Uniforms, gateway or a straitjacket?
Do school uniforms really improve school systems or are they a way to control student’s individuality? School uniforms are becoming common in many school systems around the nation. There are many different feelings about uniforms from parents, students, and faculty. The debate about whether uniforms should or should not be worn in schools has been going on for years. The arguments for uniforms vary in different ways like that uniforms help students focus, help saves time, stops bullying, helps with trespassers, and overall at the end of the year can cost less. Just like the arguments for uniforms, there are many against them. One main argument against uniforms would be that it causes students to lose their individuality or it can cause segregation between boys and girls. This paper will argue against all the opposing views of uniforms, and explain why they are important and necessary to have in schools. That to improve our school systems we need uniforms to help prevent distractions. Uniforms have been apart of many cultures for years and it has shown to help students.
Uniforms have been worn by kids since 1552. Uniforms were worn by kids from England or from private schools, then public schools for centuries. The United States had kids wearing uniforms, but not many from public schools. “In 1996, the US Department of Education found that only 3% of public schools required uniforms” (Dressed 1). When the US Department of Education
In high school and middle school, however, most of the learning comes from inside the classroom. Adolescents often find out a lot about who they are in their school environments. “Ten states currently allow states to mandate school uniforms” (Boutelle, Marsha. "UNIFORMS: Are They a Good Fit?." Education Digest, vol. 73, no. 6, Feb. 2008, pp. 34-37. EBSCOhost). The advocates of school uniforms believe that they will reduce violence in schools and promote a better learning environment for students.
Lack of parents support is the most significant reason for schools failing to implement any sort of school uniform code. Parents, teachers, and students should support the need for school uniforms in public schools so that they may be able to achieve higher educational goals. This paper will discuss many of the pros to the debate on uniforms in public schools as well as touch on some of the cons on the subject. After weighing the two sides, it will demonstrate how the pros are a more sensible alternative and why schools should require mandatory uniforms for their students.
Most commonly found in private schools, school uniforms are slowly being adopted by public schools in the US. In the 2003-2004 school year every one in eight schools required uniforms; in the 2011-2012 school year that number had increased to every one in five schools (ProCon.org). As violence increased, schools started enforcing uniforms thinking that it would solve the violence. School uniforms were created in England in the 16th century for students referred to as the “charity children” (ProCon.org). In later centuries, high-class schools were the most commonly known for requiring their students to wear uniforms. The first recorded time a public school in the US required uniforms was in 1987, a school in Maryland put out an optional uniform policy (ProCon.org). Uniforms have been being enforced by private schools for years, but now public schools are trying to enforce them. Students should not be required to wear uniforms because it refuses students the ability to express themselves, dress codes are more effective, and uniforms can cause a detrimental effect on self-image.
For quite some time now there has been an ongoing discussion about students wearing school uniforms in public schools. Is students in the public-school system play a major role on them academically? Is making the students wear uniforms unfair or does it show equality? What image does it set for the schools that do have a uniform policy? Over the last few decades, the schools, parents, and students have had a debatable issue over the uniform matter.
The idea of uniforms being required for public school students has been a widely controversial topic in the recent past. In the 2003-2004 school year, only one in eight public schools required students to wear uniforms (ProConorg Headlines). In the 2013-2014 school year, one in five public schools required students to wear uniforms (ProConorg Headlines). This essay will discuss the reasons that uniforms restrict the individuality of students, burdens families that cannot afford two sets of clothes for each of their children (Farrell), and serve little to none purpose in benefitting the education of students. Uniforms are meant for the workforce, not school children.
School uniforms and dress codes are becoming a popular trend among schools. Most Students and some parents don’t agree with the enforcement with school uniforms, saying that uniforms are taking away self-expression in schools. But, school uniforms are not a negative thing to have. Yes, uniforms and some very strict dress codes limit what the students have to choose to wear to school every day, but it doesn’t limit them from learning which is the main reason they are in school. Some students treat school as a fashion show, so eliminating the size of wardrobe shifts the attention toward their school work. Although requiring students to wear school uniforms may violate their self-expression in some ways, a uniform is supposed to be looked
The idea of American high school students being compelled to wear uniforms while attending school is very contentious. The role of uniforms in the lives of a student is a very difficult topic to approach. The school authorities have been at an impasse when the decision whether students should wear uniforms is brought up. Uniforms for high school students are purposefully designed to identify a child as a student to a particular school. A single unique design of garments will play the part of the uniforms. The fact of the matter is uniforms are quite debatable when it comes to assessing its importance for high school students. The idea may be quite unpopular in some quarters especially on the part of the students. The subject needs to be addressed as soon as possible to ascertain the implications of implementing such an ambitious plan.School uniforms are exceedingly beneficial for American high school students.
What’s the whole point of school uniforms? Do we really need to spend billions of dollars on them? Let’s express our style with the clothes and the colors we wear by getting rid of school uniforms! School uniforms make the school plain and we need to express our own style, make it colorful! School uniforms don’t change the way people act, and you can still bully others. Proponents say that school uniforms are an advantage on how to judge an intruder, but opponents say that school uniforms are a disadvantage on how to express your style. We should get rid of these uniforms.
The debate over school uniforms has been ongoing for years throughout the United States. Those advocating for school uniforms believe that one’s individuality is not determined by the style of clothes a student wears and that uniforms will build a sense of community. They also believe that students will care more for their education if they are dressed as if they are heading off to work instead of off to play. The opposition for school uniforms feels that uniforms squelch the students’ individuality and therefore violate their first amendment right. It is also believed by the opposition that uniforms will not stop the students from
It is a belief that school uniforms teach students to respect their learning environment and behave themselves, and, therefore improving discipline. However, that assumption isn’t entirely correct. Researchers have actually found that school uniforms don’t make students better behaved. According to a study of more than 4,500 students, those who wore a school uniform did not have fewer behavior problems or better attendance. Forcing students to wear uniforms lead to more problems and misbehavior instead of encouraging discipline. Students could get into trouble if they did not wear their uniforms correctly. Many kids in today’s society cannot stand the thought of someone telling them what to do, especially what to wear. Instead of encouraging respect, uniforms may cause rebellions. For example, in 2009, a group of students at John A. Ferguson Senior High School rebelled against their school uniforms. Instead of following their school uniform requirements, the students wore what they thought would be a better school uniform to school. Not only uniforms don’t earn schools the respect from its students, but it may also lead to more problems.
When students wear uniforms, students do not improve in any way. Student’s academic scores do not go higher when they wear a uniform. Researcher Virginia Draa found that “implementing a uniform policy in schools did not have any impact on academic performance”. If schools are hoping for their student’s academic scores to go higher by implementing uniforms, they would be better off without uniforms. Wearing uniforms don’t help a student’s attitude. A 2010 study in a large urban school district in the Southwest found that asking students to wear uniforms did not result in any change in the number of suspensions for elementary school students. Student’s behavior won’t change, if schools wanted to implement uniform. Uniforms don’t have any positive impact on students,
A. Thesis Statement- Wearing school uniforms in public schools has numberless amounts of positive benefits both at school and at home.
Today in the US, only 19% of schools are reported to have school uniforms. A decade before that, it was 12%. The amount is increasing, but the problem is the popularity of the move is decreasing. School uniforms hinder students and parent more than they actually help.
School Uniforms are being pushed more and more in schools, but what is commonly thought of when the words “school uniform” is said? For most people the picture of children in the same colored uniforms gathered in front of a Catholic Church or a private school is displayed in their mind. This picture is one of the many problems with school uniforms. Instead of being seen as an individual, students are seen as just another kid in a uniform attending a fancy private school. The students cannot develop the self-expression that is crucial to their development at this age. Uniforms are thought to create a more protected campus and learning environment, however, if someone wants to bully someone else, clothes are not going to stop them. The cost, which is usually seen as a pro, can actually be more than people anticipate. As one can see, in the best interest of any student, school uniforms should not be made part of the dress code.
It all started in England. In 1222, the first uniform ever was recorded. It was similar to a robe and was called a “cappa clausa”. However, modern school uniforms began in the 1500’s when a boarding school in England required a blue cloak and yellow stockings. More schools picked up the trend until private and preparatory schools were practically known for them. Today, most of England’s elementary and secondary schools wear uniforms to unite the children regardless of their financial situation. The controversy with school uniforms is mainly in the US, however, and began in Washington DC and Maryland. The schools gave the option to wear school uniforms and noticed a decrease in behavioral issues, so more schools switched over. In1994, a California school district released the first statistical information on the benefits of school uniforms (Meleen). That is where the debate starts today. Many people disagree about whether or not uniforms are good for children’s development and if a notable impact can be seen by schools who make the switch. People also think that because public schools are funded by the government and there were no laws on uniforms that they should not be legal.