the biggest benefits is that it prevents inappropriate clothing choices, and prevents ridicule based on clothing choices. This allows for students to focus less on what they wear, and gives them the ability to focus more on studying. Another positive point is that it provides a way of minimizing the ability to bring weapons to school as according to Brian Wilson in the article School dress codes improve the learning environment, “The National School Board Association estimates that approximately 135,000 guns are brought to America's 85,000 public schools each day.” Wilson then mentions how “Some schools even require students to have the belt line exposed at all times for fear of guns concealed under
In schools with uniforms, statistics show that there is significantly less crime, and bullying. Some of the logic behind uniforms is fairly simple, yet it has a good point. If everyone is wearing the same clothes, then bullying about clothes is practically nonexistent. While in schools without uniforms,