Pros And Cons Of School Uniforms

One of the biggest miseries of back-to-school is the return of the uniform. From tiny villages to the nation’s largest cities, school uniforms have grown so familiar in the last few years that in numerous districts of the world, they’re no longer the exception, but an order. You would think the great school uniform debate shouldn't be that controversial of a subject, after all, we’re only talking about clothes here. However, uniforms have led to many heated arguments among parents of many students, despite the debate, there are in fact many advantages and disadvantages to requiring students to wear those attire to school. Despite all opinions regulations that impose school uniforms could possibly be civil rights violations, such as the right to free speech, right to privacy and freedom of religion. In spite the fact that many parents and the majority of the students are against the obligation of uniforms, it's still an exceedingly popular tendency among schools. Most people are in disagreement with the idea for many reasons, for instance, they believe it abolishes the students right to express themselves freely, it harms the outcome of a student self-image and sabotages the assurance of a free education by imposing an extra expense on families.

School uniforms in public schools are becoming fairly popular across the nation. With consideration, schools can greatly benefit from school uniforms if schools pick up this policy. Actions against this policy will occur when changes are being made, but if we can learn to accept school uniforms, many benefits or positive effects will outweigh then negative effects. With much thought, I personally think schools should have school uniforms because there would be less bullying, students can focus on education, and students can also freely express themselves in numerous ways.

Though the simplicity of school uniforms limit self-expression, they increase the overall quality of a student’s education. More schools, both public and private, are adopting uniforms in order to reduce crime and decrease the amount of distractions in the learning environment. Uniforms can oftentimes be costly and eliminate the amount of leeway students have when it comes to personalizing their appearance. However, uniforms better the school experience for a majority of students who wear them.

School uniforms have been a topical debate amongst educators, parents and children for quite some time now. Many folks feel that requiring uniforms in school has had a major influence and impact on the students and on the school environment as a whole. Opponents, on the other hand, think that the obligation of uniforms violates the right of freedom of expression for students and can be a financial burden on lower class families. These are some of the main points from people who are against enforcing school uniforms. So, should students truly be forced to wear uniforms to school daily? On the surface, it seems that the uniform debate should not be as hotly debated as it truly is. It’s just clothing. But, in reality the uniform controversy has spear headed a large deliberation and there has been much research done that has proven that schools that enforce uniform dress codes have improved on many levels. Uniforms have been shown to improve attendance and graduation rates, help prevent gang activity on campuses, alleviate peer pressure, and much more. Requiring school uniforms, even at a basic level is something that should be enforced in all schools. (https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/school-uniforms/)

School uniforms keep students focused on their education, not their clothes. A bulletin published by the National Association of Secondary School

Instead of continuously having to keep up with clothe trends and by new clothes you only are going to have to buy on or two clothes and then you are set for school wear. It makes the students not feel left out and it doesn’t give them that urge to try and fit in by changing the way the dress. So instead of changing the way that they dress to match the look of others they can express themselves through communication. “According to a national 2013 survey, over 90% of US school leaders believe school uniform or formal dress code policies ‘eliminate wardrobe battles with kids,’ make it ‘easier to get kids ready in the morning,’ and create a 'time saving in the morning.’ Tracey Marinelli, Superintendent of the Lyndhurst School District in New Jersey, credited the district's uniform policy for reducing the number of students running late. (“Should Students Have to Wear School

I had never thoroughly taken into consideration the benefits and disadvantages that school uniforms presented until my family and I vacationed in England in early spring of 2015. While traveling we met up with a woman that my mother had known in High school. The woman had moved to the UK, and since had gotten married and had three children. One of the many conversations we had was about the British school environment and how it differed from American school standards. The mother had explained that the school her children attended required a school uniform, as most schools do in the UK. Those conversations sparked a curiosity in me that I had to quench. What are the benefits and disadvantages of school uniforms, and should we implement them more so in American schools? Although the questions I had were fairly straight forward, the answers proved to be more in-depth. Through my research I discovered several new ideas and values. As I read various different articles on the subject I began to develop an opinion of my own. Combined with my own personal experience, all though it be brief, and with the documented experiences and statistics, I can only pronounce that all the evidence leads to the idea that uniforms indeed are a treasured asset to our schools.

In addition to students not being able to express their emotions, if school uniforms are kept, the school uniforms will take away the diversity within the schools. As published in “School Uniforms,” “At a time when schools are encouraging an appreciation of diversity, enforcing standardized dress sends a contradictory message” (procon.org). School districts tend to express themselves as one to wanting diversity within the school, but the idea of school uniforms makes the schools contradict themselves. If the schools apply uniforms to the student’s lives then there will be no diversity causes every student will look the same. The school uniforms will withhold the students from having the ability of being different from the person on his or her left. School uniforms create the obstacle many students endure when trying to stand out and be different from the rest of the crowd at school.

Did you know that about twenty-three percent of public and private schools in the United States today issue a school uniform policy? Statistics demonstrate that about $1,300,000,000 is spent annually on school uniforms and that parents personally spend about $249 on average to purchase school uniforms for their children (Statistic Brain, 2017). I find many students and parents complaining about school uniforms and the encumbrance that they impose on households. While the teachers and principals of these schools claim that school uniforms grant classes a decent appearance, there are also several pros present for allowing students to dress as they choose. First, enabling students to wear what they personally select grants them their unalienable freedom of choice and allows them to develop self-confidence. Second, it is quite beneficial for students who do not possess enough money to purchase school uniforms. Third, it allows students to make independent choices and not to depend on the school to offer them attire that may not be right for them. If schools permit students to dress as they prefer, then students would enjoy more freedom in creativity, in finances, and in feeling independent.

People say that school uniforms are a good thing. They prevent bullying, they are easier for parents to dress younger students, and they help students focus on studying, not what they are wearing. Are school administrators or "boomers" of the American school systems causing students to become Wendy's Berry's version of "stickers"? Having students wear school uniforms have several pros and cons to them, including the cost of uniforms, student’s self-image, bullying of students, and student’s academic behavior, but the stickers view (cons) outweigh the boomer's point of views.

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

The concept of schools having uniforms is still new in the U.S. It was not popularized until the late 90s, which started when “Long Beach, California, adopted a district wide mandatory rule on uniforms for all elementary and middle-school students” (Lewin). It is still debatable whether or not school uniforms are genuinely accepted by the student and parent body, however, the idea of being well-dressed and not being pressured to think of what to wear every single day to school does not seem that bad.

The opposing side argues that school uniforms should not be legalized in public school because there are no ways to express the inner being of one's true self. The major factors sur-rounding the oppositions’ stance are not affordable, the students losing confidence, and it cannot be proven on academic achievements. The struggle in families is mainly about not having enough money. Many of the families do not come from a rich-family-background. In Highland-Gaffe's Falls Elementary School, NH, principal James Paul wanted to conduct an experiment on having mandatory uniforms. Seven out of four hundred and fifty-four parents refuse. "Those sev-en children never wore uniforms, which, from my point-of-view, kind of derailing us" (S4). The reason for those parents to reject the mandatory uniforms are unknown, however, the board soon rejected the proposition. Another reason why the opposing side does not agree is because of the students' feelings. No child had a saying in this matter because all the grown-ups were thinking what is the best for their school instead of the children that makes up the school. A seventh grad-er named Aaron Morton said, "Uniforms are uncomfortable. They make you feel all stiff like ro-bots or something" (Viadero4)(S4)" Another seventh grader, Alexis Richardson also said," Peo-ple can't be who they are if they have to wear the same thing every day" (Viadero4)(S4). These two precious, little kids believe in what they believe.

This not only affects how students perceive themselves but additionally shows what will happen if school uniforms are prohibited in all schools. Students will get bullied because of what they are wearing. This could affect how they perform socially but academically. If schools made a requirement to have school uniforms. Then this could help students worry less about their appearance and more about their education. Many studies are showing that if students are allowed to wear what they want they can wear clothing that harmfully threatens other individuals. Even though the first amendment states freedom of expression and individual should not have to criticized for being different.

In past years, school uniforms have been an obligation for private schools only, however; the percentage of public schools requesting uniforms is increasing rapidly. Many public schools endorsed school uniforms after then-President Bill Clinton sustained uniforms in his 1996 State of the Union address: “I challenge all our schools to teach character education, to teach good values and good citizenship. And if it means that adolescents will stop fighting each other over designer clothing, then our public schools should be able to request their students to wear school uniforms.” In statistics it shows,” since 1999 the percentage of all U.S. public schools enforcing dress codes increased by 11.1% by 2014” School uniforms have been a rising major debate for years. Most schools say that by wearing uniforms it will make the school more united, but the only thing they do is bother students, and make parent’s spend a lot of money. School uniforms limits students individuality and they don’t improve a student’s behavior. Therefore, school uniforms should be banned.