advantages and disadvantages of wearing a school uniform essay

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Wearing School Uniforms

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Words: 876 |

Published: Aug 31, 2023

Words: 876 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

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Advantages of school uniforms, disadvantages of school uniforms, impact on students' mental and emotional well-being, uniforms and academic performance, social and cultural considerations, parent and student perspectives on uniforms, conclusion: weighing the pros and cons of school uniforms, foster a sense of identity and belonging, promote a distraction-free learning environment, enhance school safety and security, limits expression and creativity, financial burden on families, potential for uniform enforcement issues.

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22 Advantages and Disadvantages of School Uniforms

It’s a common tradition to take a photograph of the kids as they leave for their first day of school. In many school districts around the world, that means taking a picture of a child that is dressed in a school uniform.

The history of school uniforms has a somewhat checkered past. The tradition originated in the 16th century with charity schools, supporting children who were orphans, living in poverty, or had nowhere else to go. Although uniforms have moved from pom-poms and starched aprons to polos and jumpers, the reasons why uniforms are either supported or criticized have remained relatively the same for over 400 years.

Here are the key advantages and disadvantages of school uniforms to think about.

What Are the Advantages of School Uniforms?

1. School uniforms reduce clothing-related peer pressure. A uniform mandate makes every student wear either the exact same outfit or piece together a uniform based on certain acceptable standards. Because every student is essentially wearing the same thing, there is a reduced level of peer pressure to wear certain fashion styles or purchase specific clothes brands. This makes it possible for students to build more relationships through genuine networking skills instead of through popularity.

2. It creates uniformity between socioeconomic classes within a school district. Since students are wearing the same uniform, there is less of a socioeconomic distinction that can be made between students. Although different brands might be worn in some districts, some that may be associated with the wealthy class, the overall appearance of each student is similar. This reduces the barriers that poverty and wealth naturally create.

3. School uniforms tend to cost less than traditional youth clothing. Branded jeans for kids may cost more than $40. For the same cost, it is possible to purchase two modern school polos and two pairs of uniform pants, skirts, jumpers, or skirt-short combinations. Many families can purchase a week’s worth of school uniform clothing for less than $100. For name-brand fashion items, that might purchase 4-5 items of clothing instead.

4. It can create an environment where discipline is emphasized. Meeting a school uniform code requires a certain level of discipline from the student. It also requires parental discipline to ensure their child is meeting expectations. When discipline is practiced, it can be applied to other aspects of life. Children in school uniforms may find it easier to stay focused on their studies, complete homework after school, build friendships, or prepare themselves for a vocational career.

5. It may take students less time to get ready for school each morning. Students who are in districts with a school uniform code always know what they’ll need to wear in the morning. Instead of standing in front of their closet, trying to decide which look to wear that day, the uniform can be put on and the morning routine can be completed. Some students may save up to 30 minutes each morning simply because the expectations of how they should look have been laid out for them in advance.

6. Schools can identify intruders quickly because they aren’t in the needed uniform. Because there are appearance standards in place for a school uniform policy, teachers and administrators can quickly identify individuals on campus who should not be present. That can create extra time to initiate a lockdown of the school property or take other preventative safety measures which can keep students safe.

7. School uniforms are easy to hand down to others year after year. It is true that school uniforms can take a beating over the course of a 9-month or 12-month school year. It’s also true that with proactive care, school uniforms can be handed down to others each year. For a family of four, it is possible to get by with only purchasing one set of uniforms because each previous uniform set can be handed down to the next child.

8. It can increase student attendance. Students can feign illnesses or be impacted by stress-related ailments because of inequalities that they see with their clothing and fashion compared to others. Because student uniforms reduce this impact, it is possible for student attendance to increase. School districts in the southern US have seen attendance increases of over 20% in the first 5 years of implementing school uniform policies.

9. Uniforms could help students focus more attention onto their studies than their fashion. This advantage comes back to the discipline that is generated by maintaining the expectations of a certain look. By eliminating the need to find popularity through fashion or accessories, it becomes possible for students to focus on other aspects of the learning environment. That means a student can stay focused on their lessons, retaining the information learned, and that can lead to better overall grades.

10. It can stop cliques or gangs from forming on a school campus. Students of a certain age will almost always rebel against something. For those who are poor, that rebellion might focus on those who are rich and have more than them. For those who are wealthy, the rebellion might focus on “unfair” school policies, school costs, or other financial burdens that may not apply to other students. Because uniforms put the focus on equality instead of inequality, these policies work to prevent some of the common reasons why students target one another or the school district.

What Are the Disadvantages of School Uniforms?

1. It reduces the individuality of the student population within a school district. Students who are in a district with a strict uniform policy lose their ability to express their individuality through fashion. In some regards, school uniforms teach students that it is more important to think and act like a group instead of thinking and acting like an individual. Although there are many influences that can shape mob thinking patterns, this type of policy can be a foundational element of it if the uniform policies are not carefully introduced and monitored.

2. Uniforms do not prevent students from expressing themselves. Students will always find a way of rebelling against the rules. They will look for any gap in the codes or regulations that govern school uniforms and exploit them. That might mean wearing expensive jewelry, wearing certain shoes, or styling their hair in a way that allows them to express their own personality. The school uniform might create a fashion balance, but it also creates a natural rebellion against group thinking.

3. It may limit the concept of diversity to the student body. School uniforms, by design, limit diversity within the learning environment. In today’s world, we have numerous cultures, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Instead of pretending to be equal by creating an outward visual aesthetic, it would be more effective to emphasize true equality within the society at large. If diversity is established in the classroom, students can learn how to interact with other groups and then innovate ways to establish future policies that can lead to real equality.

4. New school uniforms can be more expensive than traditional clothing. Many families who live near the poverty line find themselves shopping at thrift stores, discount stores, and other low-cost locations. Even shopping at a store like Walmart, where a t-shirt could be $3, is less expensive than purchasing a school uniform polo shirt there, which is typically $7-$10. For families that must purchase multiple uniform sets for their children, the cost could be several hundred dollars higher.

5. Public schools that require student uniforms could use taxpayer funds to purchase them. There is already a debate in the US involving the fact that property taxes help to pay for public schooling costs. Some households which do not have children wonder why they need to pay taxes in the first place. When the cost of school uniforms is added to that conversation, it can be easy to wonder why taxpayers should subsidize the cost of uniforms. If that argument wins out, then parents are forced to pay an additional “tax” on the uniform purchase unless they can move their student to a different school or district.

6. Removing students from class because of an inability to afford a school uniform reinforces socioeconomic stereotypes. Despite community involvement, charitable giving, and other forms of economic balancing, there are always families which struggle to put their children into school uniforms. Punishing a student by removing them from a school because of an inability to afford a uniform goes against the principals of equal learning opportunities. Even if charitable outreach can provide students with uniforms, a negative stigma can be placed on that student or family because they had to have their uniforms given to them.

7. Children in school uniforms still experience bullying. Bullying happens in schools with uniform policies. Students who attend schools with uniform policies may find themselves being bullied by others who don’t go to such a school. Although uniforms can create a sense of community and equality, children aren’t stupid. They know who is rich and who is poor. They know who is smart and who is “not.” Those perceptions are enough to set the stage for bullying to occur. It may be better to teach students how to handle a bully and protect themselves than to stick them into a specific outfit.

8. School uniforms can be uncomfortable. Many school uniforms are designed to replicate the idea of dressing up in one’s “Sunday best.” Compared to a t-shirt and shorts, a polo shirt and slacks can be quite uncomfortable, especially when the temperatures are warm outside. Uniforms may also dictate what clothing can be worn inside, which could require students to take coats or jackets off while outside to adhere to the code. The actual clothing required of a uniform may also be uncomfortable. Wearing a coat and tie, as some uniforms may require, can place more pressure around the neck than casual clothing.

9. Creating consistent rules about school uniforms can be difficult. Trying to apply the rules consistency across an entire student body can be almost impossible for administrators. Just going outside to play during recess might cause the clothing to become stained with grass, dirt, or mud, which could go against the school uniform regulations. Many schools enforce uniform codes that require brands to not be displayed to create more equality, but some items of clothing always display their branding and that can’t be helped. Unless the exact same uniform from the exact same brand is mandated for everyone, consistency isn’t going to be present.

10. Intruders can easily blend in when assumptions are made about them. If administrators or teachers are looking for strangers based on their lack of compliance with the school uniform code, then it becomes easy to blend into that environment. An intruder would simply need to find out what the uniform policy was and then follow it. That would allow them to move about the school property freely. For that reason, a check-in procedure, an entry airlock, or other security measures are often required at school districts in addition to the mandated school uniform.

11. Research indicates no connection between uniforms and better learning. Virginia Draa, who is an Assistant Professor at Youngstown State University, concluded that there is too much variation in curriculum, instructional methods, and other complicating factors of school attendance to make such a connection. There is evidence that suspension rates, attendance rates, and graduation rates are improved, which can lead to the claim of better learning, but no direct correlation to individual grades.

12. School uniform policies can create barriers between students and teachers Many school districts that enforce student school uniform policies have no such policies when it comes to the clothing that teachers wear. Some districts do have dress codes in place, but may not require specific clothing items to be worn like the students are required to wear. That further increases the gap teachers experience between their students because they may get to dress more casually than their students.

The advantages and disadvantages of school uniforms show us that there is the potential in such a policy to improve grades, attendance, and graduation rates by focusing on discipline and equality. It also shows us that to do so, there may be sacrifices to diversity and social learning that could hamper a student later on in life. What we do know is this: the pressure is mounting throughout the world to provide meaningful and affordable educational opportunities to everyone. Implementing school uniform policies is just one way to approach that need.

20 Disadvantages and Advantages of School Uniforms

There aren’t any clear records to show when the wearing of school uniforms really started. But this tradition has certainly been around for hundreds of years. In the United States, it was observed that more schools started to implement uniforms after President Bill Clinton pitched for the use of school uniforms in his 1996 State of the Union. The move was met with mixed reactions as some parties saw it as a nuisance and additional problem for students while others viewed it as the solution to improve the educational system and performance of schoolchildren in the United States. What do you think about school uniforms? This list of advantages and disadvantages might help you decide on your stand on the matter.

List of Advantages of School Uniforms

1. They create uniformity. There can be a better sense of unity because everyone will wear the same clothes and they have a single identity. Also, there will be less competition among children about who has the more expensive outfits or who looks better or is more fashionable.

2. They give a sense of belonging and pride. A uniform is an indicator of what school you belong to. This is especially beneficial for students who study in schools that are well known or are considered to be a top school in the locality. You can proudly wear your uniform and ‘show’ other people that you attend a good school.

3. They promote school spirit. When everyone is dressed the same and feels proud to be a part of their school, it boosts morale. The student body has a greater sense of togetherness and pride, boosting school spirit.

4. They allow parents to save on time and money spent on shopping for school clothes. Usually, school uniforms can be worn for a whole year or two. This means there isn’t a need to spend for new clothes every semester and parents don’t have to deal with picky children who demand expensive brands or a certain style of clothing.

5. They help students spend less time and energy on choosing what to wear daily. Getting ready for school in the morning can be easier and faster. Plus, there is less stress in figuring out the whole night what to wear the next day or in trying to keep up with peers and fashion trends. Instead, kids can focus on doing their homework or other beneficial recreational activities.

6. They take away social segregation. The way you dress usually dictates what sort of click you belong to, such as the goths, jocks, nerds, and so on. If everyone is dressed the same, it can take away the need to put a label on each person and the tendency to just stick with your ‘crowd.’

7. They provide a safer school environment. Since all students are dressed in uniforms, it can be easier to pinpoint who is not supposed to be in there. This also prevents students from showing their gang affiliations by wearing certain colors or articles of clothing.

8. They encourage students to express themselves in other ways. Because kids can’t show their individuality through clothes, they will try to express themselves through other methods such as the arts, academics, sports, or extra-curricular school activities.

9. They take away the need to create so many policies related to dress codes. Most schools that don’t have uniforms have a dress code. But figuring out what rules to include can be taxing because they need to identify what materials, lengths and types of skirts are okay, what sort of footwear are inappropriate, and so on. With uniforms, setting an acceptable standard is easier since there is just one type of outfit to base the policies on.

10. They prevent bullying. The way children dress is one of the most common reasons for bullying. Kids who dress differently or who can’t afford branded clothes are made fun of and discriminated. School uniforms can help stop this issue.

List of Disadvantages of School Uniforms

1. They take away individuality and freedom of expression. Learning how to express yourself is a right that most parents want their children to learn from a young age. By not allowing kids to show their individuality through the way they dress, they may feel oppressed and discouraged to develop their own personality.

2. They can be an additional cost. If children go to school 5 or 6 days a week, they needs at least 2-3 sets of uniforms.

3. They can cause additional stress to students and parents. In relation to the point above, if the family can’t afford several sets of uniforms, they may have to wash the uniforms when the kids get home. This can be tiresome and takes away time that could have been spent on schoolwork or rest.

4. They can cause discomfort. Some kids may have allergies or feel uncomfortable due to tightness and rigidness. This can affect their mood and learning throughout the whole day.

5. They promote an intolerance of cultures. Most uniforms are not designed according to the cultural dress of a population or they represent only one culture. Also, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender students may become confused if they should wear a uniform that represents their inner sexual orientation or their external gender.

6. They cause resentment among students. As children start to develop their own opinions, they won’t like being forced to do something they don’t want to. So requiring students to wear uniforms against their will can breed resentment towards the school, faculty, and even their parents.

7. They could cause outside bullying. School pride and rivalry is something that some students take very seriously in a negative way. They can taunt or bully kids belonging to a rival school who they can easily identify through the uniforms.

8. They undermine free education. Unless the school or government will sponsor the cost of uniforms, it will be the students’ families who need to shoulder the expense. And this contradicts the idea of free education since public schools are supposed to provide education at no cost to parents.

9. They become a band aid solution to bigger problems. Poor academic performance, school violence, and decreasing attendance are some of the major issues schools face today. Opposing proponents question if school uniforms are really the answer to solving these problems.

10. They can hinder a child’s decision making skills. Since you do not allow students to choose what they can wear, you are taking away their right to make a choice for themselves. This can disrupt the development of their ability to form their own opinions or make choices, and interfere with their transition into adulthood.

Question and Answer forum for K12 Students

School Uniforms Essay | Short and Long Essays, Importance and Benefits of School Uniforms

School Uniforms Essay: School uniforms should be utilized in educational systems. Uniforms are both as useful for schools just as for the pupils. Wearing outfits will help construct a feeling of solidarity inside the school. Rather than everybody as a different group, everybody will be in a similar group. Wearing regalia will help free pupils of the pressure of what to wear in the first part of the day. Wearing school outfits will help improve understudy distinction and improve their confidence. To start with, wearing coordinating outfits can cause pupils to feel equivalent. Helpless pupils would at this point don’t feel rejected on the grounds that they are not wearing name-brand garments like the more extravagant children.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

What is a School Uniform?

In straightforward words, we comprehend that the Uniform or material which is recommended by the school for pupils to wear in school is called school uniform. Generally in all schools uniform is mandatory.The Uniform gives balance and comparability between the pupils, everything being equal. These days, all schools keep the principles of wearing a normalized uniform for all pupils.

How to Write a School Uniform Essay?

To write an essay students should know the proper format. Also, they should be well aware of the topic on which they have to write the essay. Writing an essay on school uniforms requires the knowledge of the merits and demerits of wearing a school uniform. Students should list down the advantages of uniforms in schools.

Remember these points while writing the essay on school uniform:

• Give introduction on school uniform in the first paragraph
• Explain the advantages and disadvantages of wearing a school uniform
• Explain how wearing a uniform brings changes in students
• Conclude the essay in the last paragraph

Short Essay on School Uniform 150 Words in English

School uniforms are the solitary most apparent fundamental components of any school. We can distinguish the understudy by assessing their regalia.

It is said that, in the sixteenth century, Christ’s Hospital School originally utilized the school uniform. There has been a discussion everywhere in the world on whether the subject of school uniforms is positive or negative. Common liberties activists say that school uniforms are removing their opportunity of wearing anything. In guard, the School Committee says they give a school uniform to instruct them in order and solidarity.

School uniforms can build the pay of a custom-fitted local area. And furthermore, a business organization can bring in cash by creating school regalia. School uniforms are a conventional clothing standard including a shirt and full gasp for young men and pullovers and creased skirts for young ladies. School dress can lessen fabric harassment.

Yet in addition, these days youngsters are more cognizant about their design sense and sexual direction, so they don’t prefer to wear a similar unisex clothing standard. However, after every one of those contentions and dubious speculations, we can say, school regalia are as a matter of fact pride for an understudy.

Long Essay on School Uniform 650 Words

Schools are instructive establishments where kids go not exclusively to learn course readings however to develop as a general person. Schools likewise have the assignment of showing youngsters the desire for garments and mention to them what is proper for what event. School outfits are a basic type of garments for pupils during their visit at school during school hours, and outside during true school exercises. A school uniform is normal in a large portion of the schools. They have direct requests to wear the school uniform as a matter of course.

The necessity of School Uniform

Initially, school is where we all progress at an extremely youthful age. In a single word, life starts at school. It’s schooling, as well as school, gives us the stage to sustain our confidence, feelings in the beginning phase of life. The significance of making companions, functioning as a group we get familiar with every one of these in school. What’s more, wearing a similar dress unquestionably brings a feeling of solidarity among pupils. In each school, there are pupils from various foundations yet with the school uniform everybody becomes one-the lone character rules at that point is every one of them is the delegate of a similar school. This is an incredible inclination of harmony. This likewise assists kids with defeating the inadequacy (or predominance) complex which here and their kids have due to the climate they have been raised in. School outfits streak out a large portion of the drops of social contentions.

As school makes our crucial nuts and bolts of the future it is critical to cause one to feel as a piece of the school. A youngster with a specific school uniform constantly feels that he has a place with the school. It makes the youngster more cognizant about his distinction which thus helps to build fearlessness. A kid would be more thoughtful to his kindred cohort who has a similar uniform as his. As referenced before there would be consistently a blended group in each school. Some of them are rich, some have a place with the upper working class and some lower than that-this distinction remains all over, aside from those 8 hours in school due to the school uniform. The supposed status cognizance doesn’t exist with this.

Benefits of School Uniform

Another admirable sentiment comes up while examining the benefits of school uniform is younger students go through two most significant progress times of life in school-they burn through 12 long a long time in school-from adolescence to teen, from adolescent to youth-the school observer the progressions ( both physical and mental) happen inside one. During these changes, somebody barely thinks often about the world. That time there is a propensity among us all to disrupt the norm which should be managed cautiously and strategically.

Now wearing school regalia assumes a quiet yet urgent part in our lives. It ingrains a profound established feeling of control in the psyche mind. Subsequently, typically even the riskiest formally dressed understudy wonders whether or not to do any underhandedness outside the school as the moment suspected plays to him that he will let down his school with his activity. School uniform assists an understudy with focusing on his necessities-where school and scholastics start things out.

Even after some elegantly composed diagrams of papers on school uniforms, the contention on whether a school uniform abuses the pupils’ privilege of articulation will stay a ceaseless conversation. Be that as it may, truly, wearing of regalia should all rely upon the conditions and the picture a given school is attempting to depict. In any case, the significance of school uniforms appears to win the day today even as I compose this end and surprisingly after so many school uniform articles have been composed. On the last note, we should attempt to discover perpetual methods of tackling the developing issues looked at by pupils. We ought not to depend on school regalia to swipe the issues away from view, this does the pupils nothing but bad.

Importance of School Uniform

The uniform is a necessary piece of our life. The dress is a character of somebody. Through the dress, we become acquainted with which school the understudy is. The educator has a crucial part in picking a dress. He chooses the school uniform by taking a gander at all the classes. Uniform symbols, alongside schooling, order, and decorum help in altering the state and course of society.

Wearing legitimate clothing expands our trust in the public arena since it positively affects our work and thinking. These days, our local area has gotten a matter of rivalry for our kids. It appears to be that their dress is influencing them every day.

The wearing of our kids has additionally become an essential factor somewhat for the criminal occurrences occurring in the public eye. In an understudy’s life, the educator and parent are the types of God. School dress is viewed as a recipe for equity.

Advantages of School Uniform

• School uniforms are a need in many schools to achieve consistency in pupils.
• School uniform binds together all pupils, paying little heed to their social, strict, and monetary foundation.
• It imparts a feeling of having a place in the pupils.
• It assists with restraining pupils and keeps everything under control since they are not occupied by their special garments.
• pupils don’t have to object about what to wear each day in the event that they have school regalia.
• It is hard for low-pay families to purchase school regalia each spending year, and it might make a strain in their financial plan.
• School outfits force consistency and consequently make pupils a mass of anonymous kids and with no singularity.
• It is hard for pupils to check their friend’s monetary condition in the event that they are wearing school dresses.
• pupils can be not kidding about their examinations and figure out how to endeavor to be deserving of the custom.
• School dress can make pupils unoriginal.

FAQ’s on Schools Uniforms Essay

Question 1. What students should wear uniforms in school?

Answer: Uniforms are both as useful for schools just as for the pupils. Wearing uniforms will help fabricate a feeling of loneliness inside the school. To start with, wearing coordinating uniforms can cause pupils to feel equivalent. Helpless pupils would presently don’t feel barred in light of the fact that they are not wearing name-brand garments like the more extravagant children.

Question 2. How to write an essay on a school uniform?

Answer: Start with an introduction, discuss the debate going on school uniforms by students, write the cons and pros of school uniforms. Explains the advantages and changes that wearing a school uniform can bring in students. End the essay with a conclusion.

Question 3. What is good about school uniforms?

Answer: School uniforms have been demonstrated to raise test scores, support confidence, diminish savagery and wrongdoing, and make a feeling of freshly discovered pride in pupils. They assist youngsters with zeroing in on learning and homework, not on the thing every other person is wearing or whether they fit in. Outfits are not the answer for the entirety of the issues that adolescents, instructors, and schools face today, however, examination and insights propose that they might be a positive development.

Question 4. Should students wear school uniforms?

Answer: Yes, all students should wear school uniforms since it represents discipline and equality among students in school.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of School Uniform

Updated 18 August 2023

Subject Learning

Downloads 25

Category Education

Topic School Uniform

Globally, many schools have integrated school uniforms as part of their policies. However, making school uniform mandatory has elicited numerous antagonistic reactions. Some opponents argue that the uniforms undermine the student’s ability to express individuality and creativity thus adversely affecting their social development. However, this essay will advance the idea that school uniform should not be banned because it not only improve professionalism but also increases student’s safety.

School uniforms help improve professionalism by enhancing the image of learners. Professionalism is not only important for children as they grow up but also when they enter the corporate set up. In the corporate world, the image is essential in promoting one's brand and success (Balogun 14). This does not mean that offices require an employee to put on uniforms but to look neat and professional. The other important factor is that students who are uninformed tend to strictly adhere to policies and procedures as compared to casual kids.  In a survey conducted by Thomas McDaniel, the effects of uniforms on student include, reducing expulsions and suspensions and minimizing truancies and tardiness (McDaniel 160). Many psychologists agree with Thomas McDaniel findings and link school uniform to compliance and respect. Just the way the white lab coat is widely recognized as a symbol for the doctor and synonymous to empathy and carefulness, the school uniform readily identifies a learner to a particular institution and often reminds him/her to be obedient and respect colleagues.

Also, school uniforms are essential to increasing student’s safety. For instance, the costumes help to eliminate socioeconomic tensions that may affect students who are unable to afford latest trends (Choi 37). In an institution where learners come with a different manner of dressing, jewelry, and personal items, some may be tempted to steal. However, institutions that promote school uniform policies have lesser violence and theft-related personal effects. For instance, a study conducted in 2012 after a year of implementing uniform policies at Sparks School in Nevada show that the school experienced a 60% reduction in police log reports. There was also a substantial drop in student fights, gang activity, property damage and battery. Additionally, school staff could easily spot intruders and any other persons who do not belong to the institution and take appropriate action (NCES).

Although school uniform has many advantages, there are some disadvantages. For instance, the uniforms have a potential to undermine the student’s ability to express individuality and creativity because it prevents them from wearing what they want. Some scholars argue that school uniforms restrict the vital part of the social interaction that promotes communication though outer appearance (Hoofnagle). For fashion stars, wearing school uniforms will suppress not only their freedom but also the passion for personal expression. In most cases, the uniforms are made of dull colors with simple designs that they do not like (NCES). Since the uniforms are not as flattering as other garments, the students then become more conscious about their image. Due to diversity in cultures, it becomes hard for schools to decide which uniform design is suitable. Therefore a student will be forced to wear what he/she does not like, or that does not promote cultural creativity. However, students do not wear school uniforms during vacations.

Conclusions

Making school uniforms mandatory has elicited many reactions opposing reactions due to different perceptions, likes and cultural diversities. Although school uniform has a potential to undermine creativity, it helps teach professionalisms amongst students a tender age. Promoting decent behavior will be crucial in assisting them to succeed in their professional lives. Additionally, with the increasing insecurity, having school uniform is essential in helping school security organs to identify intruders and reduce theft of personal effects. During vacations, students have chances of putting on clothing’s that they prefer. Therefore, school uniforms should not be banned.

Works Cited

Balogun, Mustapha. " The Mediation of Corporate Website in Corporate Identity and Corporate Image Relationship." SSRN Electronic Journal, Vol. 4, no. 6

(2013): 3-14.

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19 Advantages and Disadvantages of School Uniforms

School uniforms are traditionally part of the parochial or private learning processes in the United States, but public schools are starting to adopt this practice in greater numbers as well. During the 2015-2016 school year, over 20% of schools required students to wear a uniform. That means in less than a decade, the desire to follow a strict dress code like this went from 1 in 8 U.S. public schools to 1 in 5.

Those who support the idea of having students wearing school uniforms every day say that it is a way for the community to encourage safer schools. Even if some of the advantages are never experienced, this one policy can set the stage for better grades, improved social contacts, and a willingness to go to school for teens and adolescents.

Critics of a school uniform policy say that the issue with this idea is that it can infringe about the right of a student to express themselves through fashion. Kids lose a sense of identity with this requirement, so there is no positive effect on their behavior or desire to pursue academic achievements. In some ways, it can even highlight the economic disparities that these policies so often try to hide.

Should students be required to wear a school uniform? Are there tangible benefits to consider with such a policy, or does it set up another power-and-control mechanism between kids and adults?

List of the Advantages of School Uniforms

1. School uniforms reduce the barriers that exist between students in the classroom. There are several different social and economic situations that exist in each community. A public school (and even some private ones) encounter students from all sectors of the community. By establishing a school uniform policy, it becomes possible to equalize the learning situation because there are fewer visual differences.

When school uniforms are not required, then it can be quite easy to spot the children who have either most or least amount of economic advantages in their community. This advantage makes it possible to reduce the visual stimuli that can encourage cliques to form, allowing for more social mixing along economic lines than might be possible others.

2. The presence of school uniforms can increase student focus. When there are fewer brands, flashy colors, or style choices available in the learning environment, then there the number of potential distractions decreases in the classroom. Children can focus more on their learning than the new shoes that their friends are bringing to school. There is a disciplined approach that comes with this advantage that can translate to how information is retained by the student.

Your mental energy is dedicated to the fun at recess time, the lessons learned in the classroom, and the personality similarities or differences that are part of a diverse community. That can translate into higher grades for some students. The test scores of elementary girls increases by three percentile points when uniforms are introduced to their learning environment.

3. it can be cheaper for parents to purchase school uniforms. According to information published by Speak Out the average cost for a school uniform is $104 in the United States. Exact uniforms can differ dramatically, with some schools expecting a jacket, while others prefer a specific shirt, slacks or dress, and a color that matches the expectations of the policy. That cost can be as high as $200 in some districts.

If you compare that expense to a general uniform of standardized clothing, you can save almost 50% on the final cost. It all depends on what clothes you prefer to purchase for your students and where you shop for your items. Most schools that require a uniform will also have a hand-me-down event were new outfits are available for free.

4. School uniforms can promote a sense of safety while on campus. There are many parts of the United States where the students may be involved directly or indirectly with gang activity in the neighborhood. Issuing uniforms can help to avoid confrontations in the classroom where there may be intentional or inadvertent declarations of affiliation that could increase violence. This advantage can extend outside of the classroom as well when students make their way to school or home because there are fewer issues with visual miscommunication that occur.

When you can have confidence in knowing that your clothing choices are not going to make you a target, then it becomes a lot easier to focus on the learning environment.

5. There are fewer school shootings when a uniform is a requirement. Research indicates that schools in the United States experience a 12% drop in firearm-related incidents when a uniform policy is in place. There are 15% fewer drug-related incidents with this advantage as well. Some schools have seen impressive gains in these areas as well. In just one year after an incident at the Sparks Middle School outside of Reno, NV, a uniform policy showed a 63% drop in police log reports with fewer issues with graffitiing, property damage, student fights and gang activities.

When Long Beach, CA, implemented a mandatory school uniform policy, in just two years, sex offenses dropped by 74%, robbery declined by 65%, and weapons possession incidents decreased by 52%.

6. School uniform policies are easier to enforce than a standard dress code. Although there are some costs to consider with the implementation of a school uniform policy, most school districts find that it is easier to spot violations with one in place than it is to enforce a standard dress code. Many administrators find that their time in discipline involves issues with what students wear more often than not.

When you have a school uniform policy in place, then you don’t need to worry about pants being too baggy, too long, or shorts being too short. There aren’t issues with the width of a tank top strap or components of underwear showing. Kids spend more time in the office because they aren’t fulfilling a standard dress code, which also creates barriers to the overall learning process.

7. It reduces the amount of time needed to get ready in the morning. 90% of school administrators say that one of the primary advantages of having school uniforms is that it eliminates the battle between kids and parents at home over what is an appropriate outfit to wear during the day. This advantage does allow students to know what their wardrobe will be during every day attending school. Some parents agree that it is helpful since you always know what clothes you’ll need to find for the next day.

If students come home from school and immediately change out of their uniform, then it can create a laundry burden for families – especially if there are several children in the household. Instead of washing 7 days of clothes, you’re effectively washing 12 days unless you can find ways to manage this situation.

8. School uniforms do not impact the right of free speech for students. Free speech does not relate to the regulations of clothing type or the length of a skirt. Fashion is not considered to be the purse speech in the United States that the Constitution guarantees. Although this advantage may go away if a school board implements the policy in retaliation to student conduct, there is a right to implement a mandatory policy if the desire is to improve safety, raise grades, or improve discipline. Students can still express their point of view, even if there is no opt-out provision, through other means than fashion.

9. Students who wear uniforms receive a better community perception. In a 1994 study that looked at how adults and educational professionals perceived students, the teens and adolescents who wore a school uniform were perceived to be more academically proficient than their counterparts who followed typical fashion rules. Even peers thought of each other as being “smarter” when they saw each other wearing the same clothing items. Because of this advantage, higher test scores become possible because there are fewer unintentional bias issues that can get in the way of learning.

10. Schools can allow for variations that still permit expression through fashion. Although strict school uniform policies can restrict the ways that student express themselves, it is more of a myth than a reality for most teens and adolescents that they cannot be fashionable with such a policy. Most districts allow accessories to be worn with a uniform, allowing kids to show off their personality in meaningful ways. Some schools permit different color variations of their uniform.

You can also use jewelry, buttons, nail polish, scarves, or satchels to improve the standard setup that a school district requires. According to research published by Andrea Dashiell, 54% of eighth graders said that they still felt like they could express themselves in important ways even though they were being asked to follow a school uniform policy.

List of the Disadvantages of School Uniforms

1. School uniforms are not always priced competitively with other dress code options. The school districts that see the most success in compliance with their parents are the ones that choose a specific shirt style, a color, and khaki pants because there is greater availability of these items. When a school requires parents to special-order items that may include a logo, embroidery, blazers, specific socks, and even dress shoes, it can be an expense that a family may be unable to afford.

The average cost of a school uniform might be a little over $100, but specialty requirements can push that cost above $600 per unit. Even if you only use three outfits instead of five, that could be $1,600 (you don’t need to purchase three pairs of shoes usually) that you’re out before the school year even starts.

2. The requirement to wear a school uniform limits self-expression opportunities. All kids, but especially teens, tend to have a better social experience outside of the home when they are able to express themselves through fashion. Requiring them to wear school uniforms can place a severe limitation on their ability to do so. Most kids express their emotions through what they wear, the art they pursue, and even their piercings or a haircut. It is a coping mechanism which helps them to manage the difficulties they face when going to school in the first place.

When a district removes one of the few areas where there are some elements of personal control, then it can create fewer learning opportunities for each person. The Supreme Court ruled in 1969 that students and teachers have the right to free speech while at school, while the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 1970 that compelled conformity to a conventional standard of appearance does not appear to be a justifiable component of educational processes.

3. Kids always know who is wealthy and who is not even with school uniforms. Even if all of the students dress in the same way each day by using the same brand of apparel for their school uniforms, everyone already knows that they belong to a specific social and economic class. Kids form cliques based on the information that obtain directly or hear from others anyway. The issues that teens face in public schools still exists in a private setting. It can even be an issue that leads to bullying in some situations since a poor socioeconomic status might be seen as a learning limitation or an opportunity to exclude.

Teens and adolescents who come from poverty will wear faded or torn uniforms instead of new ones. Some kids go to school in poorly-fitted items because their parents can’t afford something new. It only takes 8 weeks for the socioeconomic differences to show up after the school year starts.

4. There can be sexist elements of some student uniforms. It is not unusual for school uniforms to dictate that boys should wear slacks and girls should wear dresses. There can be an objection to these stipulations by some students and their parents, which can lead to conflicts with the school administration. Some women may resent being told by someone else, especially a white male, that they can only wear garments which are traditionally seen as being feminine. Boys fall into this category as well, especially if they come from a home culture that includes forging, Scottish, or Irish influences.

When a student is uncertain of their place on the gender spectrum, these school uniform policies can become exceptionally problematic. It limits their way of experimenting with different forms of personal presentation, which can stop their growth and development because their identity is limited to the items they’re required to wear.

5. It can lead to more student inspections and policing of the uniform policies. When a school decides that a uniform policy is what they want to implement with the student body, then the administrative staff attempt to enforce those rules by monitoring what the teens and adolescents choose to wear. There are consequences for violating the uniform requirements, which adds more attention to what a student chooses to wear instead of less. Kids will feel like they are under constant scrutiny.

That’s not to say that administrators should allow students to wear items that are offensive or revealing, but this disadvantage could have an adverse impact on the self-esteem of some kids or their attitude toward the school.

6. School uniforms can lead to missed educational opportunities. If a student gets sent home because they have a uniform violation, then they are missing a valuable learning lesson during the day. There are missed opportunities for teaching because of enforcement policies as well since teachers, staffers, and other administrators must use some of their time to police the student body to ensure everyone is in compliance. If parents must come to pick up their child because of a violation, it might cost them vacation or sick time – or even lost pay.

7. Some of the data that supports school uniforms may be flawed. When the information from Long Beach, CA, is quoted in statistics, there is a general failure to include all of the reforms that the district implemented to improve the learning environment. During the early 1990s, crime levels were at an all-time high across the country. Juvenile crime peaked in 1996 at 7,500 per 100,000 people, but it was in that range for the four years before that too.

The school implemented new security measures when they required students to wear uniforms. Over $1 million was spent to add alternative teaching strategies to the district curriculum. These additional strategies may have contributed as much, if not more, to the improvements that everyone saw.

8. School uniform policies tend to target minority population groups. School districts in the United States that have a 50% or higher minority student population (defined as non-Caucasian students) are four times more likely to implement a uniform policy compared to a facility which has a minority population that is in the 20% to 49% range. They are 24 times more likely than a school with minorities students in the 5% to 19% range to implement a uniform policy as well.

The reality of the U.S. public education system is that most of the districts or schools that implement uniform policies are in the poor neighborhoods. This disadvantage only further emphasizes the class distinctions that many want to eliminate. About 47% of high-poverty public schools require uniforms, but only 6% of low-poverty ones have a similar policy.

9. Students hate them. Adults are in a position to make decisions for children because they typically have more experience and wisdom to offer to the situation. The problem with school uniforms is that most kids hate them, the parents aren’t usually big fans of them, and no one from the district listens to their protests, complaints, or observations. A study from the University of Nevada-Reno found that 90% of middle school students in public schools did not like wearing uniforms. 825 of current students at a high school in South Bend, IN, oppose wearing them too – and the school has seen a 43% decline in enrollment since implementing their policy.

Verdict on the Pros and Cons of School Uniforms

If your back-to-school shopping errands involve school uniforms, then these key points will seem familiar. There are families who support this concept just as strongly as there are ones that fight against it. With dress code policies adopting this option more often across the United States, the time is now to begin figuring out where you might stand on this subject.

It may be helpful to know what you’re going to wear every day when at school, but it can also act as a preventative device against self-expression.

The advantages and disadvantages of school uniforms might deter crime or increase safety, but they can also promote conformity over individuality, which is a critical attribute to gang recruitment. It may offer a playing field that appears to be more level, but the outcomes can be very different once a student walks through the doors of their learning institution.

Home Essay Examples Education School Uniform

Benefits Of Wearing A School Uniform

• Category Education
• Subcategory School
• Topic School Uniform

The debate on whether students should or shouldn’t wear uniforms has been continuous since time immemorial. Some believe that students who wear uniforms are more disciplined than those who do not. In addition, uniforms supposedly bring unity and equality to students. Nonetheless, many think it is an unnecessary cost and too expensive for many families. By exploring the pros and cons there is a great amount of evidence that it is a highly debated topic.

There are many benefits to students wearing uniforms. Mandatory uniforms were made in the belief that they would help students be more productive in school. “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 school work.” (Association of Secondary Principals). Many believe that if schools enforce uniforms it will help students be more focused on learning. Uniforms are proven to take away social hierarchy and stop kids from worrying about what to wear. There is no wardrobe competition among students after getting uniforms. Also, once you buy school uniforms they don’t normally change so you don’t have to buy a new one every year and you can pass them down. Uniforms take away from students showing off how much money their family has and what privileges others might not have.

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School uniforms help with school culture and they make for a better school environment. Students don’t face peer pressure when they wear them because they don’t have to worry about the latest trends. School uniforms keep students from standing out among a crowd. They also prevent kids from being bullied. In Long Beach, CA, after two years of a district-wide K-8 mandatory uniform policy, reports the crime to go down up to 70%. “According to the Department of Education, schools that had uniform policies experienced reductions in fights, substance abuse, and weapons in school.”(…) When students wear the same thing they can focus on themselves and not what other people think of them. This opens up other things they can focus on. Like school, sports, clubs, and homework. Wearing uniforms can reduce gang-related violence in schools. By taking away the option of what a student wears eliminates gang members wearing their colors and other clothing that helps gangs identify themselves. School uniforms take away from students having to worry about what to wear in the morning. Taking away students’ right to choose what to wear isn’t always a bad thing. Having uniforms, schools wouldn’t have to worry about people breaking the dress code rules and it stops students from wearing offensive clothing.

There is no conclusive data to show that school uniforms solve any of the problems they were created to solve. (Foster) There is no proof showing that school uniforms improve any of the issues that they are claimed to fix. There is no actual evidence, many are just principles and teachers’ opinions. Uniforms are simply a band-aid on school issues. What people wear is not only a fashion sense but a statement of unique individuality. (Foster) Clothing choices are said to be a crucial form of self-expression. Allowing students to choose their own clothing is sending a message that the students are mature and entitled to basic self-determination. “The first amendment of the US Constitution guarantees that all individuals have the right to express themselves freely.”(Top Pro & Con) The First Amendment to the Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”(The US Constitution) If schools demand students to wear uniforms they are taking away their freedom of expression. Clothing is also a popular way of expressing support for various social causes and awareness, wearing uniforms remove that option. Students at Friendly High School in Prince George’s County, MD, were not allowed to wear pink shirts to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As a result,75 students received in-school suspensions for breaking the school’s strict uniform restrictions. A person’s freedom of expression and speech allows them to show the world who they are and voice their opinion.

Some uniforms can be considered sexist. For example, girls may have to wear skirts and many may not be comfortable with that. This can lead to many parents being upset and disagreeing with the uniform policy and could lead to conflict with the school’s administration. When students have to wear the same outfits many can feel embarrassed by wearing them because the clothes might not suit their body type. Everyone’s different and everyone has different body types when schools make different people wear the same clothes some may stand out. And that makes them self-conscious and can lead to the students having social anxiety. People should be allowed to wear clothes that make them feel confident and show who they are as an individual. “No one would suggest that schools, tell students what they can eat or how much sleep they must get, but both of these factors have proven to greatly affect student performance. In the end, parents are responsible for what students eat and how much sleep they get. As students grow older, parents try to teach their children to make wise choices.” (Foster) Almost all students in High School don’t even eat lunch and stay up as late as they please. Not getting enough sleep affects how someone acts and how other people act towards them. In most cases, chain reactions happen. For example, when someone is in a bad mood and acts rude to another person it gives off negative effects on whoever they talk to. That causes that person to now be in a negative mood too. Then this causes it to continue and in the end, almost everyone is in a bad mood.

In conclusion, there are many advantages and disadvantages to school uniforms. Having uniforms gets rid of social classes. The biggest advantage is that parents wouldn’t have to spend as much on school clothes each year. The argument on whether a student uniform violates the student’s right of expression will remain a never-ending discussion. Wearing uniforms all depends on circumstances and what image the school is trying to portray. Based on all the evidence provided it is clear that school uniforms are not the solution to solve schools’ issues. Instead, people should be looking for a better more permanent way to solve the growing issues faced by students. 

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Home / Essay Samples / Education / School Uniform / Debatable Issues In Education System: Advantages And Disadvantages Of Wearing School Uniform

Debatable Issues In Education System: Advantages And Disadvantages Of Wearing School Uniform

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