Synthesis Essay: The Effects Of School Uniforms

So, not only are dress codes a problem, but school uniforms are even WORSE! Uniforms definitely do not come cheap. According to ggwash.org, they say uniforms are usually around $249! And also, a survey of Nevada students state that 90% of students do not like having to wear a uniform to school. So, wouldn’t you rather spend that $249 on something that your kid enjoys to wear, something that will show your child's style and individuality. Most people might say “well, uniforms help the kids focus on school, so they are not worried about what everyone is wearing,” but research has shown that math scores between highschool and middle school students have increased by 0.01% after the uniforms were adopted, while the reading scores even dropped after the uniforms were purchased. Also, according to naesp.org, uniforms make it easier to get kids ready, or save time in the morning, but the only thing uniforms would save time for was for what you would wear, and if you pick out your outfit the night before, putting on your clothes in the morning should take the same amount of time in the morning as putting on a

Having to pay for an expensive $600 school uniform would do nothing but hinder their education as well as their chances for a brighter future. According to expert statistics provided by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2015, 14.5% of American families were living below the poverty line. That's over 45 million Americans that cannot spare money for school uniforms. Furthermore, these families might be ones who have recently immigrated to the United States looking for a new start or are struggling to support their loved ones. Trivial things such as school uniforms should not be the reason why students cannot attend school or are ostracised by their peers.

“My school requires a uniform that is very costly. We must wear the same jacket, shirt, tie, pants, and shoes as each other everyday. Which is a very expensive uniform that a lot of kids in my school cannot afford. Students show up smelling badly because we can’t purchase more than one or two of these expensive uniforms. Even I will catch myself wearing the same shirt for 2 or 3 days in a row because I don’t have enough shirts to wear a new one everyday.” (Ryan, New Zealand) Not only are these uniforms expensive but they are also being looked down upon by many other students as well for things like uncomfortable attire, and diminishing individuality. So why do so many schools require school uniforms? TODAY, reports that in 2010, 19 percent of all public schools reported to enforcing school uniforms. This is up by 12 percent since the years before. But only about 22 percent of students like their school uniforms according to a study in Baltimore. School uniforms are not something students enjoy wearing, Students report that uniforms take away their individuality which makes them not want to go to school. “We learn from a young age that life would be boring if we all dressed the same way. Dress and appearance are a way of expressing oneself” says Deseret News claiming school uniforms should not be enforced in public schools.

No parent wants to see their kid not happy or fail a class due to not being able to pay attention because the clothing they are wearing is bothering them. They won’t be able to show their true self which will make them unhappy and they can lose concentration. Our school doesn’t have the money to afford uniforms for all the students. Getting uniforms do not solve any problems and doesn’t do any good. Uniforms will just make students unhappy and honestly just be pointless. It will not stop people from fight over stupid stuff or stop them from spreading rumors to cause drama. Uniforms do not solve any of the bigger issues. The school would have to raise a lot money somehow if they wanted uniforms because there are a lot students in our school and we just don’t have the money for that. School uniforms would make all kids feel the same by wearing the same clothes as everyone else and not being able to express themselves. This is why I think students at Preston High should not have to wear school

School uniforms have always been a topic of discussion between teachers, students, and parents. People want to know how the uniforms will affect the students. Many of the schools that want to enforce a school uniform policy want to end problems that clothing may cause. School uniforms may help many aspects of a student's school life. Uniforms may help many different aspects of a student’s life, such as increasing test scores, decreasing bullying, in addition, and preparing students for the workplace.

Imagine picking up your child from school to find her in tears. Through her sobs she tells you that her day was spent in In-School-Suspension (ISS) for refusing to remove her head scarf, part of your family’s religious attire; I’m sure that you would be outraged. Your child’s uniform policy does not allow for any type of head gear to be worn, which left her stuck outside of the classroom and in ISS. In the words of the United States Department of Education, “A school uniform policy must accommodate students whose religious beliefs are substantially burdened by a uniform requirement (“Manual on School Uniforms”), this mandate is distributed to all public schools that want to implement or are currently utilizing a uniform policy. What the school did to your child is considered a violation of her religious rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. A school district in North Carolina came to an out-of-court settlement after being slapped with a lawsuit due to the fact that they denied any exemptions from the uniform policy based on religion. Our great country was founded on the basis of Freedom of Religion, so why should we allow for it to be taken away because of a school board’s decision to adopt a uniform policy that does

Every year parents spend large amounts of money on clothes for their children in preparation for the beginning of a new school year. This price increases with the desire to purchase expensive name brand clothes to fit in with other students. School uniforms can

Schools around the world have debated whether uniforms are important in the academic success of a student or not. The debate comes from a place of studying how uniforms benefit or inhibit the student’s social, educational, and behavioral performance. Numerous studies show the varying sides of the debate, including the pros and cons. The area, type of school, and parental stance is taken into account when studying the effect of uniforms versus dress code. Uniforms are not beneficial in schools because they prohibit individuality, diversity, and comfortability of students.

In the article, “Do Uniforms Make School Better?”, Mariah Wilde reveals, “ In June of 2007, the United States Supreme Court upheld a lower court's decision affirming a Vermont students right to wear a t-shirt depicting President Bush surrounded by drug and alcohol images. The school had suspended the student . . . The courts however disagreed with the school. . . . They were protected as free political expression” (Wilde). Wilde explains how a student was suspended a t-shirt that was worn that had drugs and alcohol on it, but the courts ruled favor of the student. The supreme court protected the student and said that it was their right to have a political expression. Even though some people like the school in this case disagree with a students opinion does not give them the right to suspend the student. If everyone is entitled to the first Amendment, why are students not? Students are still human beings and they are still allowed to have their freedom of speech and their own opinions. Schools teach us to express ourselves and be our own person, but implementing uniforms takes that right away.

Public schools should not be allowed to require students to wear uniforms due to the financial burden for the less fortunate families. According to Toby helm on Saturday, 3 September 2011 “He says there is clear evidence that the costs to families are rising as schools become more demanding – and as more local authorities withdraw financial support for children moving from primary to secondary school.”(The guardian [2]) Many families do not have the money to go out and buy a school uniform and turn back around and buy casual clothes to wear on the weekends. Some kids get their school clothes at a consignment shop or hand downs from siblings, now how is that far to make people go buy expensive uniforms when there is no need to. Many schools are promoting the school uniform policy. Many parents cannot just send their kid to school without the uniform, so overall it’s like the school district is making you pay for uniforms when in all honesty there is no way to fit the

The First Amendment in the United States constitution states that everyone has entitlement to freedom of speech and his or her right to express artistic, religious, and their political viewpoints. The topic of dress code policies in schools regarding uniforms has been up for debate ever since the idea originated from England. In the beginning, the uniforms were designed for upper class and used only in private schools. In the 1800’s the United States adopted the idea of using mandatory dress code in private education, but the idea did not flourish in public schools until 1987. Disruption is used to define the use of students expressing themselves in schools without the lesson being uninterrupted. Clothing is what allows students to express themselves without making a distraction to peers. Therefore, public education benefits when there is no set uniform requirement these reasons being the emphasizing of socioeconomic divisions, promotion of conformity rather than individuality, and the use of uniforms can cause an increase in bullying.

First of all, many people who oppose school uniform claim that wearing a uniform does not allow for students to demonstrate their individuals. However, students have an opportunity to show their initiative in a better way. For example, attending a club or being on the sports team is a better way to demonstrate their individuals than wearing clothes. Because wearing a school uniform creates a sense of equality and uniforms alleviate bullying. People all are aware that we are not living in a world that is equivalent to everyone. Therefore, at any school, there are children from families that are rich and poor. According to Meredith Gadoury in “Uniforms,”

The use of school uniforms, while controversial, can create an overall sense of unity that contributes to the learning environment. As of now, uniforms have been gotten rid of in most schools in favor of clothing that embodies freedom of speech and expression. However, the use of school uniforms can be beneficial to learning. School uniforms were created to promote a sense of unity and provide benefits beyond just looking pretty. According to a study by the University of Houston, schools “found improvements in academics, attendance, and behavior” after they adopted uniforms (qtd. In “School Uniforms”). While correlation does not always imply causation, in this case there is a valid reason. The nature of school uniforms can be

In 1987, Cherry Hill Elementary School in Baltimore, Maryland, became the first school to adopt a uniform policy. (Education Bug, 2010) After this school’s implementation of a dress code, there was a dramatic increase in the use of school uniforms in the United States; which was inspired by former President Bill Clinton. President Clinton proposed a challenge to all public schools by saying, he challenges all of our schools to teach character education; along with good values and good citizenship. If it means that our teenagers will stop killing each other over designer labels, then schools should require students to wear a uniform everyday to school. (Brunsma, 2006) His speech was just the beginning of the very controversial uniform debate, and people on both sides of the arguments have tried hard to make sure that their case is heard.

Schools can reap many social benefits from uniforms. School can be a source of harassment and cruelty for many students who are judged or rejected because of what they wear. Uniforms remove the pressure many students feel to dress a certain way to fit in at school. Over 75% of public schools reported a decrease in peer pressure after introducing uniforms to their schools (“School Uniform Benefits”). This statistic may be related to the fact that uniforms increase students’ confidence and better their self-image because they no longer have to worry about dressing to fit their peer’s standards (Brunsma and Rockquemore 53). They aren’t defined by what they wear anymore, but by their character, which can be a liberating experience for young people. School uniforms promote equality among