School Uniforms And Its Effect On The Youth Of All Ages

With gang activity, strict dress codes, and bullying becoming more relevant, the idea of school uniforms crosses the mind of many school districts across the country. Even though it may stop students from expressing themselves it would make it easier for staff members to enforce these strict dress codes, reduce the amount of bullying, and overall make schools easier. Which is why schools should have uniforms.

Since the late 1990's many public schools across the nation have opted to implement a stronger dress code policy which have involved the addition to a specific mandated uniform policy. While some critics of mandatory uniform policies believe that there is no justification for change, school uniforms offer educational benefits, improve student behavior, social interaction, and are more cost effective and durable than traditional street clothes.

First of all, mandatory school uniforms deny students rights, stated in the U.S constitution. In the first Amendment, it states, “congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech. Recently, a student at Riverside Middle School, wore a pink shirt with a message on it that stated, “ #TeamTanya” He was spreading awareness for his mother, who had breast cancer. With school uniforms, this student would not be able to spread awareness for his mother. Not only it would be against what the U.S.A. stands for, it would be uncivilized and send a bad message to other countries around the world.

To begin, school uniforms are economic. Parents have an easier time buying a few sets of uniforms for their children rather than buying a new wardrobe every school year. Students do not have to worry about deciding what to wear every day. Checking their closet and grabbing the uniform is all it takes. For example, back in my sister’s middle school days, she was required to

School uniforms should be required in every school. They are inexpensive compared to designer clothes that you traditionally see in schools. Uniforms lets you broadcast your personality but in a subtle way. I grew up wearing uniforms and it didn’t put limitations to my creativity. You’re still able to wear your regular clothes on weekends and you can still wear some of your clothes but just in modernization. This gives people a chance to know the real you. It puts away all labels and brings an equality that we as students need. This lets students be genuine and see each other inner

School uniform enhances school unity and community spirit and gives every student an equal status, regardless of race, religion or culture, whether they are from the upper, middle or working class backgrounds. This leads to young people feeling secure as a group and less likely to be bullied for not wearing the latest fashion trend, thus banning uniforms would be atrocious.

Requiring school uniforms eliminates the chances of bullying. Bullies usually pick on kids based on what they wear. With the use of uniforms, everyone will be wearing the same clothes, not allowing the bullies to pick people out by their choice of clothing. Even those making fun of others would be wearing the same clothes as

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

If school uniforms were considered, there would be a lower amount of bullying. Many students go to school worrying about being bullied because of what they wear or how they look. In “Appearances Are Destructive” it talks about how people judge on how expensive their clothes are or what brand it is. They also judge on culture. Students may go home in tears because their peers judge on clothing. School uniforms should be a required thing at most of the schools in the United States. School uniforms would be the best choice because then we would have less bullying because they would have nothing to judge their classmates on...they would help with stress brought on to buy clothes.

Why do we need uniforms? Most student have their own style, but a common argument against school uniforms is that they take away the students right to show their sense of style, creativity and culture. Yes, school uniforms may limit what the students have to wear, but he/she can still have their own ways of self-expression in many forms. Students can still express their style of choice by what shoes they pick, color of the shoe laces, how he or she styles their hair, what accessories they add, jacket they wear or socks; there are many ways. Uniforms are still versatile where they will not be breaking the dress code policy the school has set. Just because a student can’t wear the most latest Polo ,Lacrosse , or Hollister shirt or jeans to school doesn’t mean that his/her rights are taken away. School should be a place where Children come to learn, not to scope out the latest fashion trend. Outside of school, kids can wear and show off their unique sense of style.

Public schools should not require uniforms. For example, some students express themselves through their clothes. According to, “Misguided Education Reform: Debating the Impact on Students," Nancy E. Bailey states that “Teens should be able to develop self-expression and their personal identity. Instead, they might resort to unconventional piercings and tattoos... School uniforms encourage followers not leaders. The practice discourages independent thinkers. ” Students should feel that they can show their true selves and express themselves instead of being restricted. In addition kids should choose what outfit they want to wear, when they want to wear it. In “Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms?”, ProCon.Org states that, “The First

Students spend countless of hours in school listening to their teachers, or professors, and doing work. In some schools, they make their students wear school uniforms. This then raises an argument over should all students wear school uniforms; even if, they attend a public school. Even though students can be equal wearing uniforms, students should not need to wear uniforms. Wearing uniforms take away individualism, clothing is expensive to buy these days, and dress codes are getting ridiculous.

By having a standardized set of requirements for uniforms there leaves very little, if any at all, room for areas of disagreement between student and teacher. Instead of suppressing individuality, requiring uniforms simply encourages being unique and expressing yourself in more creative ways. All students are given economic equality for the time being and they do not have to stress about being bullied for what they wear. They do not have to feel that they need to compete with their classmates in how expensive their apparel is. Any type of peer pressure that is due to what type of clothing or how large someone’s wardrobe is, is taken completely off of the table. Lastly, how cost effective requiring uniforms can be is extremely helpful to the families of students. The money saved can be put towards more essential items. In the long run, everyone benefits from an institution requiring

School systems have debated for years if they should make school uniforms mandatory for all students. Some parents do not want school systems to mandate uniforms due to pressure from their children to be able to maintain their individuality through clothing, while other parents prefer uniforms to reduce spending money on name brand school clothes and to minimize associations with gangs. More school systems across the United States of America are going to uniforms from grades one through twelve where students are still impressionable by their peers. I believe public schools should require students to wear school uniforms to help parents save money in these hard economic times, to limit the number of incidents of violence in the school systems due to gangs and gang associates such as colors, and to prepare students for the job force after school where some places make it mandatory to wear uniforms to work every day.

One advantage of mandatory school uniforms may be improved school safety. According to assistant superintendent Linda Rondeau, many educators believe “school uniforms promote school safety and enhance the learning environment, and diminish the clothing competition.” (qtd. by Boutelle 36). Supporters believe that