The uniform debate is one of the most hotly fought fights in the history of schools. Parents, teachers, administrators, and students seem to find it impossible to land on a middle ground on the topic. The topic of discussion is not going away, but rather growing. In 2000, twelve percent of public schools utilized uniforms. By 2013, that percentage was up to over twenty. Originally, uniforms were used as a means to set children of the upper class apart from those of the lower class (IES NCES). It was a quick way to show who has money and who was just scraping by. Recent statistics, however, indicate that they may have much more merit than merely a way to show prestige. Parents are constantly worrying about money, watching how much they are spending or saving like a hawk. It is no surprise that those opposing the dress code often bring up seemingly steep price of polo shirts and khaki skirts. However, when considering the average amount spent on uniforms per year versus the average amount spent on street clothes per year, the difference is daunting. Parents spend around $200 on uniforms per year for their children but $850 goes into the average yearly wardrobe of an American child. Since children spend around fifty percent of the 365 day year in a school uniform, only about $425 must be spent on street clothes. This means parents of children in uniform spend $625 annually on their children’s while parents of children who wear street clothes to school pay $850 annually. A
For example, “A national 2013 survey of 517 US school leaders found that 94% of those surveyed believe ‘one of the main benefits to parents is that school uniforms are more cost-effective than regular apparel,’ and 77% estimated the average annual cost of school uniforms per child to be $150 or less” (“School Uniforms”). The lower cost of the school uniform is a larger benefit. Instead of gruesome shopping with your child and spending a large amount as well, you can save yourself the time and purchase one simple uniform. Also, not having a variety of clothes makes mornings easier for the parents and children. There would be significantly less arguments over what the child should wear to school that day. School uniforms cause less stress, and save a parent’s money for other things. An article says about the validation of school uniforms:
Public school systems across the country are now requiring students to wear uniforms. Can uniforms really make a difference in a child's academic performance? Wouldn't uniforms infringe the child's creativity and self expression? The "clothes don't make the child" right (Hempill A15)? Wrong. School uniforms can drastically reduce school violence and help a student to focus on school work. In 1996, President Clinton endorsed public school uniforms in his State of the Union Address(Atkins 42). This created a rage among some education critics across the country. Critics complain that uniforms will lessen children's individualism and creativity, infringing students' rights and hint of racism.
Lack of parents support is the most significant reason for schools failing to implement any sort of school uniform code. Parents, teachers, and students should support the need for school uniforms in public schools so that they may be able to achieve higher educational goals. This paper will discuss many of the pros to the debate on uniforms in public schools as well as touch on some of the cons on the subject. After weighing the two sides, it will demonstrate how the pros are a more sensible alternative and why schools should require mandatory uniforms for their students.
School uniforms help create a disciplined atmosphere that is necessary for success in academics (Brookshire 01, 02). Brookshire states that in this study it was realized that, “schools implemented uniforms in an attempt to reduce clothing costs for parents and to help curb social pressures.” (Brookshire 01) Meaning that, school uniforms bring forth more than just one advantage. As the uniforms help
The idea of school uniforms seems comparable to an old-schooled idea that seems to penetrate across school boards everywhere every year. Although wearing uniforms is mostly practiced in private schools, more and more schools yearly are rallying together to introduce school uniforms to the students. For numberless schools across the nation, wearing uniforms is the norm and a wide variety of the students say they enjoy knowing what they will be wearing the next day. As each country begins to seize the nation with higher scores of each school, countless numbers of people begin to wonder if the drastic change in scores could be the uniforms. In spite of whether or not schools are deciding to switch the dress code to uniforms, there should be one decision in the end, which should be to enforce uniforms in all South Harrison School Corporations Schools.
In the past 11 years, the percentage of schools wearing uniforms in the US has gone from 11.8% to 18.9%. Requiring students to wear school uniforms has many more benefits than disadvantages, because uniforms improve the safety of, not only students, but everyone on campus, reduce the likeliness of bullying through the form of equality brought with uniforms, and boost the student’s ability to nonviolently and reasonably solve social problems.
For quite some time now there has been an ongoing discussion about students wearing school uniforms in public schools. Is students in the public-school system play a major role on them academically? Is making the students wear uniforms unfair or does it show equality? What image does it set for the schools that do have a uniform policy? Over the last few decades, the schools, parents, and students have had a debatable issue over the uniform matter.
The idea of uniforms being required for public school students has been a widely controversial topic in the recent past. In the 2003-2004 school year, only one in eight public schools required students to wear uniforms (ProConorg Headlines). In the 2013-2014 school year, one in five public schools required students to wear uniforms (ProConorg Headlines). This essay will discuss the reasons that uniforms restrict the individuality of students, burdens families that cannot afford two sets of clothes for each of their children (Farrell), and serve little to none purpose in benefitting the education of students. Uniforms are meant for the workforce, not school children.
In America there are several voluminous arguments about education. School uniforms are one of the countless controversial topics that are argued about in the united states. From 1999–2000 to 2013–14, the percentage of public schools reporting that they required students to wear uniforms increased from 12 to 20 percent. The percentage of public schools that required the use of uniforms increased by 8 percent. School uniforms should prohibited as they impair academic performances, are expensive, and do not accomplish the problems it was made to solve.
Teachers, students, and parents today are faced with the question of if students should be allowed to wear uniforms or not. Many argumentative questions have aroused due this simple question. Many people believe student should wear uniforms making it better and easier on the students and parents. Whereas there are many people who would feel similar, but feeling as though students should not have to wear uniforms. Questions like these show you how touchy of a subject this is, and how many different factors come into play when dealing with uniforms. There are many agreeable reasons to wearing a uniforms presented by many teachers, parents, and students. While there are even more reasons people will argue against wearing them.
Money is tight for many families, and when back to school shopping comes around many students hearts break when their parents tell them they cannot afford the high end shoes they saw that girl wearing last year. School shopping consists of anywhere from $600-$1000, not including school supplies. In comparison, school uniforms costs anywhere from $50-$100. Depending on the clothing store a school uniform is bought, will vary on the price. School uniforms include khaki pants, and a navy blue Polo shirt. Both of these items can be found at Old Navy for ten dollars a piece. However, back to school clothing consists of designer jeans, and many expensive clothing of a wide variety. Another advantage of school uniforms is that if a family has five children, the uniforms can be passed down from year to year. Uniforms save money themselves, and passing them down to each child every year is a great way to save money as well. The problem with back to school shopping is from year to year, each child may not have the same taste, therefore passing clothes down is not an option. According to The Daily Gazette article, school uniforms not only save money, but they save time as well. Uniforms save parents time by not having to go school shopping and conveniently, uniforms can be delivered to you. Uniforms save children time by not having to pick
“If it means that the schoolrooms will be more orderly, more disciplined,” President Clinton said, “and that our young people will learn to evaluate themselves by what they are on the inside instead of what they’re wearing on the outside, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms.” President Clinton is referring to the outfits or sets of standardized clothes that are worn primarily for an educational institution, usually in primary and secondary schools in various countries. When used, they form the basis of a school’s dress code, which is a set of rules, usually written and posted specifying the required manner of dress at a school. It began when schools had issues with grades and behavioral problems, but they didn’t want uniforms because it infringed upon individuality. The commotion began when the uniform movement began nearly four years ago when Long Beach, California became the nation’s first public school district to require elementary and middle school students to wear uniforms. Since then, public schools from east to west have debated whether they’re beneficial or not, which has caused the controversy to heat up significantly. Even though requiring uniforms in public schools have been controversial throughout history, it continues to be an area of debate for school communities because research shows that uniform policies do provide benefits to schools, but there are also disadvantages that create unfavorable conditions
The history of school uniforms in the United States public schools begins with small underprivileged school of Cherry Hill Elementary in Maryland and the domino effect that happened soon after in the years after. The popularity of school uniforms can greatly be credited to the Long Beach, California study and President Bill Clinton’s speech on the topic. At first, school uniforms were only for the private or Catholic private schools however the school uniform trend spread to other public schools to adopt the “preppy look” and success. This has now set new standard for the United States school system. A brief history of school uniforms will give a significant insight on the growing development that is transforming American schools.
School uniforms have been debated in the public school system for what seem like fifty years. Understand the constructive views that most administrations envision, you start to recognize the goals associated with having students wear them; however, there is a flip side. The unenthusiastic views that are associated with school uniforms present an equally intriguing question. Should schools incorporate them into the curriculum or not? Who opposes it and why it may be used to insure our children’s future. All views will be presented for you to make the decision.
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.