To begin, having a standard set of dress generally allows for improved health and overall happiness among the school community. Uniforms, as the name suggests, create unity and bring a sense of pride to many students, greatly contributing to their well-being. Being part of a greater community, whether students realize it or not, helps to satisfy man’s natural desire to belong. Belonging to and taking pride in the school community helps young adults to feel more confident, as they feel part of something greater than themselves, while also having the advantage of teaching group collaboration and communication. While being part of a school community is one thing, having positive relations with that given community is another. Bullying at all levels of schooling has become a big issue; one that can also be corrected through the use of a uniform policy. Differences in socioeconomic classes are often the most prominent in clothing, which often makes certain children the target of teasing and bullying. Furthermore, when students all wear the same clothing, these occurrences are less likely. As is the case with all things, there is a flipside to this viewpoint. Those who object school uniforms often argue that bullying in schools is inevitable, not being impacted by a constant in apparel whatsoever. Although uniforms may not prevent bullying altogether, it certainly has an impact on bullying based solely on clothing. This may seem minute, but even a little change is better than
Schools sought out to fight the war against bullying with the idea that having fewer differences in dress code would slow down or end bullying. This simply is not the case. Bullying is a universal happening that is predicated on the behavior of students toward their peers, not the clothes they wear. This could occur over a number of different reasons none corresponding with what the students wear. In addition, students still can choose different name brand forms to their uniform choices therefore, there still remains the disconnect in regards to stopping bullying through what the students are allowed to wear. The conclusion on this matter is that with schools taking away clothing options privileges it only succeeds in establishing new tactics for bullies to employ instead of abolishing bullying altogether.
School uniforms do nothing to prevent bullying. Linne Hoofnagle’s article goes on to say that, “If we convince ourselves that placing limits on clothing choices will eliminate school bullying, we are kidding ourselves” (Hoofnagle). The idea that all the harassment that takes place in school is centered around student’s wardrobes is preposterous. If you make students all dress alike the center of the bullying may move to if they have money, the presence or absence of glasses, condition of their skin, height, and weight. School faculty and administration are just looking at the superficial causes of bullying and not looking at the root of the problem. As a result, they are not only punishing the bully by
Take a moment to put yourself in the position of an adolescent who has felt like an outsider from their own school. Weather it be because they don't have name brand clothes or don't have the latest on trend shoes. In a school where everyone wears the same thing will be a much safer and easier place for everyone in general. This is where school uniforms come in and give multiple solutions to both teens and their parents.
As a society we value the individual choices that we are able to decide upon in our everyday life. School uniforms have a negative effect on students, due to the lack of individuality and self-image that they are able to express. Therefore passing student policies requiring school uniforms is misleading as it creates more issues than it solves. Students should feel they are different from everyone else and have to freedom to act the way they want and wear what they want. Enforcing school uniforms does not affect academic situations in any way for uniforms to be mandatory. Schools need to re-think their decision on school uniform policies for the mental and physical well-being of their students.
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
Having school uniforms greatly decrease one’s way to get bullied. “Perhaps most importantly, a uniform means students don't have to worry about peer pressure when it comes to their clothes. When everyone is dressed the same, worrying about what you look like isn't so important. There is no competition about being dressed in the latest trend, which would put a great deal of financial pressure on students and parents. Potential bullies have one less target for their insults; it's hard to make fun of what someone is wearing when you're dressed exactly the same...” (Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms?). With the same as gang violence, having uniforms does not get rid of bullying altogether. With my experiences in both non-uniform and uniform enforced schools, I saw far less bullying in schools with uniforms. Most of the bullying incidents I have seen are focused on the kid’s appearance due to clothing. Having the uniforms can help students look at each other in a more equal
It may be surprising to hear that school uniforms break the first amendment of the constitution but it is very true. The first amendment guarantees freedom on many things, one of them is Freedom of Expression. Freedom of Expression is about more than just saying what you want to say, it’s also about being able to express your ideologies and beliefs which are, unfortunately, hindered by school uniforms. Uniforms weren’t a common thing of the past because they were only enforced in private schools. That is, until 1987, when Maryland and Washington D.C implemented school uniforms in public schools. School uniforms should be banned because they promote conforming over individuality, they increase the amount of bullying, and they can affect a student’s self-image.
Along with easy purchase, uniforms also help cut down bullying. Implementing uniforms gives kids a better sense of school pride, in which they care more about the school and each other. For example when Long Beach introduced uniforms in 1995 they received data that showed the in school fights decreased by 38%, suspension rates dropped by 90% and furthermore the overall crime rates dropped by 91%. School uniforms would work in the same way an athletic team uniform would; it would give them a sense of pride and belonging. Like athletic teams, when a team member or student would wear their jersey, or in this case uniform, they would cloak themselves in their school color they would feel obligated to make sure they represent the best for their school to show that they care and they are going to prove how exceptional their school is. A uniform can improve the overall school and also move beyond the school halls and out to the community. Most bullies make fun of a kid by how he or she looks, so by schools implementing uniforms they “level the playing fields”
School uniforms, do you consider them as an obstruction of the 1st amendment of the US Constitution “Freedom of Expression”? How about having equality amongst every child at school age? This is the perfect age to teach them that no matter the social economic status from one child to another, nobody is any less or more then someone else. School uniforms would be an enormous step towards shaping a better future for our children. This would stop all the questions some parents get from their asking “why I can’t have H&M, Tommy Hilfiger, Adidas or American Eagle clothes like other kids in school”. The freedom of dressing how anyone wants is what every teenager wants and does, but this sometimes causes tension amongst them. I will be explaining
Everyday we see more and more students bullied because of their appearance or what they're wearing. By implementing school uniforms, we can greatly decrease the number of students who are bullied every day. In the article, “Appearances are Destructive,” Mark Mathabane (the author) tells us how his sisters were bullied because what they wore was “unusual.” “They were constantly taunted… they often
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…
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.
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.
Non-uniform clothing can make students aware of ones’ social and economic status. This leads to bullying which can include mental and physical harm. In the article What’s the point of school uniform by Chloe Spencer, it states that nearly 160,000 students miss school every day due to the fear that they will be attacked or be intimidated by other students. This can be prevented solely by enforcing uniforms in all schools. Not only will uniforms prevent bullying but will stop the stress of social statuses for