Today’s school uniforms appear more a punitive measure intended to deny students their right to freedom of expression. We live in a self-motivated society, full of unique characters that make our world a spontaneous one. We want to cheer our children to be expressive and to think outside the box. According to Rob O'Donnell, “It’s even more of concern in mixed schools where, every day, girls see their male classmates come to school in trousers… Some girls really, really hate- absolutely hate- to wear skirts.” (O’Donnell 2016). Opposing to current belief, uniforms do not stop students from being themselves. Uniforms do not silence power of speech. Uniforms are worn for direct identification and to motivate a feeling of oneness. A school uniform teaches students to wear smartly and take pride in their appearance. Wearing a uniform at school may not be a perfect choice, but is a better alternative than wearing regular clothing. Wearing uniform helps the student to focus on their academics. Through uniforms, everybody is more focused on schoolwork instead of their outfits. Also, it makes students less worried so they can focus on their academics because they would not be worrying about what they are dressing. Student attention in the classroom needs to come back to learning along with a formal appearance. French Toast.com reports, “mandate uniforms can serve to shift the emphasis from competition back to academic performance and personal achievement”. Uniforms encourage students to pay more attention to schoolwork and serve more time that students spend on picking out their clothes. It is true that students who wear uniforms get smarter than those without uniform. Examples are seen in private schools or public schools who wear a uniform. They performed better on their academic and smarter than non-uniform school. Wearing uniform at school can stop bullying and avoid discrimination. If students wear a uniform they cannot become bullied for what they dress because everybody is dressing the same thing. People become bullied for dressing same clothes that are unlike from one another. Through uniforms, there would be less bullying or discrimination against students. People would make less fun of each other and
Hi-Line Online speaks of how administrators and parents believe uniforms eliminates bullying, but in its place there is a concern that students cannot find their own sense of style. In this case this can hinder how a student feels outside of uniforms. They begin to be used to ‘fitting in’ with everyone else around them, so when they try to explore outside of uniforms, it can be very difficult. The society we live in today allows this freedom, wearing whatever
To begin with, school uniforms promote positive behavior. They cut out bullying over trendy clothes. It can also lower the wall between the more wealthy students and the poorer students. Uniforms will cut out dress code problems by female students wearing inappropriate clothing. Therefore, saving class time for instruction. Uniforms will give a more professional feel to the school, thus creating a more professional student body.
School uniforms promote conformity over individuality. A high school student in Chicago explained “They decide to teach us about people like Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony and Booker T. Washington... We learn about how these people expressed themselves and conquered and we can't even express ourselves in the hallways." Schools tell kids from their first day of class that they are different and special, but how can they believe such words if they are sitting in a classroom, wearing the same thing as everyone else in the room. It would be very hard to believe those words due to those circumstances. In schools that have specific uniforms based on sex, it’s difficult for students who identify as a gender
School uniforms also serve little to no purpose in benefiting the education of children around America. A uniform does not help a student learn things that they need to know. A uniform does not help a student study, take notes, or make flash cards. They bring no educational value to the table of learning. According to many educators and experts, “Uniforms do not improve academics, behavioral and social outcomes, or reduce discrimination or crime” (Farrell). So if a uniform cannot help a student increase their knowledge or grow as a person, why make students wear them?
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.
School uniforms and dress codes are becoming a popular trend among schools. Most Students and some parents don’t agree with the enforcement with school uniforms, saying that uniforms are taking away self-expression in schools. But, school uniforms are not a negative thing to have. Yes, uniforms and some very strict dress codes limit what the students have to choose to wear to school every day, but it doesn’t limit them from learning which is the main reason they are in school. Some students treat school as a fashion show, so eliminating the size of wardrobe shifts the attention toward their school work. Although requiring students to wear school uniforms may violate their self-expression in some ways, a uniform is supposed to be looked
School uniforms are also beneficial in preventing visual distraction amongst the student body within the classroom, because with an effective school uniform policy there are much less dress code violations from both genders that can be seen as provocative attire. .
While wearing uniforms, students have to obey and follow the rules, so they will learn how to respect others. An article reports “Teachers and principals often report that discipline problems are reduces in schools that implements a standardized dress program.” (School Uniforms). In addition, wearing school uniforms is a step of preparation for professional life. When you have a job, you will have to wear uniforms. Whether you are a doctor or a nurse, you are in the same position. School uniforms also help students to realize that they are a part of a group, so they feel liked they belong and learn to take responsibility for whatever they do.
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
Public schools grant children and teens the opportunity to learn and grow together but without uniform sometimes a disruption can be created against that unity. School is apart of the developmental learning and growth that prepares its students for adult hood; one way to ensure that is to practice discipline, which I believe uniform compliments. None uniform clothing can shine light on a lot of things; some students and even teachers can potentially fall under the wrong light that may result into them being a target for bullying.
It is a belief that school uniforms teach students to respect their learning environment and behave themselves, and, therefore improving discipline. However, that assumption isn’t entirely correct. Researchers have actually found that school uniforms don’t make students better behaved. According to a study of more than 4,500 students, those who wore a school uniform did not have fewer behavior problems or better attendance. Forcing students to wear uniforms lead to more problems and misbehavior instead of encouraging discipline. Students could get into trouble if they did not wear their uniforms correctly. Many kids in today’s society cannot stand the thought of someone telling them what to do, especially what to wear. Instead of encouraging respect, uniforms may cause rebellions. For example, in 2009, a group of students at John A. Ferguson Senior High School rebelled against their school uniforms. Instead of following their school uniform requirements, the students wore what they thought would be a better school uniform to school. Not only uniforms don’t earn schools the respect from its students, but it may also lead to more problems.
Wearing uniform can add problems into a student’s life. Students would be more often picked on and bullied. A study conducted by experts from Texas Southern University showed that bullying incidents increased by as much as 12%, after the implementation of mandatory uniform wearing. Bullying mostly occurs because of what you wear, but now bullies find out other ways to show that they are better. Schools would think that if they implement uniforms, bullying would stop, but instead, it doesn’t stop, and it increases bullying. Uniforms could make the student have negative thoughts about themselves. Professor Dave Anderson stated “Students have different weights, body types, and heights. Whenever one looks at himself in the mirror, he depreciates his self-image because he feels like he doesn’t look his best” If the student doesn’t like their appearance, their attitude could reflect off it, for example if they are overweight, they might not like their appearance, so then, that causes them to think negatively about themselves, which wouldn’t be good for their health. These problems could disrupt the students learning process, and it could also have negative impacts on the student.
The next advantage of public school uniforms can be identified as the reduction of bullying behaviors. Everyone benefits by adopting the uniform policy. It helps students to unite and share a same goal – learning. Also, by adopting the
School Uniforms are being pushed more and more in schools, but what is commonly thought of when the words “school uniform” is said? For most people the picture of children in the same colored uniforms gathered in front of a Catholic Church or a private school is displayed in their mind. This picture is one of the many problems with school uniforms. Instead of being seen as an individual, students are seen as just another kid in a uniform attending a fancy private school. The students cannot develop the self-expression that is crucial to their development at this age. Uniforms are thought to create a more protected campus and learning environment, however, if someone wants to bully someone else, clothes are not going to stop them. The cost, which is usually seen as a pro, can actually be more than people anticipate. As one can see, in the best interest of any student, school uniforms should not be made part of the dress code.
In The Arguments Against School Uniforms by Michelle Kouzmine it states that some people believe school uniforms lower distraction, improve focus, and make the environment more serious. This is especially true when uniforms are strict and require every student to follow a school’s uniform policy otherwise punishments are issued. Uniforms also prevent social arguments and statuses. Some schools that don’t issue