Why Students Should Not Wear Uniforms: A Thoughtful Exploration with 9 Reasons, Studies and Statistics
At the core of the anti-uniform stance is the belief in the importance of individuality and personal growth during the formative years of schooling. Uniforms, often seen as a tool for homogenization, can stifle the self-expression and creativity that are essential in nurturing young minds. By enforcing a standard mode of dress, schools may inadvertently suppress the diversity and individuality that should be celebrated within educational environments. Moreover, the imposition of uniforms can raise significant financial burdens for families, create unnecessary resistance to authority, and overlook important cultural and religious considerations.
I am seething about this poor young girl who has been put in isolation because she’s not wearing a school uniform bought from the right place, school uniforms are far too expensive for a lot of people in this country in the most ridiculous you can get just as good from supermarke — James Whale (@THEJamesWhale) September 17, 2023
This article aims to explore these perspectives, offering insights into why the policy of mandatory school uniforms might be an outdated approach that overlooks the broader objectives of education and personal development. As we delve into this topic, we invite readers to reconsider the conventional wisdom on school uniforms and reflect on the potential benefits of a more flexible and inclusive approach to student attire.
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Uniforms in Education: Educator and Industry Expert Perspectives
“I completely disagree with uniforms on every level. Supporters of uniforms say that they reduce bullying with regards to fashion, but there is a great deal of evidence that says it just pushes that bullying underground. Instead of being bullied about something superficial like the shirt you are wearing, bullies just go to the tried and true body image shaming. Glass? Overweight? Acne? Too many freckles? Hair colour? Too tall? Too short? What school administrators see is a surface level reduction in bullying, followed by them patting themselves on the back and ignoring the problem completely.” — Scooter Campbell , assistant language teacher
“While uniforms are supposed to build a sense of community, they may have the opposite effect. Fashion is one way that students express themselves, and that may be an important part of the school experience. When students can’t show their individuality, they may not feel like they belong as much. School uniforms may not be the most effective way to improve student behavior and engagement.” — Arya Ansari, assistant professor of human sciences at The Ohio State University
“I really don’t care whether or not a student’s shirt is tucked in, as long as they are learning. I don’t care whether or not a student has on the right belt, as long as I can’t see their underwear. I don’t care if a boy has earrings, facial hair, or painted nails, as long as he’s not painting them in my class. I don’t care if a girl has bright pink hair, a tank top, and ripped jeans, as long as bosoms and butt cheeks are covered and secure. I don’t like hoodies on heads in my classroom because it makes it too easy to hide Airpods, but I don’t care if the sweatshirt has a hood. As long as it’s not a top hat or sombrero that blocks the view of the students behind them, I don’t care if my students wear hats or beanies in my class.” — New Orleans Mom Guest Author
The video below explores the debate on the impact of school uniforms on academic performance. It delves into whether mandating uniforms in schools truly enhances students’ learning and overall academic success.
9 Reasons Why Students Should Not Wear Uniforms
1. expression of individuality.
In essence, the freedom to choose one’s attire is not just a matter of personal taste but a crucial element in nurturing confident, creative, and culturally aware individuals. Schools, by embracing this diversity in student clothing, can enhance the educational experience and better prepare students for the varied and diverse world beyond their gates.
2. Financial Burden
3. comfort and practicality.
The issue of comfort and practicality is a significant concern in the debate against mandatory school uniforms. Students spend a substantial part of their day in school, and their attire plays a crucial role in their overall comfort and ability to engage effectively in various school activities.
In essence, prioritizing comfort and practicality in student attire is not only a matter of convenience but also impacts their academic engagement and well-being. Allowing students to wear clothing that is comfortable, suited to a variety of activities, and appropriate for the weather can enhance their school experience, making them more receptive to learning and participating in school life.
4. Lack of Preparation for Real World
5. equality issues, 6. resistance to authority, 7. cultural and religious concerns, 8. psychological impact, 9. not environmentally friendly, addressing opposing perspectives on school uniforms, 1. uniforms save time, 2. uniforms improve attendance and discipline, 3. improving safety and security, useful resources, leave a comment cancel reply.
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Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms?
- History of School Uniforms
Traditionally favored by private and parochial institutions , school uniforms are being adopted by US public schools in increasing numbers. According to a 2020 report, the percentage of public schools that required school uniforms jumped from 12% in the 1999-2000 school year to 20% in the 2017-18 school year. School uniforms were most frequently required by elementary schools (23%), followed by middle (18%), and high schools (10%).
The first recorded use of standardized dress in education may have been in England in 1222, when the Archbishop of Canterbury mandated that students wear a robe-like outfit called the “ cappa clausa .” The origin of the modern school uniform can be traced to 16th Century England, when the impoverished “charity children” attending the Christ’s Hospital boarding school wore blue cloaks reminiscent of the cassocks worn by clergy, along with yellow stockings. As of Sep. 2014, students at Christ’s Hospital were still wearing the same uniform, and according to the school it is the oldest school uniform still in use. When Christ’s Hospital surveyed its students in 2011, 95% voted to keep the traditional uniforms. Read more history…
Pro & Con Arguments
Pro 1 School uniforms deter crime and increase student safety. In Long Beach, California, after two years of a district-wide K-8 mandatory uniform policy, reports of assault and battery in the district’s schools decreased by 34%, assault with a deadly weapon dropped by 50%, fighting incidents went down by 51%, sex offenses were cut by 74%, robbery dropped by 65%, possession of weapons (or weapon “look-alikes”) decreased by 52%, possession of drugs went down by 69%, and vandalism was lowered by 18%. [ 64 ] One year after Sparks Middle School in Nevada instituted a uniform policy, school police data showed a 63% drop in police log reports, and decreases were also noted in gang activity, student fights, graffiti, property damage, and battery. A peer-reviewed study found that schools with uniform policies had 12% fewer firearm-related incidents and 15% fewer drug-related incidents than schools without uniforms. [ 25 ] [ 69 ] School uniforms also prevent students from concealing weapons under baggy clothing, make it easier to keep track of students on field trips, and make intruders on campus more visible. Frank Quatrone, superintendent in the Lodi school district of New Jersey, states, “When you have students dressed alike, you make them safer. If someone were to come into a building, the intruder could easily be recognized.” [ 6 ] [ 38 ] Further, school uniforms create a level playing field among students, reducing peer pressure and bullying. When all students are dressed alike, competition between students over clothing choices and the teasing of those who are dressed in less expensive or less fashionable outfits can be eliminated. Research by the Schoolwear Association found that 83% of teachers thought “a good school uniform… could prevent bullying based on appearance or economic background.” Arminta Jacobson, Founder and Director of the Center for Parent Education at the University of North Texas, states that uniforms put “all kids on the same playing field in terms of their appearance. I think it probably gives them a sense of belonging and a feeling of being socially accepted.” [ 5 ] [ 91 ] And, school uniforms prevent the display of gang colors and insignia, reducing gang activity and pressure to join on school property. The U.S. Department of Education’s Manual on School Uniforms stated that uniform policies can “prevent gang members from wearing gang colors and insignia at school” in order to “encourage a safe environment.” Educators in the Long Beach Unified School District have speculated that the sharp reduction in crime following the introduction of school uniforms was a result of gang conflicts being curbed. Osceola County, Florida School Board member Jay Wheeler reports that the county’s schools had a 46% drop in gang activity after their first full school year with a mandatory K-12 uniform policy. Wheeler explains that “clothing is integral to gang culture… Imagine a U.S. Armed Forces recruiter out of uniform trying to recruit new soldiers; the success rate goes down. The same applies to gang recruitment.” [35] [37] [67] [ 35 ] [ 37 ] [ 67 ] Read More
Pro 2 School uniforms keep students focused on their education, not their clothes. The National Association of Secondary School Principals states, “When all students are wearing the same outfit, they are less concerned about how they look and how they fit in with their peers; thus, they can concentrate on their schoolwork.” And a study by the University of Houston found that elementary school girls’ language test scores increased by about three percentile points after uniforms were introduced. [ 1 ] [ 15 ] Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton advocates school uniforms as a way to help students focus on learning: “Take that [clothing choices] off the table and put the focus on school, not on what you’re wearing.” Chris Hammons, Principal of Woodland Middle School in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, explains that uniforms “provide for less distraction, less drama, and more of a focus on learning.” [ 30 ] [ 70 ] Wearing uniforms also enhances school pride, unity, and community spirit, which can boost interest in education. A study of over 1,000 Texas middle school students found that students in uniform “reported significantly more positive perceptions of belonging in their school community than reported by students in the standard dress group.” Christopher P. Clouet, former Superintendent of the New London Public Schools in Connecticut, stated that “the wearing of uniforms contributes to school pride.” Arnold Goldstein, PhD, head of the Center for Research on Aggression at Syracuse University, points out that uniforms help troubled students feel they have the support of a community: “There is a sense of belonging.” Further, “teachers perceived an increase in the level of respect, caring, and trust… throughout the school” and “students are made to feel ‘important’ and as if they are a part of a team by wearing a uniform,” according to a peer-reviewed study. [ 3 ] [ 20 ] [ 31 ] [ 33 ] Plus, school uniforms can improve attendance and discipline. A study by researchers at the University of Houston found that the average absence rate for girls in middle and high school decreased by 7% after the introduction of uniforms, and behavioral problems lessened in severity. School uniforms make getting ready for school easier, which can improve punctuality. When uniforms are mandatory, parents and students do not spend time choosing appropriate outfits for the school day. According to a national 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, credits the district’s uniform policy for reducing the number of students running late. Lyndhurst student Mike Morreale agrees, stating that “it’s so much easier to dress than having to search for clothes and find out that something doesn’t match.” A Youngstown State University study of secondary schools in Ohio’s eight largest school districts found that school uniform policies improve rates of attendance, graduation, and suspension. [ 1 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 27 ] [ 32 ] During the first semester of a mandatory uniform program at John Adams Middle School in Albuquerque, NM, discipline referrals dropped from 1,565 during the first semester of the year prior to 405, a 74% decrease. Macquarie University (Australia) researchers found that in schools across the world where uniform policies are enforced, students “are more disciplined” and “listen significantly better, there are lower noise levels, and lower teaching waiting times with classes starting on time.” [ 68 ] [ 89 ] Wasted time in classrooms is reduced because uniform policies save valuable class time because they are easier to enforce than a standard dress code. Doris Jo Murphy, former Director of Field Experiences at the University of North Texas College of Education, states, “As an elementary assistant principal in two suburban districts, I can tell you that the dress code took up a great deal of my time in the area of discipline… I wished many times that we had uniforms because the issue of skirts or shorts being too short, and baggy jeans and pants on the boys not being pulled up as they needed to be, would have been a non-issue.” Lyndhurst, NJ school district superintendent Tracey Marinelli had a similar experience before a uniform policy was introduced: “Kids were spending time in the office because they were not fulfilling the dress code… That was time away from class.” [ 5 ] [ 6 ] Read More
Pro 3 Students’ legal right to free expression remains intact with mandatory school uniforms. The 1969 U.S. Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, which concerned the wearing of black armbands to protest the Vietnam War, confirmed that students’ constitutional right to free speech “does not relate to regulation of the length of skirts or the type of clothing.” Wearing one’s own choice of shirt or pants is not the “pure speech” protected by the Constitution. [ 18 ] [ 28 ] In Canady v. Bossier Parish School Board (3-0, 2001), the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a school board’s right to implement a mandatory uniform policy, stating that requiring uniforms for the purpose of increasing test scores and improving discipline “is in no way related to the suppression of student speech. [Students] remain free to wear what they want after school hours. Students may still express their views through other mediums during the school day.” [ 18 ] [ 29 ] Besides, students can still express their individuality in school uniforms by introducing variations and adding accessories. Junior high school student Amelia Jimenez wrote in her op-ed for the Pennsylvania Patriot-News that “contrary to popular belief, uniforms do not stop students from being themselves. Uniforms do not silence voices. Students can wear a variety of expressive items, such as buttons or jewlery.” Students can inject their personal style into their daily look with hairstyles, nail polish, and colorful accessories such as bags, scarfs, and fun socks. 54% of eighth-graders said they could still express their individuality while wearing school uniforms. [ 61 ] [ 62 ] [ 65 ] Further, students dressed in uniform are better perceived by teachers and peers. A 1994 peer-reviewed study found that students in uniform were perceived by teachers and fellow students as being more academically proficient than students in regular clothes. The study also found that students in uniform were perceived by peers and teachers as having higher academic potential, and perceived by peers as being better behaved. Students need to learn a balance between free expression and working within the confines of expectations. [ 4 ] Read More
Con 1 School uniforms do not stop bullying and can actually increase violent attacks. “Overall, there is no evidence in bullying literature that supports a reduction in violence due to school uniforms, explains Tony Volk, Associate Professor at Brock University. The oft-quoted improvements to school safety and student behavior in the Long Beach (CA) Unified School District from 1993-1995 may not have resulted from the introduction of school uniforms. The study in which the findings were published cautioned that “it is not clear that these results are entirely attributable to the uniform policy” and suggests that the introduction of new school security measures made at the same time may have been partly responsible. [ 64 ] [ 85 ] Further, a peer-reviewed study found that “school uniforms increased the average number of assaults by about 14 [per year] in the most violent schools.” A Texas Southern University study found that school discipline incidents rose by about 12% after the introduction of uniforms. And, according to the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Office of Education Evaluation and Management, fights in middle schools nearly doubled within one year of introducing mandatory uniforms. [ 14 ] [ 26 ] [ 72 ] [ 73 ] Discipline problems increase in part because school uniforms emphasize the socio-economic divisions they are supposed to eliminate. Most public schools with uniform policies are in low-income neighborhoods (47% of high-poverty public schools required school uniforms vs. 6% of low poverty schools), emphasizing the class distinctions that uniforms were supposed to eliminate. Even within one school, uniforms cannot conceal the differences between the “haves” and the “have-nots.” David L. Brunsma explains that “more affluent families buy more uniforms per child. The less affluent… they have one… It’s more likely to be tattered, torn and faded. It only takes two months [after a uniform policy is implemented] for socioeconomic differences to show up again.” [ 9 ] [ 23 ] Read More
Con 2 School uniforms do not improve attendance, academic preparedness, or exam results. A study that analyzed a national sample of 10th graders found “no effects of uniforms on absenteeism, behavioral problems (fights, suspensions, etc.), or substance use on campus” and “no effects” on “pro-school attitudes, academic preparedness, and peer attitudes toward school.” [14][66] Brunsma also found a “negative effect of uniforms on academic achievement,” and later found that uniforms were equally ineffective on elementary students and eighth graders. A peer-reviewed study found “no significant effects of school uniforms on performance on second grade reading and mathematics examinations, as well as on 10th-grade reading, mathematics, science, and history examinations… [I]n many of the specifications, the results are actually negative.” [ 2 ] [ 14 ] The problems arise because focusing on uniforms takes attention away from finding genuine solutions to problems in education. Spending time and effort implementing uniform policies detracts from more effective efforts to reduce crime in schools and boost student performance. More substantive improvements to public education could be achieved with smaller class sizes, tightened security, increased parental involvement, improved facilities, and other measures. Tom Houlihan, former Superintendent of Schools in Oxford, North Carolina, stated that school uniforms “are a distraction from focusing on systematic and fundamental transformation to improve our schools.” [ 12 ] [ 14 ] [ 42 ] That uniform policies are a distraction is most evident when we realize that the push for school uniforms is driven by commercial interests rather than educational ones. Americans spend around $1 billion on school uniforms every year. Retailer J.C. Penney Co. says school uniforms are “a huge, important business for us.” In one year alone, uniform company Lands’ End spent $3 million on marketing efforts directed at public schools and districts. Multiple studies used to promote the effectiveness of uniforms were partly funded by Lands’ End, and at least one of those studies is “so wholly flawed as to render itself useless,” according to David L. Brunsma. Reuters reported that retailers were “sensing their opportunity… stepping up competition in the uniform aisles and online. Walmart has set up ‘uniform shops’ or temporary boutiques within some stores.” [ 14 ] [ 32 ] [ 43 ] [ 44 ] [ 74 ] The commercialization of school uniforms in public schools also undermines the promise of a free education by imposing an extra expense on families. Parents already pay taxes, and they still need to buy regular clothes for their children to wear when they’re out of school and for dress-down days. The Children’s Commission on Poverty (UK) found that over “95% of parents on low incomes reported difficulties in meeting school-related costs,” including uniforms, despite their children attending tuition-free schools. Anderson, Indiana, parents Laura and Scott Bell argued against their children’s school uniform policy, saying the $641 for their children’s uniforms broke the guarantee of a free public education. In York County, Pennsylvania, a local NBC affiliate reported that some children were missing class because their families couldn’t afford to purchase the required uniforms. And, all of that is before the uniform policies themselves are examined. Most operate like dress codes and are classist, racist, and sexist. [ 10 ] [ 84 ] [ 94 ] Read More
Con 3 School uniforms restrict students’ freedom of expression. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees that all individuals have the right to express themselves freely. The U.S. Supreme Court stated in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) that “it can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” [ 8 ] [ 28 ] In Sweden, a government agency, the School Inspectorate, determined that uniforms were a human rights violation because “dress and appearance should be considered an individual expression, decided by the students themselves.” Clothing choices are “a crucial form of self-expression,” according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, which also states that “allowing students to choose their clothing is an empowering message from the schools that a student is a maturing person who is entitled to the most basic self-determination.” [ 7 ] [ 39 ] Uniforms take away the ability to use clothing as means of expressing support for social causes. Students at Friendly High School in Prince George’s County, MD, were not allowed to wear pink shirts to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month and 75 students received suspensions for breaking the school’s uniform restrictions. Removing these choices can delay the transition into adulthood. Adults make their own clothing choices and have the freedom to express themselves through their appearance. Denying children and teenagers the opportunity to make those choices may make them ill-prepared for the adult world. Adolescents see clothing choices as a means of identification, and seeking an identity is one of the critical stages of adolescence, according to the late developmental psychologist Erik Erikson. [ 11 ] [ 75 ] [ 76 ] [ 79 ] [ 80 ] When students have to wear the same outfits, rather than being allowed to select clothes that suit their body types, they can suffer embarrassment at school. Child and teen development specialist Robyn Silverman says that students, especially girls, tend to compare how each other looks in their uniforms: “As a body image expert, I hear from students all the time that they feel it allows for a lot of comparison… So if you have a body that’s a plus-size body, a curvier body, a very tall body, a very short body, those girls often feel that they don’t look their best.” A study by researchers at Arizona State University found that “students from schools without uniforms reported higher self-perception scores than students from schools with uniform policies.” Some students also find uniforms less comfortable than their regular clothes, which may not be conducive to learning. [ 21 ] [ 24 ] [ 75 ] Further, school uniforms promote conformity over individuality. Chicago, Illinois, junior high school student Kyler Sumter says: “They decide to teach us about people like Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony and Booker T. Washington… We learn about how these people expressed themselves and conquered and we can’t even express ourselves in the hallways.” Troy Shuman, a senior in Harford County, Maryland, said the introduction of a mandatory uniform policy to his school would be “teaching conformity and squelching individual thought. Just think of prisons and gangs. The ultimate socializer to crush rebellion is conformity in appearance. If a school system starts at clothes, where does it end?” [ 9 ] [ 60 ] In schools where uniforms are specifically gendered (girls must wear skirts and boys must wear pants), transgender, gender-fluid, and gender-nonconforming students can feel ostracized. Seamus, a 16-year-old transgender boy, stated, “sitting in a blouse and skirt all day made me feel insanely anxious. I wasn’t taken seriously. This is atrocious and damaging to a young person’s mental health; that uniform nearly destroyed me.” Late satirist George Carlin asked, “Don’t these schools do enough damage, making all these children think alike? Now they’re gonna get them to look alike, too?” [ 40 ] [ 86 ] Beyond student preference, parents should be free to choose their children’s clothes without government interference. One of the founders of the Wilson County (Louisiana) Parents Coalition, Richard Dashkovitz, states: “It’s time we let the government know that we are fed up with this. Quit dictating to us what my child should wear… [T]he government is intruding into our private lives, roles as parents and the lives of our children.” According to another parents’ rights group, Asserting Parental Rights — It’s Our Duty, mandatory uniform “policies trample parents’ right to raise children without government interference.” [ 10 ] [ 16 ] Read More
Did You Know? |
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1. The first school district in the United States to require all K-8 students to wear uniforms was Long Beach, CA, in Jan. 1994. [ ] [ ] |
2. Americans spend around $1 billion per year on school uniforms. [ ] [ ] |
3. Students at Eton, one of England's most prestigious schools, were required to wear black top hats and tails on and off campus until 1972. [ ] |
4. US schools with a minority student population of 50% or more are four times as likely to require uniforms than schools with a minority population of 20-49%, and 24 times more likely than schools with minority populations of 5%-19%. [ ] |
5. A government agency in Sweden declared that mandatory school uniforms were a human rights violation, stating that students should decide their dress and appearance as "a matter of the individual's freedom and integrity." [ ] |
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Should Students Wear School Uniforms Essay (Tips and Sample)
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School uniforms are a hotly contested debate, which makes it a controversial topic preferred for school essays. Even though writing a school uniform essay should be easy, students' confessions after being assigned both long and short essays on school uniform show mixed results. Most students who have been given an essay on school uniforms have highlighted it as exciting and tricky.
Well, to write an essay that will score you an excellent grade, you need to understand your perspective, viewpoint, or stand before writing. As yourself, whether you will support school uniforms or you will be against them in your essay.
In most cases, the essay can be argumentative where you argue either for or against, then proceed to state your stand on whether or not you support school uniforms in learning institutions. You can also write an informative essay or a persuasive school uniform essay.
This article covers some aspects to consider when writing such an essay, some suitable topics, and general advice on how to write an outstanding school uniforms essay.
How to begin a School Uniforms Essay
You aim to demystify the school uniforms debate. Therefore, you need to strategize on how to begin the essay. Like other essays, starting with an essay hook would make it interesting to the readers. After the hook, head straight to writing some background information on school uniforms. You can then incorporate a thesis statement that presents your central stance on the paper.
Here is a sample school uniform hook:
A recent study by North Dakota State University revealed that an average American household spends close to 3.8% of their income on clothing, translating to approximately $2000 annually per household.
The hook above is essential when you argue from a cost perspective where you say that school uniforms save families from expenditures on buying different clothes for kids, which equalizes the rich and poor households.
In your background, you can try reference instances when school uniforms have stirred public debates. Inform your reader about these debates and highlight the key issues you will handle in your essay.
At the end of the introduction paragraph, state your thesis statement.
What goes to the body of a school uniform essay?
With the introduction done, you now need to develop the body paragraphs. As a general rule, always maintain a single idea per paragraph. If you are doing your essay in a five-paragraph essay format, ensure that the body of your essay takes 80% of the total word count while the introduction and the conclusion each take 10%.
Here are some key ideas you can incorporate in the body of your essay:
- Explain the essence of having school uniforms on students, teachers, and learning institutions. Issues such as security and safety, uniformity, and promoting togetherness or unity as benefits. It is easy to spot a student in uniform. School uniforms also enforce some self-respect and self-worth among students. As well, uniforms foster a sense of belonging among students.
- Explore the issue from a cost-saving perspective for the parents. Unlike having different clothes daily, having a few pieces of school uniforms reduces the expenditure per household.
- Connect school uniforms to issues such as creativity, comfort, and affordability. Lack of funds, for instance, can hinder some families from sending their children to school as they have no school uniforms.
- You can also present the pros and cons of school uniforms
- Connect the school uniforms to identity formation
- School uniforms equalize students, which boosts their self-confidence
- School uniform makes students not be imaginative
- In the end, present recommendations that can solve the school uniform quagmire in schools
Like any other essay, ensure that your essay about school uniforms is engaging. Take a multi-stakeholder approach if you are recommending a policy.
If you have real-life examples of how school uniforms are beneficial, present them to support your body paragraphs. As you strive to present your viewpoints, ensure that each paragraph transitions to the next paragraph.
If possible, benchmark your arguments on schools that have successfully implemented school uniforms.
How to end an essay on school uniform
Like the introduction, the conclusion of your essay matters a lot. It can be the only place a marker checks to know what your stance was when writing your school uniforms essay.
Let your readers know whether school uniforms are good or not. Do not just stop there explore the why and why not for each of your points.
If there are recommendations, especially if you were writing an essay based on a school uniforms case study, present them in the conclusion.
DO not introduce new ideas that are not in your essay. However, crystalize and relate to your thesis and make sure your readers enjoy your essay to the last dot.
Sample School Uniforms Essay Topics
School uniform essays differ in perspective or stance, which hugely depends on the choice of topic. We can advise you to choose a school essay topic that has practical points and one that you can support with evidence from scholarly literature.
- Is school uniform a good thing?
- The importance of school uniforms
- Should students wear uniforms?
- Pros and Cons of school uniforms
- The negative impacts of school uniforms
- Rhetorical analysis of school uniforms
- Positive effects of school uniforms
- Are school uniforms a dress for success?
- Why schools should have uniforms
- History of school dress code
- School uniforms in private and public schools
- Should all schools have the same uniform?
- Are school uniforms necessary?
- School uniforms and diversity
- School uniforms and student discipline
- Comparison of school uniforms in U.S. and Japan
School Uniforms Essay Check List
With your essay written, ensure that it ticks most if not all these lists of facts that make a school uniform score great grades.
- Does the essay have a great hook?
- Is the background of your introduction relatable to the selected topic?
- Does the introduction have supporting facts from scholarly sources?
- Does your introduction have a clear thesis statement?
- Is the main idea clearly illustrated in the body?
- Does each body paragraph have an idea of its own?
- Does the essay have transition words for effective flow?
- Does the body discuss important concepts?
- Is the body paragraph having an opening sentence, facts, and closing sentence?
- Has all borrowed information been cited?
- Does the essay have strong evidence?
- Is the essay grammatically correct?
- Is the conclusion a summary of the argument?
- Has the thesis been restated?
- Is the conclusion flowing with the body of the essay?
- Has the essay used formal language?
- Are the sentences free from unnecessary words?
- Is the grammar and spelling in the essay correct?
- Are the references correct?
- Are the references recent?
- Are the sources used credible?
- Does the essay have a title and reference page?
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School uniforms and why students wear them has been a topic of concern and debate for as long as these clothes have been around. Though people who argue that wearing uniforms in educational institutions make people appear all equal, give a sense of community, and teach discipline, I believe there are more disadvantages to wearing uniforms than advantages. Namely, demanding students to adorn uniforms takes away freedom, they are often uncomfortable, they are a waste of money, they promote conformity over individuality, and children’s self-image is damaged more when they wear uniforms at school.
The Legal Argument: How School Uniforms Conflict with Freedom of Expression
Most developed countries, like the United States of America, believe in one’s right to freedom of expression. Making it mandatory for students to give up their right to express themselves through clothing is wrong. According to ProCon.org, “The First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees that all individuals have the right to express themselves freely. The US Supreme Court stated in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (7-2, 1969) that “it can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” In the 1970 case Richards v. Thurston (3-0), which revolved around a boy refusing to have his hair cut shorter, the US First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that “compelled conformity to conventional standards of appearance” does not “seem a justifiable part of the educational process”’ (“School Uniforms – ProCon.org”). So, not only is the demand to wear uniforms in a sense unconstitutional, it also goes against rulings by the Supreme Court. In this way, it can be said that making uniforms in schools mandatory is un-American.
Practical, Financial, and Social Concerns: The Downside of Implementing School Uniforms
On the side of practicality, uniforms are often seen as less comfortable than normal clothes. They can be tight and not adjustable to different weather conditions. The temperatures in winter and summer can be unbearable in a standard school uniform. Many students have expressed through surveys that they do not feel comfortable in their uniforms, and that this type of clothing does not adjust well to varying weather conditions (“Research on School Uniforms – It’s Clear, They Disadvantage Girls”).
Another practical concern is that paying for uniforms wastes the money of parents, when their children can simply wear the clothes they have. Also, schools could be selling uniforms for more than necessary. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the Guardian reports that, “Parents could be spending millions of pounds more than they need to on school uniforms because of exclusive deals between schools and suppliers, the government’s competition watchdog has warned. Headteachers and school governing bodies were told by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Thursday that they must let parents “shop around” for affordable uniforms for their children, using supermarkets if they wish rather than be forced to buy more expensive items in exclusive arrangements with suppliers” (Smithers, Rebecca). This means that not only do parents have to spend extra money on an outfit, but also the uniforms schools are selling are overpriced.
Leaning more into the abstract, uniforms promote conformity instead of individuality. A sense of individuality is key in democratic societies. It should be nurtured when young. According to ProCon.org, “At a time when schools are encouraging an appreciation of diversity, enforcing standardized dress sends a contradictory message. In schools where uniforms are specifically gendered (girls must wear skirts and boys must wear pants), transgendered, gender-fluid, and gender-nonconforming students can feel ostracized” (“School Uniforms – ProCon.org”). So, in order for each person to not feel the pressure of societal conformity, it is important that schools keep a sense of diversity.
Lastly, many students feel they do not look their best in uniforms. That’s due to the fact that uniforms fit the mold of certain body types, and curvier or plus-size individuals often feel out of place and uncomfortable in uniforms. Wearing uniforms lends itself to more comparison, and children who do not fit the mold of a “normal” student in terms of body type are commonly ridiculed by classmates (Flam, Lisa).
Though there are some benefits to wearing uniforms in school, I believe there are more disadvantages than advantages to using them. This is because they strip away freedom, they are uncomfortable, it is a waste of money to buy them, they celebrate conformity over individuality, and the self-image of children is damaged more when they wear uniforms. Let us keep our schools constitutional by allowing students to wear what they deem expresses their unique personality, within the limits of appropriateness.
- Enhance student safety and deter crime
- Shift students’ focus to their education, not their clothing
- Foster a sense of equality among students by creating a level playing field and reducing peer pressure and bullying
- Instill school pride, unity, and community spirit
- Improve attendance and discipline, contributing to a more productive learning environment
- Streamline dress code enforcement, saving valuable classroom time and resources
- Eliminate the display of gang colors and insignia
- Facilitate easier preparation for school, potentially improving punctuality and decreasing stress
- Reduce the financial burden on parents by providing a cost-effective alternative to regular clothing
- Gain widespread support from parents and educators for mandatory uniform policies
- Respect students’ legal right to free expression even with a uniform policy in place
- Enhance students’ image among teachers and peers when dressed in uniform
- Allow for personal expression through various accessories and small modifications to the standard uniform.
- School uniforms may limit students’ ability to express themselves.
- School uniforms may prioritize conformity over individuality.
- School uniforms alone may not effectively address bullying and may even exacerbate violent behavior.
- There is insufficient evidence to support the touted benefits of school uniforms.
- The key findings used to tout the benefits of uniforms are questionable.
- School uniforms may highlight economic disparities rather than bridge them.
- Many students are opposed to school uniforms.
- School uniforms may negatively impact students’ self-image.
- Overemphasizing school uniforms may distract from more significant educational issues that need to be addressed.
- The push for school uniforms is driven by commercial interests rather than educational ones.
- Parents should be allowed to make their own choices about their children’s clothing without undue government intervention.
- School uniforms in public schools may present an additional financial burden to families, undermining the promise of free education.
- School uniforms may delay the development of students’ sense of personal style and independence.
Of course, the question of school uniform is still open to discussions. Such questions are hugely popular topics for persuasive essays. If you need more help and inspiration, or additional examples of works, you can look through top essay writing service reviews to find them. And don’t forget to cite any work that you use as a reference (as shown below). You can get help from a Vancouver style reference generator to create a list according to the needed formatting standards.
Works Cited
“School Uniforms – ProCon.org.” ProConorg Headlines, school-uniforms.procon.org/.
“Research on School Uniforms – It’s Clear, They Disadvantage Girls.” Girls’ Uniform Agenda, 27 July 2017, girlsuniformagenda.org/2017/06/14/research-girls-school-uniforms-clear-discriminate/.
Smithers, Rebecca. “Parents Pay Millions More than Needed for School Uniforms, Says Watchdog.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 15 Oct. 2015, www.theguardian.com/money/2015/oct/15/school-uniforms-cost-parents-pay-millions-more-than-needed.
Flam, Lisa. “Are School Uniforms Helping or Hindering?” Today.com, Aug. 19, 2013.
What impact do uniforms have on students’ individuality and self-expression?
School uniforms may impact students’ individuality and self-expression. Uniforms create a level of conformity among learners, which some argue limits their ability to express their unique identities. The standard attire may restrict the pupils’ ability to demonstrate their creativity, personal style, and individuality, which is a key part of their identity. However, some students might find other ways to express their self-assurance and individuality while wearing a uniform, such as through accessories or unique hairstyles.
Do school uniforms create a distraction-free learning environment?
The argument for uniforms often asserts that they minimize distractions in the educational environment by creating a sense of unity and removing the pressure to dress in certain ways. However, it’s important to note that uniforms alone may not eliminate all sources of disruption and tension among pupils. For instance, issues like bullying may persist regardless of what students are wearing.
How do uniforms affect students’ confidence and self-esteem?
The impact of uniforms on students’ self-assurance and poise can be twofold. On one hand, uniforms may enhance confidence by removing social pressure to dress in fashionable or expensive clothes. On the other hand, compulsory outfits can negatively impact self-esteem if students feel uncomfortable or unattractive in the standard attire, especially if it doesn’t fit their body type or personal style.
What are the guidelines for implementing a school uniform policy?
Implementing a school uniform policy involves clear guidelines and regulations. These rules should be communicated effectively to all learners and their parents. They need to cover all aspects, such as the exact dress code, the occasions when the uniform should be worn, the consequences of not adhering to the policy, and any possible exceptions or adjustments. The responsibility for enforcing these policies usually lies with school administration and educators.
Do school uniforms add stress and financial burden to students’ families?
School uniforms could potentially add stress and financial pressure to families. Purchasing the required attire, especially if it’s overpriced due to exclusive arrangements between schools and suppliers, could impose a financial burden. Furthermore, the obligation to follow the uniform guidelines and keep the clothing in good condition can also contribute to household stress.
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there are other ways, like a name tag with their id and school.
The Cable Guy
You guys are dumb children need to wear uniforms to see who is in the school who from the school is lost and much more.
There’s this thing we call an id, and what’s the purpose of an id? oh right for identification PURPOSES!!!
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Do uniforms make schools better?
by: Marian Wilde | Updated: March 1, 2024
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Schools, parents, and students frequently clash over the issue of regulating what students may and may not wear to school. These controversies often pegged to the culture war of the moment touch on everything from gender and sexuality to politics, race, and religion. In 2021, a group of about 50 students in Georgia protested their middle school’s dress code for being discriminatory against BIPOC girls by wearing t-shirts every Friday emblazoned with the words “sexist,” “racist,” and “classist.” In 2022, a fight between students, staff, and police officers broke out at a Pennsylvania high school when hats and hoodies were banned as part of a revision by the school board to the school’s dress code. And in 2023, two Michigan middle schoolers, via their mother, sued their school district after they were banned from wearing “Let’s Go Brandon” sweatshirts.
Are school uniforms the best solution to this contentious debate? If every student is wearing the same outfit, will a host of campus problems be solved? Researchers are divided over how much of an impact — if any — dress policies have on student learning. There are multiple studies with conflicting conclusions, plus books such as 2018’s The Debate About School Uniforms , but the argument wears on, with a list of pros and cons on each side.
Why do some public schools have uniforms?
In the 1980s, public schools were often compared unfavorably to Catholic schools. Noting the perceived benefit that uniforms conferred upon Catholic schools, some public schools decided to adopt a school uniform policy.
President Clinton provided momentum to the school uniform movement when he said in his 1996 State of the Union speech, “If it means teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms.”
The pros and cons of school uniforms
According to proponents, school uniforms:.
- Help prevent gangs from forming on campus
- Encourage discipline
- Help students resist peer pressure to buy trendy clothes
- Help identify intruders in the school
- Diminish economic and social barriers between students
- Increase a sense of belonging and school pride
- Improve attendance
Opponents contend that school uniforms:
- Violate a student’s right to freedom of expression
- Are simply a Band-Aid on the issue of school violence
- Make students a target for bullies from other schools
- Are a financial burden for poor families
- Are an unfair additional expense for parents who pay taxes for a free public education
- Are difficult to enforce in public schools
Uniforms vs. dress codes
Schools and districts vary widely in how closely they adhere to the concept of uniformity.
What’s a dress code?
Generally, dress codes are more relaxed than uniform policies. Sometimes, however, dress codes are quite strict with requirements that are potentially viewed as biased based on race or gender. In 2020, two Black male students in Texas, cousins with West Indian heritage, were suspended for wearing dreadlocks in supposed violation of the district’s hair and grooming policy, part of the dress code. The elder one, a senior, was told he couldn’t attend prom or graduation until his dreads were trimmed. In 2022, girls on the track team at an Albany, NY high school were sent home for wearing sports bras at practice.
Uniforms are certainly easier for administrators to enforce than dress codes, largely because the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) can be depended upon to protect a student’s “right to express themselves.” The ACLU believes dress codes are often used to, “shame girls, force students to conform to gender stereotypes… punish students who wear political and countercultural messages. Such policies can be used as cover for racial discrimination… Dress codes can also infringe on a student’s religious rights…” To successfully enforce a dress code, insists the ACLU, the school must prove the student’s attire, “is disruptive to school activities.”
The ACLU’s dress code stance is regularly supported by federal courts , like the 2023 lower court ruling in North Carolina that ended a charter school decree that girls couldn’t wear pants to school. ACLU lawyers claimed this violated Title IX because the dress code “discriminated against female students by limiting their ability to fully participate in school activities, such as using the playground.” The U.S. Supreme Court later declined to take up a case challenging the lower court’s ruling.
Check with your school to see what the dress code is, as they can be fairly specific. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, for example, the dress code prohibits :
- Symbols, mottoes, words or acronyms that convey crude, vulgar, profane, violent, death-oriented, gang-related, sexually explicit, or sexually suggestive messages.
- Symbols, mottoes, words or acronyms advertising tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia.
- Symbols, mottoes, words or acronyms identifying a student as a member of a secret or overtly antisocial group or gang or that identifies a student as a member of an organization that professes violence or hatred toward one’s fellow man.
- Visible and permanent tattoos/brands incompatible with the standards set forth herein shall be covered to prohibit their display.
- Excessively large or baggy clothes
What’s a uniform?
School uniforms worldwide can widely range from nondescript to bizarre. (Extreme examples from China, Australia, and the UK on this YouTube video ) Most public school outfits in the USA are quite casual, with a “ common type ” for boys often a polo shirt in a solid color, with pants in khaki, black, or navy blue. A girl’s uniform is often a skirt and a white buttoned-up shirt. Dress shoes are frequently required for both genders.
In the United States, low-income families spend an average of $249 on a child’s school uniform annually, far less than the typical Australian student’s $578. But still, the cost is sometimes viewed as unfair because public education is intended to be free, paid by tax dollars, not “a stress for families on lower incomes.” The ACLU believes that public schools should provide free school uniforms , because the expense is unconstitutional, and it increases wealth inequity.
What research says about school uniforms
In 2006, Virginia Draa, professor at Youngstown State University, reviewed the impact of school uniforms at 64 public high schools that had larger percentages of economically disadvantaged and minority students than other urban schools. Her conclusion surprised her: “I really went into this thinking uniforms don’t make a difference, but I came away seeing that they do… I was absolutely floored.” Her analysis determined that the schools with uniforms improved their students attendance, and graduation rates rose an average almost 11 percent.
In 2022, Ohio State University and University of Pennsylvania researchers reached a contrary opinion in their report titled “ School Uniforms and Students Behavior: Is There a Link? ” Their view was that, in general, evidence that school uniforms improve social skills in the students was “inconclusive.” The solitary praise they provided to uniform-wearing was noting there was “some indication that low-income students in schools that required uniforms demonstrated better school attendance than low-income students in schools that did not.”
What to believe? Jury is still out.
What do students think about uniforms?
A student discussion: pros and cons of uniforms
Editor’s note: This video is part of our high school milestones series about communication skills. The students in this video discuss the pros and cons of school uniforms.
A University of Nevada, Reno, survey of 1,848 middle school students, published in 2022, revealed that 90 percent did not like wearing a uniform to school . Only 30 percent believed the uniforms “might reduce discipline issues, a mere 17 percent thought the uniform helped them focus at school, 34 percent believed their school was safer due to the uniforms and 37 percent said, “I worry less about my appearance” due to the uniform requirement.”
An earlier study, also in Nevada, displayed similar unpopularity with newly instituted uniforms among middle school students. However, when the researchers looked into school discipline and local police records and compared them to the prior year’s data, discipline referrals were down 10 percent, there were 63 percent fewer police log reports, and incidences of graffiti, fights, and gang-related activity were all down.
It’s a big issue
A new trend is the mounting pressure to establish dress codes for teachers. Apparently, the same casual mindset toward revealing outfits is cropping up in the ranks of our teachers.
The debate over uniforms in public schools encompasses many larger issues than simply what children should wear to school. It touches on issues of school improvement, freedom of expression, and hot-button culture wars. It’s no wonder the debate rages on.
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Pro and Con: School Uniforms
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To access extended pro and con arguments, sources, and discussion questions about whether students should have to wear school uniforms, go to ProCon.org .
Traditionally favored by private and parochial institutions, school uniforms are being adopted by US public schools in increasing numbers. According to a 2020 report, the percentage of public schools that required school uniforms jumped from 12% in the 1999-2000 school year to 20% in the 2017-18 school year. School uniforms were most frequently required by elementary schools (23%), followed by middle (18%), and high schools (10%).
The first recorded use of standardized dress in education may have been in England in 1222, when the Archbishop of Canterbury mandated that students wear a robe-like outfit called the “cappa clausa.” The origin of the modern school uniform can be traced to 16th Century England, when the impoverished “charity children” attending the Christ’s Hospital boarding school wore blue cloaks reminiscent of the cassocks worn by clergy, along with yellow stockings. As of Sep. 2014, students at Christ’s Hospital were still wearing the same uniform, and according to the school it is the oldest school uniform still in use. When Christ’s Hospital surveyed its students in 2011, 95% voted to keep the traditional uniforms.
School uniforms in the United States followed the traditional use of uniforms established in England and were generally limited to private and parochial schools. One exception was found in government-run boarding schools for Native American children, first established in the late 1800s, where the children, who had been removed from their families, were dressed in military-style uniforms.
According to figures released in 2018 by the National Center for Education Statistics, the total number of public schools nationwide requiring students to wear school uniforms increased from 12% during the 1999-2000 school year to 21% during the 2015-2016 school year. In 2015-2016, 25% of public primary schools enforced a uniform policy, as did 20% of public middle schools and 12% of public high schools. A higher proportion of schools located in cities had mandatory uniforms in 2015-2016 than schools in suburban, town, and rural areas. Mandatory uniforms were far more prevalent in “high-poverty” schools (in which 76% of students were eligible for reduced-cost or free lunch programs) than in “low-poverty” schools.
Among the US cities with the highest use of school uniforms in public schools are Philadelphia (100% of schools), New Orleans (95%), Cleveland (85%), Chicago (80%), Boston (65%), and Miami (60%). The number of schools with “strict dress codes” has also increased, from 47% in 2000 to 57% in 2010.
- School uniforms may deter crime and increase student safety.
- School uniforms keep students focused on their education, not their clothes.
- School uniforms create a level playing field among students, reducing peer pressure and bullying.
- Wearing uniforms enhances school pride, unity, and community spirit.
- School uniforms may improve attendance and discipline.
- Uniform policies save valuable class time because they are easier to enforce than a standard dress code.
- School uniforms prevent the display of gang colors and insignia.
- School uniforms make getting ready for school easier, which can improve punctuality.
- School uniforms can save parents money.
- Most parents and educators support mandatory school uniforms.
- Students’ legal right to free expression remains intact even with mandatory school uniforms.
- Students dressed in uniform are better perceived by teachers and peers.
- Students can express their individuality in school uniforms by introducing variations and adding accessories.
- School uniforms restrict students’ freedom of expression.
- School uniforms promote conformity over individuality.
- School uniforms do not stop bullying and may increase violent attacks.
- School uniforms do not improve attendance, academic preparedness, or exam results.
- The key findings used to tout the benefits of uniforms are questionable.
- School uniforms emphasize the socio-economic divisions they are supposed to eliminate.
- Students oppose school uniforms.
- Uniforms may have a detrimental effect on students’ self-image.
- Focusing on uniforms takes attention away from finding genuine solutions to problems in education.
- The push for school uniforms is driven by commercial interests rather than educational ones.
- Parents should be free to choose their children’s clothes without government interference.
- School uniforms in public schools undermine the promise of a free education by imposing an extra expense on families.
- School uniforms may delay the transition into adulthood.
This article was published on May 3, 2021, at Britannica’s ProCon.org , a nonpartisan issue-information source.
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The Downsides of School Uniforms
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My daughter’s school uniform, required by the public magnet middle school where she began sixth grade last week, is perfectly nice. It’s not so much a single uniform as a broad wardrobe of coördinated prep-wear: skirts or pants, paired with piqué polo shirts, all in “goldenrod yellow,” navy, or white, topped off by a fleece zip-up (on which the school crest is optional). For her first day, she chose the navy skirt with the white polo. As she walked to the corner to catch the bus, I was reminded of a time when our schools were orderly, our teachers respected, and our children all above average.
That was an imaginary time, of course, but nostalgia for it has helped to create the modern school-uniform movement, which has won the kind of broad—indeed, nearly uniform—support that exists for no other educational policy, or social policy, that one can think of. Although there isn’t a scholarly consensus that uniforms do anything to improve student achievement or school climate, about one-fifth of all public-school students now wear them. They are one of the few interventions on which charter-school advocates and anti-charter activists agree.
Even the students have gone along, in one of the great surrenderings of liberty in modern history. For, although we think of uniforms as a reclamation of the olden days, they are relatively new in this country. Against British Commonwealth traditions, we were the free and easy New World, the country where children dressed themselves. For the most part, the appearance of students was governed only by the nagging of parents (“Get a haircut!”); informal norms (T-shirts were for athletics, not the school day); and deference to teachers and principals, who had wide discretion to tell a boy that he looked like a hoodlum, or tell a girl that her hemline was inappropriately short.
In the sixties, students fought for more autonomy in dress, to signal allegiance to a particular band or clique or general attitude toward the world. They saw dress as a mode of expression in schoolyard politics, and in world politics: in 1969, in Tinker v. Des Moines, the Supreme Court upheld high-school students’ rights to wear black armbands to protest the Vietnam War. That case was the capstone for an emerging jurisprudence of freedom-in-attire, coming after court decisions in New York and Idaho striking down bans on women wearing pants, and a decision in New Hampshire ending a ban on bluejeans. These cases helped solidify a trend toward more freedom for young people to dress how they wished. And so it was, from the nineteen-seventies into my childhood, in the nineteen-eighties.
Then Bill Clinton happened. In 1996, Clinton, running for reëlection and eager to shore up his conservative credentials, championed mandatory school uniforms “as the kind of small-bore, low-cost, common-sense policy initiative that might appeal to a broad cross-section of voters,” as the legal scholars Deborah M. Ahrens and Andrew M. Siegel write, in their forthcoming paper “Reconsidering the Constitutionality of Student Dress Restrictions.” Clinton plugged uniforms in his State of the Union address that year and had his Department of Education issue a manual for schools that were transitioning to require uniforms. While some schools had experimented with uniforms in the eighties and nineties, it’s clear, Ahrens and Siegel argue, that “the modern enthusiasm for uniforms can be traced pretty directly to the 1996 Clinton administration initiative.”
Expecting some pushback, the Department of Education issued guidelines for making the new uniform policies able to withstand lawsuits. Except the free-expression lawsuits never came. As with other policies favored by conservatives, such as law-and-order policing and mass incarceration, Clinton’s support gave cover to liberals, desperate for any policies that might help the inner cities, to join the act. As one might expect, school uniforms, while growing in popularity everywhere, have really become a feature of poor schools. According to a 2016 study by the National Center for Education Statistics, school uniforms are required at fifty-three percent of schools where three-quarters of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch. But, of schools where fewer than a quarter of students are so eligible, only four per cent require uniforms.
These uniforms have become a rich revenue source for kiddie-clothing companies like French Toast, which has a verbose Web site dedicated to their magical properties. One typical section makes the argument that “school uniforms bring an image of success to students and teachers.” But that depends how one defines success. In Silicon Valley, on Ivy League campuses, and even in a growing number of white-shoe firms, the rule is to dress down. While once upon a time each profession had its uniform—the gray-flannel suit, the white coat—today, the most successful people wear what they want, especially in the more creative industries.
On the Web site for my daughter’s school, the hyperlink “Click here for more information about student uniforms!” redirects to Lands’ End. Once known for its middle-quality oxford button-downs, Lands’ End has become a major player in the school-uniform game, and not by accident. It has aggressively formed partnerships with school systems, often becoming their main uniform purveyor, and it has helped fund some of the questionable research adduced to show that uniforms improve schools. In 2013, Lands’ End helped pay for a survey by the National Association of Elementary School Principals that found that eighty-five per cent of principals “and other school leaders” believed that uniforms improved classroom discipline.
Many school leaders believe that uniforms help, although they can’t seem to agree on why. It’s student achievement, or “school pride,” or a perceived reduction in fighting. When independent researchers have tried to quantify such claims, they have had mixed results. One widely cited study, on schools in Long Beach, California, showed a decrease in school crime after the introduction of uniforms, but the city had taken many other measures to reduce violence at the same time, so it’s hard to tease out how much uniforms mattered. Many studies show no change in school culture, and some even show negative results: in one 2007 study , the introduction of uniforms accompanied an increase in the average number of assaults in one district’s violent schools.
One good friend of mine, a superintendent of a charter-school network, who spoke to me off the record, swears that introducing uniforms where he works changed the culture overnight, increased respect, and improved students’ ability to learn. He may be right. And, if uniforms are viewed positively by students, parents, and administrators alike—as they are—then it can seem precious to object to them. To some extent, enthusiasm about school culture is a good in itself; even if it doesn’t yield higher test scores or graduation rates, perhaps it leads to better teacher retention or recruitment. Maybe the aesthetics of color-coördinated order just make everyone in the building happier. One 2002 study of Texas middle-school students found that those in uniform had a stronger sense of “belonging” in their school community. That’s worth something.
But, so long as the evidence for these claims is thin, I am more concerned about what we know to be true: that uniforms are yet one more way that the surveillance of the un-powerful—the poor, people of color, and that great unheard group of the young—has become increasingly acceptable. “Campuses increasingly subject students to police surveillance techniques, including drug-sniffing dogs, metal detectors, surveillance cameras, random sweeps for contraband including bag searches, and drug tests,” Ahrens and Siegel write. As students become “proper subjects for policing,” they argue, it’s no surprise that we presume to tell them what to wear.
Uniforms can be liberating, in the way that the absence of choice is. My daughter is only a few days into her school year, yet she already says that uniforms simplify her morning. But, as our society reckons once more with the costs and burdens of free expression, we should remember that not so long ago teen-agers fought for their right to black armbands. While in theory the right to such overt political expression—the armband, the political button or patch—would still be upheld by courts, the spirit behind that freedom has disappeared. We’ve stopped thinking of our sons and daughters as citizens whose independence we want to cultivate by, as much as possible, getting out of the way.
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35 Pros and Cons of School Uniforms
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Chris Drew (PhD)
Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]
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School uniforms in public schools are considered essential for teaching children to obey rules and develop a sense of community in many countries, including the UK and Australia. But public schools in other countries like the USA and Canada rarely enforce mandatory school uniforms.
It is, however, far more common for private schools to enforce school uniforms no matter the country in question.
This article takes a deep dive into the pros and cons of school uniforms, showing that there are positive arguments on both sides of this debate.
Overview – 10 Top Pros and Cons of School Uniforms
Pros of School Uniforms | Cons of School Uniforms |
---|---|
1. Pro – Uniforms Build School Spirit | 1. Con – Upfront Uniform Costs |
2. Pro – Less Bullying in Schools | 2. Con – Lack of Freedom of Expression |
3. Pro – Saving Time in Mornings | 3. Con – Uniforms Teach Gender Norms |
4. Pro – Improves School Safety | 4. Con – Children Don’t get to Exercise Free Choice |
5. Pro – Clear ‘Appropriate Dress’ Rules | 5. Con – Uniforms can Violate Religious Expression |
6. Pro – Uniforms Improve a School’s Reputation | 6. Con – Uniforms Highlight Social-Class Differences Between Schools |
7. Pro – Uniforms can Increase Student Focus | 7. Con – There’s Less Visible Diversity |
8. Pro – Protection of a School’s Religious Identity | 8. Con – It’s Another Thing for Teachers to Police |
9. Pro – School Truancy can be more Easily Identified | 9. Con – Parents need to Manage Laundry Routines around School Days |
10. Pro – Ensures Appropriate Sporting Outfits | 10. Con – Difficulty in Finding the Uniform |
Pros of School Uniforms
1. affordability.
Many schools intentionally choose uniforms that are very basic, such as “white polo shirt and grey shorts”, so that parents do not have to pay exorbitant amounts of money on the uniforms. Many low-cost clothing stores also make the effort to produce and distribute these typical uniform-conformant clothes at low cost during back-to-school sales.
A typical 5 pack of basic white polo shirts that students can wear to school as a uniform is likely to be significantly cheaper than an outfit a child would wear otherwise.
Furthermore, while children in schools without uniforms would feel pressure to change up their outfits regularly (adding to costs), the forced repetition of wearing
Related Article: 17 Surprising School Uniform Statistics, Facts & Data
2. Hand-me-Down Options
It is regular practice at schools with school uniforms for parents to offer uniforms for free as hand-me-down outfits once their children grow out of the uniform. This has the effect of helping poorer families to access uniforms for their children without cost.
There tends to be an over-supply of uniforms – both new and second-hand – because of the sheer number of children growing out of their uniform every month. As a result, parents in desperate need of uniforms are often able to source uniforms for free.
Many schools have a hand-me-down bin in their front office, allowing parents to drop-off pre-loved uniforms, and other parents to arrive and request free shirts and pants discretely.
3. Visible Poverty is Reduced
If all children are dressed the same, the poorer children whose parents cannot afford brand-name clothing are not as visibly singled-out. They will be wearing the same clothes as the wealthier children.
This can have the effect of reducing chances of bullying based on a child’s family’s levels of wealth. But it also enables children who are poor to feel as if they are no different from others. It helps to start all children off on a level playing field, and makes them feel more secure that they’re just another student – neither better or worse than other students who are of higher or lower wealth.
4. Students may Focus and Listen Better
In this study by Chris Baumann and Hana Krskova, published in the International Journal of Educational Management , it was found that children wearing school uniforms tend to listen more intently and for longer periods of time than children without uniforms.
As a result, they found that teachers also spent less time disciplining students and waiting for students to give their attention to the teachers. This leads to more engaged working time in the classroom.
One potential reason behind this finding is that the conformity in dress reduces distractions for students.
However, there are plenty of other studies that have found no significant difference in academic achievement by parents, so in my opinion the jury is still out on whether this is true. More research is required.
5. Ensures Appropriate Sporting Outfits
Even schools that do not have mandatory school uniforms often have sports uniforms for physical education lessons. This is for several reasons, including both conformity and practicality.
Firstly, there are unique pros and cons of sports uniforms that differ from those of school uniforms. Namely, teams in sports need to have a sense of camaraderie and unity that the uniform can help achieve. Wearing the same colors can instil team spirit that helps with the team’s performance.
Secondly, a team uniform is useful in sports for helping to quickly identify team members to pass the ball to or seek support in the fast pace of a game.
Thirdly, a sports uniform is specifically designed and loosely fitted so students are comfortable while engaging in physical activity, which may include physical contortions, stretching, sprinting, and other actions not usually undertaken outside of the sporting arena.
6. Increases Physical Activity During Physical Education
A study by Nathan et al. in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity found that children who wear dedicated sporting uniforms during sports lessons tend to do more physical activity than children who do not.
This was a sizeable study – with 42 schools and over 3000 children studied – making these findings some of the more reliable results within the school uniforms literature.
Logically, this also checks out.
Firstly, if all children are wearing a pre-approved sporting outfit that is fit for purpose and can be comfortable during physical activity, they will have less clothing distractions and have one less potential barrier preventing them from participation in lessons.
Secondly, another logical rationale for this is that the students know they can change out of the uniform after the lesson (into either their regular uniform or non-uniform clothing), giving them the sense that they can sweat and get the uniforms dirty without suffering negative consequences for the remainder of the day.
Thirdly, it could be argued that the act of putting on the sporting uniform can help students psychologically prepare for the physical activity. The uniform is a psychological signal to the students that it’s time for them to do exercise.
7. Less Bullying
School uniforms could remove one more thing that children can be bullied over. If all children are dressed the same, then children will not bully one another for their fashion choices.
And high school students seem to agree that bullying will be decreased if mandatory uniform policies are introduced.
However, empirical evidence does not always support this widely-held belief. This study , for example, found no difference in disciplinary issues before and after a school uniform was introduced at one particular school.
It is possible that bullying will happen regardless of uniforms, and that making all children wear uniforms does nothing to actually teach kindness. A bully will be a bully – targeting things other than dress codes if need be – unless the bully is actively taught not to do so.
8. Confidence and Self-Esteem
A study by Sanchez et al. interviewed 604 middle school students found that the students reported increased confidence and self-esteem while wearing uniforms. The primary hypothesis for this growth in confidence is that students didn’t feel so self-aware about the way they dressed.
However, it’s possible that some students may also develop increased confidence by expressing themselves through their uniforms. By trying out new clothes, children learn to develop a unique identity and get more practice dressing in ways that make them feel good about themselves.
9. Improves the School’s Image in the Community
A school with a cleaner uniform where students appear well-dressed may have a better image in the community than a school without a uniform, or even with an outdated or simple uniform.
And a study by the National Association of Elementary Schools Principals (NAESP) shows that this is a key concern for school principals. 83% of principals in the study reported that they believed the uniforms improved their school’s image in the community.
Here, the main concern of the school principals is the message the uniform sends and not and actual tangible effect. Given there are several studies highlighting that there is no academic benefit of a uniform, this seems like a vanity metric.
Nevertheless, the symbolism of having well-dressed students can have the effects of attracting new parents to the school and having parents and the community value and respect the school and its students more.
10. School Spirit
School spirit includes pride and sense of belonging within a school. Wearing a uniform may help with this. If all the students are wearing the same clothing, there’s a sense that they’re “a team” and “working together” rather than being individualistic.
The NAESP study named above also looked at principals’ perceptions of whether uniforms improve school spirit. 77% of school principals in schools with uniforms believed that uniforms did help with school spirit.
11. Saving Time in Mornings
Many parents also like schools that have uniforms. It’s simply easier to get ready in the morning if children know exactly what to wear. There is no back-and-forth choosing and changing outfits or arguments between parents and children about what is acceptable to wear.
And in fact, the NAESP study found that 92% of parents believe it’s easier to get their kids ready in the morning if they have a school uniform. Similarly, 93% of parents believe that a uniform policy saves time in mornings.
Significantly, the parents cited less wardrobe battles as the key reason time is saved.
12. Safety and Identifiability on School Grounds
If all students are wearing school uniforms, it’s easier to identify people on the school grounds who do not belong there. Those people would not be wearing uniforms.
This is why (as this study shows) parents and teachers tend to perceive uniforms as positively impacting school safety, while students don’t believe uniforms make them more safe.
Of course, there is one big hole in this argument.
It would only make it easier to identify children or teenagers who do not belong. Parents who do not belong could easily be confused for a teacher seeing as most schools don’t have uniform policies for teachers.
And of course, one big threat to school safety is adults coming onto the grounds impersonating teachers.
Which begs the question: why do children have to wear uniforms and teachers don’t? If the argument is children on school grounds need to be identifiable by their uniforms, then shouldn’t teachers also have to wear uniforms so they’re identifiable? It seems like adult hypocrisy to me.
13. Age and Gender Identification
Uniforms may also be useful to schools for age identification of children. This would require different year levels to have different uniforms. For example, the infants could wear one color while the older children can wear another.
This would allow schools to police movement through the school. If a younger child is in a part of the school reserved for the older children, they could be easily identified and sent to their dedicated space (which may also help with safety).
This identification could also work across gender lines, where different genders can wear different uniforms. For example, if there are two private schools side-by-side where one is all-girls and one is all-boys, then this could work well to ensure the two genders remain separated, as per the private schools’ policies and ethos.
14. Reduction of Prejudice
It could be argued that, if all students dress the same, then there is less chance of prejudice by students and teachers.
For example, if a child wears a particular religious dress that a teacher dislikes, the teacher may treat them differently. But if all children dress the same, then the teacher is less likely to be prejudiced toward that child.
However, there is an obvious flaw in this argument. It doesn’t reduce prejudice because it is potentially prejudicial to tell some children they’re not allowed to dress in ways that accord with their culture or religion.
15. Identification during Excursions
School excursions to busy places can be stressful for teachers. The teacher needs to keep an eye on all the students in the class while there are also many other members of the public in the same space.
Uniforms are very useful in these situations. The teacher can count-off all the people in uniform to easily ensure all the students are there and ready for their next instructions.
16. Learning to ‘Dress Appropriately’
All cultures have rules around acceptable forms of dress. Usually, these have to do with not wearing sexually provocative clothing and not wearing clothing with insulting or provocative signs on them.
A uniform gives students a set of guidelines about what is considered acceptable and unacceptable to wear.
And it seems parents and school administrators often cite this as a key reason for mandatory school uniforms, particularly in religious schools .
However, this also raises concerns about exclusionary dress. Different people have different ideas around what is and is not appropriate. If you’re attending a school that has more conservative values than your family, you may feel particularly constrained by an arbitrary dress code that doesn’t conform with your own values.
17. Protects and Extends Childhood
Most people believe that sexuality and sexualization should not be associated with childhood. By enforcing a school uniform, children are discouraged from wearing sexually evocative clothing that most of society would consider inappropriate at a young age.
Thus, by enforcing a uniform, children feel less pressure to focus on their outfits, ‘looking good’ for the opposite (or same!) sex, or thinking about sexually provocative clothing.
18. Truancy can be Identified
I grew up in a school where we all wore uniforms. Police would often approach students walking around town in uniform during the school day. They would ask if we were supposed to be at school (and sometimes even call the school).
If students were found to be truanting, the police would drive them back to school.
Thus, uniforms can also be a useful way for the whole community to oversee where children of school age should be at all times.
Of course, children can simply get around this by bringing a change of clothes, which would in-turn make it easier for them to truant if the police are looking for people in school uniform!
19. They Teach Gender Norms
Many conservative parents want their children to grow up conforming to society’s gender norms. Boys are raised to be leaders and girls are raised to be ladies.
And while in today’s age, gender norms are increasingly considered to be bad for society and children, some parents still desire this for their children.
So, for those parents, uniforms could be a positive. Girls are taught to wear skirts and dresses, while boys are taught to wear shorts. Even these uniform requirements send a message – it’s harder to do rough and tumble activities in a skirt than shorts!
By raising children from a young age to wear gender-conforming outfits, the schools are showing the children how to ‘act their gender’.
I personally consider this to be a negative, but many parents see it as a positive, so I’ve placed it here for them!
20. Protection of a School’s Religious, Cultural, or Social-Class Identity
Public schools usually do not have religious, cultural or social-class identities that diverge from the mainstream.
However, many private schools have particular affiliations, such as:
- Affiliation with a religion.
- A desire to appear upper-class.
- Affiliation with a particular cultural group (such as international schools).
For these schools, uniforms can act as signals about the school’s values. An upper-class school might enforce the wearing of blazers with school crests on them.
And some religious schools may have rules about wearing traditional or conservative clothing.
This can help create a unified sense of the school’s identity.
21. Prevention of Gang-Related Color Schemes
In areas where gangs are active, school uniforms can help ensure gang-related colors are not worn on school grounds. This can help make schools gang-free zones and help prevent student recruitment into gangs.
Without the visible signs of gangs at school, the gangs’ influence and perceived power is reduced. It can also help minimize chances of rival gang groups from targeting one another on school grounds based on the clothing the students are wearing.
Furthermore, students who have no affiliation to gangs could be made to feel safer if the visibility of gangs is reduced. The intimidating insignia of gangs would not be visible to them at school each day. Read more about the relationship between gangs and school uniforms here .
22. Uniforms make Plain Clothes Dress Days Fun!
Let’s finish up with a fun one. In Australia we used to have a thing called “mufti day”. We would have this day about twice a year. And it was a day where you could wear whatever you want!
In the lead-up to mufti day, we would all be on our best behavior so it would go ahead. The day was, after all, a reward for good behavior.
On mufti day, everyone would be very excited. We would plan out and wear our favorite outfits.
This gave the teachers extra leverage to get the students to behave. And it gave the students something fun to look forward to!
Cons of School Uniforms
23. there is no impact on grades.
Several studies have found no changes in academic achievement between groups of students who wear uniforms and those who do not. If there is no clear academic benefit of a uniform, it can be argued that the uniforms are pointless.
It seems that the true benefit of wearing a uniform is in the hidden curriculum – that is, in teaching things at school that are not in the academic curriculum. That includes things like discipline and conformity. Whether it’s the role of schools to teach these things, however, is open for debate. Should schools just focus on grades and not on reinforcing conformity and discipline?
24. Lack of Freedom of Expression
There are some who question the legality and constitutionality of enforcing school uniforms in public schools in the United States. The First Amendment protects freedom of speech , which may also protect free dress.
However, to date, the Supreme Court has not made any comment on the constitutionality of uniforms. In 1969 , it got close, but upholding students’ rights to wear black armbands to protest the Vietnam war.
Overall, the key argument here is that a dress code restricts creative expression. If we want our education system to build-up creative, critical, and free-thinking people, a uniform seems inappropriate.
The uniform literally makes people uniform , in the sense that ‘uniform’ means ‘the same’.
Do we really want schools to be making us all the same? Isn’t that exactly the problem with the education system today?
25. Visible Diversity can be a Good Thing
People who argue for school uniforms say that it prevents bullying. It stops children from teasing each other because of what they wear.
But if we want a multi-cultural world, isn’t school the perfect place to start talking about our diversity and how it’s a good thing?
But making all children wear uniforms, we’re hiding (“sweeping under the rug”) diversity. We’re preventing conversations about it and celebration of it.
Thus, uniforms are arguably outdated in a world where diversity should be something that is visible, celebrated, and discussed – especially in schools.
26. Lack of Choice of Dress Codes
Another key problem with school uniforms is that children often don’t get a chance to have a say about what the dress code should be. Many uniform dress codes are decades old , and the children currently wearing the uniforms just wear what they’re told to wear.
But, you would think that a fair and democratic school would let the children wearing the uniform to choose what it looks like.
Unfortunately, it is usually the teachers, administrators, and parents who make these decisions. Even worse, sometimes it’s an outside company that is hired to select the uniform. Children are rarely consulted.
What does that say about what sort of people we’re raising in our schools? Do we want to raise compliant sheep, or creative people who are active participants in community decision-making, especially when it comes to decisions that directly affect them?
Related: 31 School Dress Code Examples
27. Uniforms can be Ugly
This may seem like a very superficial point, but it’s also serious. We’re forcing children to wear clothing that the children themselves might consider to be ugly. It seems a little unfair to tell people to wear something that they consider to be unattractive.
You look around at some schools and they have color schemes that include browns, mustards, and greys, that most people wouldn’t choose to wear if they had the choice!
Of course, this isn’t the most serious of points. But, for the children, it may be a very serious one indeed. They have to deal with it every day!
28. Violation of Religious Expression
This is one of the most serious problems with school uniforms. There are religions that have very strict dress code rules. These include having to wear certain colors, hair coverings, and even ceremonial knives (for some Sikhs).
By enforcing a strict uniform policy, you may be violating religious liberty.
When I was in school, we had one girl at the school who was a Muslim and who wore a Hijab. Her parents had to negotiate with the school principal about what uniform she could wear, seeing as the school didn’t have approved hijabs in the uniform code.
At the end of the day, her mother made her a hijab that was in the school colors, and everyone was happy. But, it still required some negotiation because of differences between religious requirements and school uniform policy.
29. Uniforms Require Parental Cooperation
Uniforms can cause conflicts between the school and the parents. I remember one girl I went to school with who would sometimes come to school out of uniform. She would get into trouble and not be allowed to play at lunch.
The problem was that it wasn’t her fault. Her parents often wouldn’t wash her uniform for her, meaning she didn’t have a choice but to wear a non-uniform outfit.
Here, my classmate was getting into trouble even though it wasn’t her fault – it was her parents!
We can see that parents need to cooperate and consent to the uniform policy. They have to make sure their child wears the uniform, and if enough parents don’t participate, the mandatory uniform policy falls apart.
30. Gender Expression Issues
In today’s day and age, we’re learning that enforcing gender norms in schools could be a violation of the gender expression of children. Some girls don’t want to wear dresses . And sometimes this isn’t even an issue of gender selection. It’s simply the fact that some girls don’t want to wear dresses!
Here, a uniform could be considered a violation of a child’s gender expression. Conservative old people are telling kids what to wear, even though perhaps their values are outdated for today’s world!
In fact, this became a big issue in a state in Australia where it was found many private schools forced girls to wear dresses . The state government had to intervene, with a government commissioner saying the schools were “stuck in a different age”.
31. Erases Cultural Differences
While school uniforms are seen as a positive for helping to erase visible social-class differences in schools (rich vs poor), they also have the negative effect over erasing cultural differences.
Children of all different races, cultures, and ethnicities attend modern schools. But, at least in Western schools, they must all adhere to a western dress code that doesn’t allow for cultural expression.
Forcing children to wear the clothes of a culture that is not their own is most visible (and, perhaps, offensive) when it comes to religious objections. However, even without the religious element, forcing children to wear uniforms can be seen as a form of cultural assimilation. It denies people their chance to practice their culture in the public sphere.
32. Difficulty in Finding the Uniform
When a school decides to enforce a uniform policy, it needs to take into account how easy it would be for parents to find the uniform.
Many public schools with uniform policies intentionally make this easy. They will be okay with a plain white or blue polo shirt.
But more prestigious schools will often develop uniforms that are very specific – with complex logos or designs on them. These uniforms often need to be bought straight from the school uniform shop or a small number of pre-approved nearby stores.
At the start of the school year, it can be find to get your hands on a uniform. All the parents are trying to get them at the same time!
This can also lead to price gouging where shops raise the price because they know demand is higher than supply.
33. They Promote Social-Class Identities
If you look at different schools’ uniform policies, you quickly see that some schools have very posh policies while other public schools that serve working-class communities have simple bland polo shirts.
In fact, some elite private schools require ‘white collared’ dress shirts, while public schools will require ‘blue collared’ shirts you’d more commonly see being worn by a construction worker.
These differences in dress codes from so early on reveal something unfair about the school system: wealthy people have the choice to go to elite schools where they’re raised for high-powered, high-paid white collar jobs (lawyers, etc.). Many public schools, as seen by the sorts of uniforms provided, are more humble and appear to be raising people in comfortable clothes that you’d expect to be worn for manual labor jobs.
In other words, uniforms don’t just train people to embrace gender norms. It also trains people to embrace social-class based identities.
34. It’s Another Thing for Teachers to Police
Mandatory school uniforms are just one more thing for teachers to have to worry about. In a world where teachers are over-worked and under-paid, it might be better for teachers to simply not have to worry about what their students wear.
Furthermore, for teachers who are on a power trip, it gives the teachers an excuse to get children into trouble. A small and minor problem, such as having an untucked t-shirt , could lead a child to get into trouble.
Here, rather than the school focusing on education, it may focus on nit-picking and bullying of students (as a teacher, I have a real issue with how often I see teachers bullying students based on things irrelevant to their education).
35. Upfront Costs
While it is arguable that school uniforms can be a more affordable choice than non-uniform outfits for children, some still argue that mandating school uniforms adds a cost burden for parents. Parents need to buy everyday clothing for their children regardless of whether they’re at school. Children need something to wear on weekends and during school holidays, after all!
So, at the start of the school year, often parents do need to fork out money they hadn’t planned to, and all at once.
For example, this report from the London School of Economics, points to one case study where a parent in England had to pay £310 for her children’s uniforms at the start of the school year. The woman was under particular financial strain as she was living on subsistence from the government, which was £556 a month. In this instance, uniforms took up more than half the family’s income for the month.
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Clearly, there are many pros and cons of school uniforms. But, one thing I did realize when researching for this article was that there are a lot of differing opinions within the research. Some research papers (such as the one by NAESP that I cited several times) appear very biased toward school uniforms. And some academic studies found conflicting information, particularly around whether uniforms increased grades.
In other words, it seems like a lot of these arguments are philosophical and hypothetical. People can land on either side of the mandatory school uniforms debate depending on their own values, opinions, and backgrounds.
Another thing I found really interesting personally was that my friends who didn’t wear uniforms as kids looked at uniforms negatively – they saw them as tools for suppression of creative expression and even referred to them as looking a little communist! By contrast, my friends who wore uniforms as kids were much more positive toward them.
For me, this shows just how much our backgrounds and experiences have conditioned us to sit on one side of the debate or the other. So, I’d encourage you to genuinely think about the other perspective and see if you can come to the debate with as neutral and open a mindset as possible (if that’s possible at all!).
Scholarly Sources and Studies Cited
Baumann, C. & Krskova, H. (2016). School discipline, school uniforms and academic performance. International Journal of Educational Management , 30 (6), pp. 1003-1029. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-09-2015-0118
Firmin, M., Smith, S. & Perry, L. (2006). School Uniforms: A Qualitative Analysis of Aims and Accomplishments at Two Christian Schools, Journal of Research on Christian Education, 15(2), 143-168. https://doi.org/10.1080/10656210609485000
Gregory, S. L. (2013). Perceptions of High School Students of the Impact of a School Uniform Policy . PhD Dissertation. University of Arkansas. https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/592
Han, S. (2010). A mandatory uniform policy in urban schools: Findings from the school survey on crime and safety: 2003-04. International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership , 5 (8). https://doi.org/10.22230/ijepl.2010v5n8a253
Mahling, W. (1996). Scondhand Codes: An Analysis of the Constitutionality of Dress Code in the Public Schools. Minnesota Law Review, 80 (1): 715. https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/mlr/2492
Morris, E. (2005). ‘Tuck in That Shirt!’ Race, Class, Gender, and Discipline in an Urban School. Sociological Perspectives. 48(1): 25-48. https://doi.org/10.1525%2Fsop.2005.48.1.25
Nathan, N., McCarthy, N., Hope, K. et al. (2021). The impact of school uniforms on primary school student’s physical activity at school: outcomes of a cluster randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity , 18 (17). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01084-0
National Association of Elementary School Principals. (2013). The Right Fit: Principals on School Uniforms. Communicator , 36 (12). https://www.naesp.org/resource/the-right-fit-principals-on-school-uniforms/
Sanchez, J. E., Yoxsimer, A., & Hill, G. C. (2012). Uniforms in the Middle School: Student Opinions, Discipline Data, and School Police Data. Journal of School Violence , 11 (4), 345-356. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2012.706873
Velder, J. (2012). An Analysis of the Implementation and Impact of School Uniforms on Graduation and Discipline Rates in a Unified School . PhD Dissertation. Northwest Missouri State University). https://www.nwmissouri.edu/library/ResearchPapers/2012/Velder,%20Jessica.pdf
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Essay on Why Students Should Not Wear Uniforms
Students are often asked to write an essay on Why Students Should Not Wear Uniforms in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.
Let’s take a look…
100 Words Essay on Why Students Should Not Wear Uniforms
School uniforms: a burden, not a blessing.
School uniforms are often seen as a means to promote equality and discipline in schools. While these arguments have some merit, there are also several reasons why students should not be forced to wear uniforms.
Uniforms Hinder Individuality
One of the biggest drawbacks of school uniforms is that they stifle individuality. When everyone is wearing the same thing, it can be difficult for students to express their own unique styles and personalities. This can lead to feelings of conformity and a loss of self-expression.
Uniforms Are Uncomfortable
Many school uniforms are made from uncomfortable materials that can be hot, itchy, and restrictive. This can make it difficult for students to focus on their studies and can also lead to health problems.
Uniforms Are Expensive
School uniforms can also be expensive, especially for families with multiple children. This can put a strain on family budgets and make it difficult for some students to attend school.
250 Words Essay on Why Students Should Not Wear Uniforms
Uniforms: restricting individuality.
School uniforms restrict students from expressing their individuality and personal style. Enforcing a uniform policy stifles creativity and discourages students from showcasing their unique personalities. School should be a place where students feel comfortable expressing themselves, and uniforms hinder this process.
Uniforms: Socioeconomic Divide
Uniforms fail to eliminate socioeconomic disparities among students. Despite the intention of creating equality, uniforms can inadvertently highlight differences in socioeconomic status. Students from wealthier families may be able to afford higher quality uniforms or additional accessories, leading to comparisons and potential discrimination.
Uniforms: Discomfort and Health Concerns
Uniforms often come in limited styles and materials, which may not suit all students’ body types or preferences. Wearing uncomfortable or ill-fitting uniforms can lead to physical discomfort, affecting students’ focus and concentration. Additionally, certain uniform fabrics may cause skin irritation or allergies, harming students’ well-being.
Uniforms: Stifling Creativity and Self-Expression
Uniforms limit students’ ability to express themselves through fashion and personal style. By removing the freedom to choose their attire, students lose the opportunity to explore their creativity and develop a sense of personal identity. Self-expression through clothing is an essential part of growing up and finding one’s place in the world.
Mandating school uniforms has several drawbacks that outweigh the perceived benefits. Uniforms restrict individuality, perpetuate socioeconomic disparities, cause discomfort, and stifle creativity. Allowing students to choose their attire fosters a more inclusive and positive school environment.
500 Words Essay on Why Students Should Not Wear Uniforms
School uniforms: is it necessary, 1. limits individuality:.
School uniforms stifle creativity as they prevent students from expressing their individuality. Every child has their unique style and preferences, and uniforms don’t allow them to showcase that. When students cannot wear what they want, they may feel like they have less control over their lives, leading to a loss of self-confidence.
2. Discomfort and Health Concerns:
Uniforms are often made of uncomfortable materials, which can cause skin irritation and allergies. Restricting students to wear the same clothes regardless of the weather conditions can be a health risk. In hot weather, uniforms can be too warm, causing heat rashes and discomfort. In cold weather, they might not be warm enough, leading to students catching colds and other illnesses.
3. Socioeconomic and Cultural Issues:
4. impedes self-expression:.
School uniforms suppress creativity and self-expression among students. Wearing uniforms can hinder their ability to show their personality, interests, and creativity. Students should be able to express themselves through their clothing, which is more meaningful than wearing the same uniform every day.
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5. Limited Choice and Lack of Flexibility:
Uniforms provide limited choices for students, as they cannot choose what to wear to school. This lack of flexibility can be especially frustrating for students who want to dress in a way that reflects their personality or interests. Additionally, students may feel bored and monotonous wearing the same clothes day after day, which can lead to disinterest in school.
Conclusion:
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The history of school uniforms worldwide.
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12+ School Uniform Pros and Cons (For and Against Debate)
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Have you ever wondered why some schools require uniforms while others let you wear whatever you want?
It's a hot topic, and people have been arguing about it for a long time. Today, we're not just talking about whether uniforms look cool or not, but we're diving into the psychological impacts they can have on students.
Your school clothes might be doing more than just covering you up; they might be affecting your brain in ways you didn't even think about.
School uniforms are not just about what you wear; they can also influence how you think! In this article, we'll talk about:
- How uniforms can make everyone feel more equal but also less special
- Why they might make it easier to choose what to wear but harder to show who you are
- What psychologists and research tell us about this big school debate
So, put on your thinking cap—uniform or not—and let's explore what experts and studies say about the pros and cons of school uniforms.
School Uniform History
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Around the 16th century in England, the first school uniforms weren't even for everyday students like most of us. They were made for charity schools, which were for kids who didn't have much money.
The uniforms were there to help everyone know which kids were from those schools. They were simple and plain, and they made sure everyone looked the same. But as time went on, more and more schools started using uniforms, not just the charity ones.
By the 19th century, the uniform trend had caught on in many other places, including the United States. But the reasons for wearing them started to change.
Schools started thinking: "Hey, if everyone's wearing the same thing, then no one can make fun of someone else's clothes." Or: "If everyone looks neat and tidy, then it's easier to focus on studying." It was around this time that schools began to see uniforms as a way to help students feel more equal and keep distractions away.
Now, fast forward to today. The idea behind school uniforms is kind of like a big salad with lots of ingredients. Some people think they're super helpful for keeping schools safe. Others believe they make it easier to get dressed in the morning without fussing over what to wear. And some just like how they look.
But not everything is rosy. Some folks argue, "Hey, I want to show who I am with my clothes. Why should I wear the same thing as everyone else?" This is especially visible in the way different cliques fit into stereotypes , such as the popular kids wearing bright colors and the goths wearing all black.
Others worry about how much these uniforms might cost, especially for families that might not have a lot of money.
As you can see, the school uniform journey is full of twists and turns, like a wild roller coaster ride. But one thing's for sure: it's not just about fashion; it's also about feelings, thoughts, and how we see ourselves and others.
The whole debate about uniforms also has some big brain stuff behind it. For example, psychologists—those are people who study how our minds work—have had a lot to say about how uniforms might make us feel. Some think they help create a team spirit, while others think they squash our creativity.
No matter which side of the fence you're on, there's no denying that the simple school uniform carries a lot of weight. From its early days in old England to its role in modern schools, the uniform has been a source of comfort for some and conflict for others. As we dig deeper into the pros and cons, we'll uncover even more about this age-old debate.
School Uniform Pros
1) psychological equality.
First on our list is the idea that uniforms can make everyone feel more equal. When you see a whole bunch of kids wearing the same thing, it's tough to know who's got the coolest or most expensive clothes.
Dr. David Brunsma, a sociologist who has written extensively about school uniforms , suggests that this kind of equality can help lower the chances of kids getting picked on or bullied for what they're wearing.
Imagine you're playing a team sport. If everyone's wearing the same jersey, you're all focused on the game, not on who's got the flashiest gear. This is sorta what uniforms do in schools. They can help students focus on what really matters, like learning and making friends, instead of worrying about who's wearing what. This could make it less likely for students to get bullied for their clothes.
2) Reduced Decision Fatigue
Next up is a psychological idea called " decision fatigue ." Ever felt tired from just picking your outfit in the morning? Well, psychologist Roy F. Baumeister talks about how making too many decisions can actually make your brain tired . Having a uniform takes away one choice you have to make, helping you save that brainpower for more important things like schoolwork.
3) Sense of Belonging
Here comes a heartwarming point: uniforms can make you feel like you're part of a team.
Dr. Angela Wright, who has studied the psychology behind uniforms, says that this sense of belonging can make students feel more connected and secure in school. Some research even shows that when kids feel like they fit in, they're more likely to be nice to each other and do well in their classes.
4) Fostering Discipline and Focus
Last but not least, let's talk about discipline. Dr. Alex Rentz, who has researched how uniforms impact student behavior, believes that wearing a uniform can help students focus better. It's like when a firefighter puts on their uniform; they know it's time to get serious and do their job. The same can go for students. That uniform is like a signal to your brain saying, "Hey, it's time to learn!"
So there you have it! These are some of the top reasons why people think school uniforms are a win. But hold your horses! It's not all sunshine and rainbows. In our next section, we're gonna look at why some folks think school uniforms are not so great.
School Uniform Cons
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It's time to switch gears and talk about the reasons some people and experts give school uniforms a big thumbs-down. Trust us, it's not just about wanting to wear the latest fashion trends; it's a lot deeper than that, and it has a lot to do with how we think and feel.
1) Suppressing Individuality
Let's kick things off with one of the biggest arguments against school uniforms: they can squash your individuality. Dr. Christopher Lubienski, an education expert, says that uniforms can make it harder for students to express their unique personalities.
When you're stuck wearing the same thing as everyone else, you can't show off your personal style or let the world know a little bit about who you are.
2) Financial Strain
Next, we have to talk about money. Uniforms can cost a lot, and for families that are already tight on cash, this can be a big burden.
Dr. Elaine Schwartz, an economist who has looked into the financial aspects of school uniforms, points out that some families might struggle to pay for these mandatory clothes. And let's not forget about growth spurts; kids can outgrow uniforms quickly, leading to more expenses.
3) Contradicts Freedom of Expression
Now, let's get into some serious business: freedom of expression. This is something that psychologists like Dr. Alan Hilfer have talked about. He says that being able to choose your clothes is a way to express yourself and your opinions. In a country that values freedom, making everyone wear the same thing can feel like a big step backward.
4) Potential for Rebellion
Last on our list, believe it or not, is that uniforms can actually make some students act out. Dr. David L. Brunsma, who we mentioned earlier, also points out that some studies show wearing uniforms can make students feel like they're being controlled too much. And when people feel controlled, they sometimes do the opposite of what's expected, just to show they can.
So there you have it! These are some of the key reasons why some people aren't so hot on the idea of school uniforms. As you can see, it's a debate that brings out strong feelings and arguments from both sides.
Up next, we'll dive into what some important studies and theories have to say about all this.
School Uniform Theories
Let's move on to some studies and theories that have tackled the school uniform debate. These studies help us understand the nitty-gritty of why uniforms can be good or bad.
1) Social Identity Theory
First up, let's talk about something called Social Identity Theory . This was developed by psychologist Henri Tajfel, and it explores how people identify with groups.
When students wear uniforms, they're all part of the same "group," at least in appearance. This can create a sense of unity, but it can also make students feel like they're just one of many, losing their personal identity.
This theory helps us understand the balance between belonging and individuality that uniforms bring into play.
2) Self-Determination Theory
Another important theory is the Self-Determination Theory by psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan.
This theory explains that people need to feel some control over their actions to be happy and successful. For some kids, being told what to wear every day might go against this need for personal control, which can lead to feeling unhappy or even acting out in rebellion, like Dr. David L. Brunsma mentioned in the previous section.
3) Empirical Studies
On the research front, there have been many studies, but let's focus on one by Dr. Jafeth Sanchez and Dr. George Mitchell. They conducted a study on school uniforms and concluded that uniforms didn't seem to significantly impact academic performance, but they did note some improvements in school climate, like fewer fights and less bullying.
4) Cost-Benefit Analyses
Last but not least, economists have done what's called cost-benefit analyses, where they weigh the good and bad sides of uniforms.
Economists like Dr. Elaine Schwartz, who we mentioned earlier, have said that the financial strain of buying uniforms might not always be worth the benefits they bring, especially for low-income families.
So there you have it, folks! From theories that dig deep into our need for belonging and control, to studies that look at how uniforms actually play out in real life, the uniform debate is chock-full of interesting angles. What we've learned is that there's no easy answer. Like a seesaw, the pros and cons keep tipping the scale back and forth.
School Uniforms According to Kids
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It's good to know the formal theories, but let's hear from the real experts—kids themselves! After all, they're the ones wearing these uniforms day in and day out. What they say may surprise you!
They Like Being Treated Equally
Many kids actually like wearing uniforms because it levels the playing field. They say it stops "clothing competition" where some kids might show off expensive or fashionable items. In a way, uniforms can act as a great equalizer, making everyone appear the same at first glance.
But it's important to remember that while uniforms might match, accessories or technology, like iphones and laptops, might not. So uniforms don't completely eliminate competition.
They Want to Show Their Style
On the flip side, a lot of kids feel uniforms cramp their style. They want the freedom to show who they are through their clothes. For them, being made to wear the same outfit every day feels like their personal identity is being stifled.
Comfort Matters
Let's not forget about comfort! Many students point out that some uniforms are just not comfortable to wear for a whole school day. Whether it's stiff collars or itchy fabric, comfort is a big deal when you're sitting in class, trying to focus on learning.
A Mix Would Be Nice
Interestingly, some kids propose a compromise: uniforms on some days and casual clothes on others. They think this would blend the best of both worlds—maintaining a sense of equality and discipline while allowing room for personal expression.
It's clear that kids have a lot to say on this topic, and their voices are an important part of this ongoing debate. After all, school is for them, so shouldn't they have a say in what they wear there?
School Uniforms in Media
You can't talk about school uniforms without mentioning how they're portrayed in movies, TV shows, and even books. These media portrayals can shape our views, and they tell us a lot about how society feels about this hot-button issue.
The Classic Image
Think about classic movies or TV shows that feature private schools; you'll probably recall scenes of students in crisp uniforms. This image often portrays uniforms as a symbol of privilege, discipline, or academic excellence.
Shows like " Gossip Girl " or movies like " Dead Poets Society " have ingrained this view in our minds.
The Rebel Stereotype
Then there's the rebellious student, often seen trying to "hack" their uniform. Whether it's by rolling up their skirt, loosening a tie, or adding flashy accessories, this portrayal taps into the idea of uniforms stifling individuality.
It's like the media is saying, "You can't keep young people from expressing themselves."
A Tool for Storytelling
In literature and film, uniforms can serve as a powerful storytelling device. Take "Harry Potter," for example. The Hogwarts robes do more than just enforce equality; they signal belonging to houses and help create the magical atmosphere of the wizarding world.
Social Commentaries
In some instances, media uses uniforms to make a statement. Shows or movies that depict uniforms in a dystopian setting may be commenting on issues of conformity or loss of personal freedom. These portrayals often reflect societal concerns and fuel discussions about the role of uniforms in schools.
Reality TV Insights
Don't forget reality TV! Shows that focus on schools or young people often highlight the uniform debate. Whether it's students discussing their likes or dislikes, or parents grappling with the costs, these shows give us a real-world look into the practical challenges and benefits of uniforms.
The media, through its varied lenses, gives us a rich tapestry of perspectives on school uniforms. It adds another layer to the complex emotional and psychological landscape we've been exploring.
School Uniforms Around the World
The debate about school uniforms isn't just happening in one place; it's a hot topic all around the world. Different countries and regions have their own unique views and rules, and trust us, it's pretty interesting to see how diverse opinions can be.
United States
In the United States, the issue of school uniforms is mostly a local decision. That means individual school districts or even single schools make the choice.
While some schools swear by uniforms, saying they improve discipline and equality, others champion a student's right to self-expression.
United Kingdom
Hop across the pond to the United Kingdom, and you'll find that school uniforms are much more common. In fact, they've been a tradition for centuries. Psychologists like Dr. Angela Wright, who we mentioned before, point out that the British generally see uniforms as a way to foster a sense of community and discipline.
In Japan, school uniforms are not just clothes; they're deeply rooted in culture. Uniforms are a social norm .
The uniforms aim to instill a sense of discipline and are often seen as a rite of passage. Dr. Hiroshi Ota, an expert on Japanese education, notes that the uniform practice in Japan aims to prepare students for a society that values conformity and group harmony.
Down under in Australia, uniforms are pretty common in both public and private schools. The debate there often centers around comfort and the appropriateness of certain uniform items in various weather conditions.
Researchers like Dr. Michaela Pascoe have discussed how the physical comfort of uniforms can impact a student's ability to focus and learn.
France takes a different approach. Uniforms are generally not required in public schools, reflecting the country's emphasis on individual liberty and personal expression. French psychologists often point to the importance of allowing students the freedom to choose as a way to develop their identity.
Whether it's promoting equality, fostering discipline, or encouraging personal freedom, each country has its own reasons and experts weighing in on the matter.
School Uniform Trends and Future Directions
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Now that we've taken a good look at the pros, cons, theories, and global perspectives, let's talk about what's trending. Are schools moving toward or away from uniforms? And what cool new ideas are people coming up with?
Trending Toward or Away?
Interestingly, the trend seems to be a bit of both. In the United States, more public schools have started to adopt uniforms, especially in urban areas.
They're following the lead of private schools, which have often required uniforms. But there's a growing voice for more freedom of expression too, which has led some schools to move away from strict uniform policies.
Uniforms with Options
One of the coolest new trends is something called "uniforms with options." This is basically a middle-ground approach that allows students to pick from a range of approved clothing items.
For example, a school might have a color scheme and let students choose any shirts or pants that fit within those colors. Dr. Michelle Birkett, a researcher who has looked into the psychological impacts of such choices, says this allows students to adhere to a standard while still expressing a bit of personal flair.
Tech-Enabled Uniforms
Yes, you heard that right. In some countries, schools are experimenting with uniforms that have tracking devices for safety reasons. However, this has opened up debates on privacy and autonomy.
Dr. Shoshana Zuboff, an expert on surveillance capitalism, warns that this might go against the principles of personal freedom and privacy.
Dress Code Reforms
There's also a trend toward reforming dress codes to be more inclusive, especially for students who don't identify with traditional gender roles.
Schools are starting to allow more flexibility, like letting girls wear pants or boys wear skirts, to be more accommodating. Psychologists such as Dr. Kristina Olson, who studies gender diversity, say this can have a positive impact on mental health and inclusion.
So, the future of school uniforms is anything but dull. With new ideas and trends popping up, it seems like we're headed toward a more balanced and thoughtful approach to what kids wear to school.
One thing's for sure: the debate about school uniforms isn't a simple one . Whether it's psychologists discussing the impact on our minds, or economists weighing the costs, or even kids and parents sharing their everyday experiences, there are a lot of opinions to consider.
What have we learned? Well, for one, uniforms can help with equality and focus, but they can also stifle individuality and put a financial burden on families. Different countries have their unique views, and the future is shaping up to offer more balanced options for students to express themselves while maintaining some level of uniformity.
The conversation about school uniforms is far from over, and it's a debate that will likely continue to evolve. But no matter which side of the fence you're on, it's crucial to keep listening and learning from each other. Because in the end, the goal is the same: to create an environment where every student has the chance to shine, both in and out of their school clothes.
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Persuasive Essay About School Uniforms
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Table of contents:
- Introduction
- Body paragraphs
Should students wear school uniforms? This is a topic with a lot of controversy around it. Some people think it should be compulsory to wear a uniform, and others think they should not be required. Your persuasive essay should take a strong stand on the issue, but don’t fail to consider the arguments against your point of view as well as the benefits of your own beliefs.
Your introduction should consist, most importantly, of your thesis or focus statement, in which you answer the question, “Why should we wear (or not wear) school uniforms?” When considering the pros and cons, make up your mind first which stance you’d like to argue for, and then reflect on how best to make your point.
Introduction examples
Pro: School uniforms ensure that all students have the same access to well-fitting, modest clothing during classes, and also erase the differences between richer and poorer students, putting them all on a more equal footing.
Con: School uniforms are restrictive of personal expression, uncomfortable, and needlessly force children into gender roles due to making girls wear skirts and boys wear trousers, and so they should not be required.
The body of your essay should then expand upon the thesis, outlining and backing up each of your points. If you have statistics to back up your arguments, here’s where to use them. You can also use anecdotes, common sense appeals, or appeals to emotion.
Body paragraphs examples
Pro: School uniforms should be compulsory. They reduce time spent shopping, as well as money spent buying clothes, and eliminate bullying based on dress and appearance. In addition, they keep students safer by making sure they are obviously dressed as students.
Con: There are many reasons against wearing school uniforms. No one, first of all, likes to be forced into a particular mould. The subject of whether school uniforms actually prevent bullying is still up for debate. As well, one of the disadvantages is that school uniforms usually have to all be bought from the same place, which can lead to collusion between school governors and clothing shops.
As you draw to a conclusion, look back at your thesis. Give your essay a title that relates to the thesis. Make sure you’ve covered all the points you want to cover. Then go over those points again in your conclusion, and finally end with a request to your audience to take some kind of action, or at least consider the debate from a different point of view.
Conclusion examples
Pro: To have more peaceful, safer schools, as well as cheaper shopping bills, uniforms are the way to go. It’s the better option for students, and it’s better for parents as well, so recommend to your school board that uniforms should be instituted right away.
Con: The jury’s still out on whether school uniforms do make a difference. In the meantime, why curb kids’ personal expression? Let them dress the way they want, within reason. It doesn’t cause them any harm.
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Should Students Wear School Uniforms Essay
Jul 29, 2023
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Jul 29, 2023 | Blog
Table of Contents
Introduction
YES! to the question, “Should Students Wear School Uniforms?”
Uniforms are as much about safety as they are about inclusion.
Teachers don’t have to worry about losing sight of students at the playground or on a field trip.
Also, when kids wear uniforms, the older and younger students feel like they are part of the same group, especially on their first day of school.
Have you ever asked yourself why students put on uniforms?
This is a question many people ask themselves, and they have different opinions concerning wearing uniforms.
It has become a subject of debate for many learners, especially when they reach their teenage years.
Most argue that school uniform is important for young children, which acts as a rite of growth.
Studies show that when learners are in adolescence, they tend to discuss fashion and school uniform issues.
You will find people having their own opinions on how they are supposed to dress and why they should not wear uniforms.
One of the reasons you will see uniform and fashion being a debate at this stage is that these students often express themselves through fashion.
This article aims to bring you awareness of this most debated topic.
If any students, especially the teenagers, were asked to drop off their uniforms, most would accept that motion.
It is important to ask ourselves about the role of uniforms in schools.
Wearing uniforms leave the student with no option of choosing what to wear.
When this freedom is taken away from the students at the end of the day, it brings more harm than good.
The reason is that teenagers use fashion to express themselves at this stage.
You will find that they may lose the sense of who they are because they cannot express themselves fully.
Teenagers’ creativity, diversity, and individuality are usually expressed through fashion.
Therefore you will find that school uniforms are how they will not collectively express themselves.
It is a fact that everyone is different, and you cannot equate a person’s life with another one.
At the same time, it is important to know that we focus on educational institutions.
Schools have good reasons concerning why students should put on uniforms.
One of the reasons they do this is to teach discipline.
Wearing uniforms is one of the ways schools can be able to eliminate school violence .
Some students may have low self-esteem, and when they come wearing different clothes, this may affect their grades.
Others come from low-status families in society, which may affect them when they compare themselves with others.
This is to say that wearing uniforms has its advantages and disadvantages simultaneously.
We shall discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of wearing a proper school uniform which will help us finalize whether you will be on the nay or the yay side concerning the topic.
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Advantages of wearing school uniform
Wearing uniforms may deter crime and increase student safety.
Sue Stanly conducted a study on School Uniforms and Safety, and the findings answer the question of “should students wear school uniforms.”
Long Beach, California, after two years of district-wide uniform policy and increased security measures, reports of assault decreased by 34%.
Assault with a deadly weapon dropped 50% within the first year. Students reduced fighting incidents by 51%; sex offenses went down by 74%; robbery was cut in half at 65%, while possession of weapons or lookalikes saw its numbers drop by 52%.
Even drugs had fewer encounters as well – 69% less than before! Vandalism also saw a significant reduction of 18%.
Sparks Middle School’s uniform policy has been a huge success in improving the school climate.
In just one year, they experienced 63% fewer police log reports and decreases in other areas such as graffiti, property damage, and battery incidents.
A peer-reviewed study found that schools with uniforms had 12% fewer firearm-related incidents than those without!
Students also reduced drug use/possession cases(15%) than schools without uniforms.
The advantages of having everyone wear matching clothes seem counterintuitive but make sense upon closer inspection.
Uniforms also prevent students from concealing weapons under baggy clothing.
They help keep track of kids during group outings (lessening any risk that one student will get left behind), and intruders can’t blend into indistinct surroundings because their appearance would still stand out among children dressed uniformly.
School uniforms keep students focused on their education, not their clothes.
A school uniform’s power to help students concentrate on learning is one of the many benefits, but there are other advantages.
One important factor in a student’s success is their ability to feel included and not stand out when wearing the same outfit as everyone else instead of stressing over what clothes might make them more popular with classmates.
So uniforms provide less distraction from academics for all children, leading to increased academic performance!
Reduction in the rate of bullying
Statistics, it has been said that bullying has been reduced due to school uniforms.
One of the reasons why bullying occurs is due to students’ cultural differences.
Because different cultures have different belief systems and values, it makes every student unique.
Bullying will start because some students will feel superior to others based on their cultural group.
They will start making fun of and abusing other students from cultural groups deemed low and insignificant from superiority.
When school incorporates wearing uniforms, it reduces this bullying because everyone appears to be the same.
The victimization is reduced, and students can live in harmony.
When all students wear uniforms, each student’s pressure to dress in ways that make them stand out is eliminated.
Students who wear less expensive or more ordinary clothes will no longer be teased for their choice of clothing, and everyone can feel comfortable being themselves.
It’s Cost-effective to wear uniforms.
If students were to wear different clothes every day, parents would spend a lot of money when it comes to buying clothes.
When students put on uniforms, that’s the only clothes they will require to go to school.
This means that parents will save a lot of money because many students want to outdo one another in fashion.
Most of them will want to wear fashionable designer clothes which are very expensive.
This can be straining, especially for parents who are not well off as they try to make ends meet to meet their children’s education fees.
A student can stay with a school uniform for a whole year; therefore, it doesn’t need much when it comes to returning to school.
Promote the school’s pride, spirit, and unity.
One of the advantages of wearing uniforms in school is that it helps to promote the school spirit.
A school should ensure unity and togetherness, and one of the ways to achieve this is by wearing uniforms.
When you see students working together in different activities, you will realize unity and togetherness in school.
For example, when students go for competitions outside the school, a school will come together as a team and compete against another school.
This means even when competing, they are competing as a team and not as individuals.
This means these students will have a sense of pride in their school.
Creating a sense of equality
One of the reasons why school uniform is advocated is to bring equality among students.
This is because children come from different backgrounds.
Some come from a well-off family, while others come from a low-status society.
When students dress in uniforms, you will not distinguish between wealthy and low-income families.
Also, students with self-esteem issues can interact with others better because they look uniform.
Encourages discipline in school and improves attendance
When students don uniforms, it acts as a reminder of their environment.
It reminds them of where they are and how they are supposed to behave.
Before doing something, they will think about what they are about to do and understand the consequences of their choice.
Schools enforce school uniform policies to improve attendance rates, graduation, and reduction in suspension.
Uniforms are worn to be more disciplined and listen better in class with lower noise levels due to fewer distractions.
Classrooms start on time because teachers have the same amount of teaching waiting times between classes as they would otherwise without uniforms being enforced.
School uniforms make getting ready for school easier, which can improve punctuality.
Parents and kids may not care about what they wear to school, but it becomes easier when uniforms are mandatory in a classroom setting.
Uniforms eliminate difficult decisions like which shirt matches these pants or if the color of the tie is appropriate enough.
Getting ready now is easy because less time is spent on clothes every morning.
Students grab their uniforms out of their closets each day instead.
Students can express their individuality in school uniforms by adding variations and accessories.
Uniforms are often restrictive and boring, but this is not true.
Uniforms do not stop students from being themselves.
They can wear buttons or jewelry that express their individuality.
Students can inject color into the uniform’s simple style with a colorful bag or necklace, for example!
Uniforms also won’t silence students’ voices or stop them from being themselves.
They can wear various clothes and add accessories like buttons or jewelry for an individual look that speaks volumes about their personality!
Students can also explore hairstyles, nail polish coloration, and other expressive items to create the perfect everyday appearance.
Disadvantages of wearing school uniform
Despite uniforms having advantages, it also has their disadvantages.
Some limitations are brought about by uniforms for both students and the school.
This debate has continuously been a hit regarding its importance.
This debate has led to some schools allowing students to come with home clothes and no uniform.
This number of schools may be smaller, but there is still debate concerning the requirement for students to dress in uniforms in school.
Some of the disadvantages of wearing uniforms are highlighted below.
The creativity and self-expression of students are denied
School uniform makes students feel oppressed in such a way they cannot be able to express themselves fully.
This may result in individuals losing their identity and living up to a school’s standards.
In Sweden, the School Inspectorate decided that students should express themselves through their choice of dress and appearance.
They determined uniforms were a human rights violation because they violated an individual’s right to freedom of expression in terms of self-expression by requiring students to wear something they did not want to wear.
Clothing is a form of self-expression.
Schools should allow students to wear what they want to feel empowered and mature because it’s their choice on how they want others to see them at the end of the day.
Uniforms restrict and take away an opportunity for support or expression if you wear something people can identify with in terms of clothing.
Especially in a girl’s school, you’ll find students trying to outdo one another on the person who wears the school uniform at its best.
This may bring many battles in the school, leading to students despising one another at the end of the day.
There will be resentment between the administration and the students.
This is because students think the administration is forcing students to wear uniforms.
Due to this resentment, you’ll find that Sam’s students will start developing lousy behavior.
Uniforms act as a Band-Aid to more significant issues
Many people tend to think that school uniforms play a big role in solving many issues in school. Examples of those issues are highlighted above, such as bullying.
Schools and administrators need to know that school has a minute significance concerning students’ experience in school.
When solving significant issues, facing them and not fully putting on uniforms is important.
In conclusion, it is important to know that this discussion will never have an ending because it always pops up in many areas.
It is important to know that wearing a school uniform should depend on its image to bring it out to the public.
Many people have different opinions concerning wearing a school uniform; the dominating fact is that the importance of uniforms always wins.
Therefore, we must try to solve these issues among our students.
Also, when it comes to other issues affecting our students, we must face them and address them as expected.
It is not important to solve issues and lay them on uniform matters.
This is because it does not do good for students.
School uniforms promote conformity over individuality.
Introducing a mandatory uniform policy to a school would teach conformity and squelch individual thought.
Just think about how prisons or gangs operate.
They all have one thing in common.
They’re socializing people by imposing strict rules on what is acceptable, punishing those who disobey the regulations, not only from guards but also other group members.
This environment strips away a child’s individuality and creativity, resulting in rebellion against the school authorities, like school teachers enforcing these policies.
However, this does not always lead to violence because there are many different forms.
Such as protest marches where students show solidarity across campuses around the country over potentially having uniforms imposed upon them, too, rather than acting out individually when it happens nearby.
For some students, uniforms are a way to feel more secure and appear as the gender they identify with.
However, their uniform can be an isolating experience that makes it difficult to fit in or find acceptance for many others.
For most children going back-to-school shopping means picking out clothes from stores. Still, for transgender youth, this process is often much harder due to limited options offered by retailers who don’t correctly cater to those outside traditional norms.
Unsurprisingly, when schools have specific gendered dress codes (girls must wear skirts and boys must wear pants), transgender kids struggle even further because these guidelines may not allow them personal freedom if they want something different.
School uniforms do not stop bullying and may increase violent attacks.
The idea that uniforms would reduce violence in a school is not supported by bullying literature.
There’s no evidence from the field of bullying to support this claim.
One study has shown uniforms increase assaults by about 14 in schools with a history of violence.
When the Miami-Dade County public schools introduced mandatory uniforms, they saw a nearly twofold increase in fighting.
According to their data , as soon as their new uniform policy became law, students were upset, resulting in fights breaking out left and right.
School uniforms do not improve academic preparedness, attendance, or exam results.
A recent study found that students wearing uniforms didn’t have better attendance, behavioral problems, or substance use on campus.
The research also indicated a negative effect of uniforms on academic achievement and later showed they were equally ineffective for elementary school children and eighth-graders.
Another study on school uniforms found no significant effect on children’s performance, regardless of whether they were second-graders or 10th-graders.
Some results even showed negative effects!
School uniforms emphasize the socioeconomic divisions they are supposed to eliminate
Public school students are often required to dress in uniforms, but this can be more than an inconvenience.
Uniforms were intended to help alleviate the divide between social classes by removing differences in clothing and appearance that could serve as a status symbol for wealthier kids.
But is it working?
While many poor schools have adopted uniform policies, they’re still unable to conceal the difference from richer families who buy more per child (maybe two or three extra outfits).
The less affluent kid only has one set of clothes, which means their lower quality ones will get worn out much quicker than those at expensive private schools.
After about two months, you’ll start seeing socioeconomic divides again because of how quickly poorer children’s clothes fall apart.
Because they cannot afford an unlimited number of new ones when theirs get too shabby looking.
Students oppose school uniforms.
Uniforms have been a hot topic for many schools, but some kids are not thrilled about them.
A recent study found that 90% of grades 7-8 did not like wearing uniforms.
Furthermore, introducing mandatory uniforms into Long Beach Unified School District has had little success with students’ opinions on wearing their uniforms.
The year following the implementation of this new rule, 71% of middle schoolers said they felt no safer traveling from home to campus, and 81% said it did not reduce fights.
76% say they feel a sense of belonging at their schools because everyone is uniform.
69%, who felt unsafe before adoption, now feel safer as those with bad intentions can be spotted easily by other people around town or on campus due to being dressed similarly.
Uniforms may have a detrimental effect on students’ self-image.
When schools mandate the same uniforms for all students, rather than selecting clothes that suit their different body types, they can suffer embarrassment at school.
Girls, in particular, often compare themselves against each other. Due to height/weight differences, they feel self-conscious when forced to wear a uniform that doesn’t flatter their physique or fit properly due to height/weight differences.
Uniforms can make a girl feel vulnerable or embarrassed by drawing attention away from her uniqueness and heightening feelings of inadequacy because they do not fit into societal expectations for their body type.
Focusing on uniforms takes attention away from finding genuine solutions to problems in education.
It is a great myth that uniforms will do anything to improve student performance and reduce school crime rates.
If you want to impact these things, your efforts should be focused elsewhere, like smaller class sizes, better student facilities, or increased parental involvement, among other measures.
School uniforms are just one way of dealing with the problem, but it does not address the root causes of much bigger issues than what we wear daily at school.
Commercial interests rather than educational ones drive the push for school uniforms.
American school uniforms are a billion-dollar industry, and in one year alone, company Lands’ End spent $3 million on marketing efforts directed at public schools.
Analyst Brunsma pointed out that multiple studies used to promote the effectiveness of uniforms were partly funded by Lands’ End and had questionable credibility as they seemed biased toward uniform companies.
Walmart knows how important uniforms are for schools and workplaces.
That’s why they have introduced boutique shops within some stores, setting up temporary uniform shops before it’s too late!
Parents should be free to choose their children’s clothes without government interference.
The government needs to stop telling us what our children should wear.
Mandatory uniform policies trample on the rights of parents and are an intrusion into private lives, roles as parents, and the lives of our children.
Parents have every right to raise their kids without interference from politicians who think they know better than we do how things should be done!
School uniforms in public schools undermine the promise of free education by imposing an extra expense on families.
Parents are forced to spend money on their children’s uniforms even though they already pay taxes.
Parents from low-income families also struggle with the additional cost because tuition-free schools don’t provide it.
Sometimes students miss classes because they can’t afford the required uniforms.
The cost of a uniform can make families miss out on their children’s education.
Parents who already pay taxes and still have to buy regular clothes for dress-down days are also faced with the difficult choice between feeding themselves or buying necessities that allow them to send their kids off in style, like uniforms.
As if paying for tuition wasn’t enough, parents without high incomes often spend significantly more than they should because school-related costs such as uniforms add an extra burden onto already stretched budgets.
The amount spent by these moms and dads was even higher than what would usually be needed just so their children could attend public learning institutions.
School uniforms may delay the transition into adulthood.
Adults can dress as they please and express their identity through clothing.
However, if children are denied this freedom when they become adults, it may shock them as well-grown people don’t face such limitations on their clothes.
If you take away adolescents’ opportunity to explore different identities with fashion choices now, that will limit who they become in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should students wear school uniforms.
Students should wear school uniforms for safety and inclusion and to promote a sense of belonging among students.
What are some advantages and disadvantages of wearing a uniform?
The advantages of wearing a uniform include safety, easy identification, and a sense of unity. Disadvantages may include limited self-expression and loss of individuality.
Why is uniform important?
The uniform is important for promoting discipline, reducing school violence, and creating a sense of equality among students.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of wearing school uniform essay?
The advantages of wearing school uniforms essay may highlight benefits like fostering a sense of belonging and improving safety. The disadvantages may discuss limitations in self-expression and individuality.
Why should students wear uniforms to sc hool?
Wearing the same uniform to school daily removes the stress of choosing an outfit every morning.
Student uniforms can be a great way to decrease school violence and increase school safety.
School uniforms can help build self-esteem in students by making everyone look the same.
School uniforms can help solve many schools today, such as inappropriate dress codes and gang violence.
Should students wear school uniforms to school?
One good thing about school uniforms is that they eliminate any discrimination between rich and poor.
Although they may be expensive, they also stop bullying over clothes because every child looks similar.
Uniforms can also help with school discipline by making the school look more professional and the staff seems more serious.
Students will be less likely to try and get out of trouble if everyone looks the same because people will know who did what.
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Should Students be Required to Wear School Uniforms?
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The Benefits of School Uniforms
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Promoting equality, improving academic performance, enhancing school safety, instilling a sense of pride and belonging.
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In the ongoing debate about school uniforms, a significant voice often goes unheard - that of the students themselves. The argument against mandatory school uniforms is not just about fashion or personal preferences; it delves deeper into fundamental issues of self-expression, equity, and the very purpose of education.
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The debate over whether students should wear uniforms in schools has been a long-standing one. In this essay, we will explore the reasons why students should not wear uniforms, focusing on how uniforms can limit students' ability to express themselves, stifle their sense of identity and creativity, promote a culture of conformity, and create financial burdens that contribute to inequality and ...
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Mark Oppenheimer writes about the rise in popularity of school uniforms, and whether uniform policies positively or negatively affect students.
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"$1,300,000,00 per year are spent on school uniforms" (School Uniform Statistics). Students attending public school should not be required to wear uniforms because uniforms are expensive, uniforms are uncomfortable, and uniforms restrict students' ability to express themselves.
Essay on School Uniform Should Not Be Abolished Good morning to all my friends. Imagine if you need to choose which clothes to wear to school every morning so that you will look pleasing to everyone in