The Pros and cons of School Uniforms
According to the U.S. Department of Education, in 2007–08, about 18 percent of public school principals reported that their school required students to wear uniforms, also during this time approximately 55 percent of public school principals reported that their school enforced a strict dress code. There is a big debate of having school uniforms throughout the public school system. School uniforms would help the students focus on learning, keeping the violence rate down, and the looks of a uniform is much more classy.
Students would be able to focus more on their education if school uniforms were issued. There is a lot of pressure on kids to have clothes that are “in style” and popular. Most of the time these types of clothes are expensive name brands. This often distracts students, thus they worry more about what they are going to wear the next day instead of their homework. Some students cannot afford these expensive clothes while others can, thus leaving an apparent gap between the less fortunate and the well off, often creating an insecurity among teenagers. Clothing also results in cliques, which are small group of people that share the same likes within the school. School uniforms stress that individuality and self-expression are not determined by designer clothing or the latest fashion fad. Cliques and expensive clothing leads to students getting bullied or teased.
The Essay on School Uniforms Students Clothing Schools
Argumentation/Persuasion research School Uniforms Media stories about a nationwide school epidemic, in which assaults on teachers are frequent and students are routinely killed over designer clothing, have been constant over the past few years. These reports have placed pressure on schools and politicians to act quickly, before the situation gets out of control. In these post-Columbine days, ...
Uniforms would eliminate most of the teasing and inferiority that goes on with in the school. Everyone would be wearing identical outfits, but in various colors. Due to many students getting mocked or teased for not wearing the trendy clothes, this factor of long standing negativity within the school system could be eliminated. When being teased about their clothing it lowers the student’s self-esteem, which can lead to worse violence, which we have unfortunately seen in our culture first hand. “School kids are usually ridiculed if they aren’t wearing the right brand of peer-approved clothes. In some cases, this rejection can lead to aggressive evil acts or suicide,” notes family therapist Carleton Kendrick of familyeducation.com.
School uniforms add a professional air to the school environment, which results in better morale. “The looks of uniforms are very classy and appropriate,” says Mrs. Roberts a Washington County High School Teacher. Students come to school looking as if they are going to a club and have clothing that are very revealing. With uniforms the teachers and community would not have to worry about seeing such inappropriate and revealing outfits. When the community comes into the school they will notice how respectable the students look. Uniforms will also teach the students how to look tailored for their future with jobs and ventures.
In conclusion Schools would benefit from having school uniforms. They would bring the students together as one and have school pride, help them focus on learning and not who is wearing what, and make the them have the appearance of respectable young adults. People try and bash school uniforms by arguing that “uniforms stifle a student’s need for self expression and that you cannot be and individual when they all dress alike.” That is not true because students can still act as their own person. There also are other was to express yourself for example; jewelry, hand bags, hair styles, make-up, artistically, and letting your personality shine instead of your outfit.
Works Cited
Chen, Grace. “Public School Uniforms: The Pros and Cons for Your Child”. ACLU. June 28, 2010 .
Adopting a School Uniform Policy
The primary focus of this district is the education of our students. However, it would be irresponsible to overlook the fact that school also plays a crucial role in the social and emotional development of our district’s children. Because of this, any decisions that directly affect the students must be examined very carefully. The issue at had is that of school uniforms. Would our students benefit ...
“School Uniforms.” Personal interview. 21 June 2010.
Sevensen, Ann. “School Uniforms: Pros and Cons.” Parenting Advice, Activities for Children, Family Games & Recipes – FamilyEducation.com. Web. 30 June 2010. .
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2009).
Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2009 (NCES 2010-012), Table 20.1.