Education Policies: The Pros And Cons Of School Uniforms

Table of Contents

Benefits of wearing uniform

Limitation on gang impact

Reducing peer pressure

Clothing costs are reduced

Academic performance increases

Self-esteem in children can be increased

Uniforms have their disadvantages

First Amendment Rights Infringed

It does not prevent violence or gang activity

Students will still be divided into social classes

The cost of school uniforms is a major concern

Students’ lives invaded

In summary

The topic of school uniforms has been hotly debated for many years. Some believe that school uniforms can solve many issues related to education. However, others are strongly against them as they feel like it limits the students’ freedom of expression. In this essay we will examine both the advantages and disadvantages of school uniforms.

Uniforms encourage equality between students. The uniform is the same for rich and poor. The uniforms create equality for rich and low. It also shows that the uniform represents the entire school. Students who wear a uniform are more focused on their studies. So, the students focus more on their education than on clothes. This reduces the competition between students to wear fashionable clothes. They wear certain colors or symbols to distinguish themselves. Sometimes, pupils who aren’t gang-members can’t wear certain clothes or colors for fear of being mistaken. Reports indicate that gang-wearing sends out messages of intimidation to rival gangs. The study about gang activity within schools has yet to be proven. However, evidence suggests that dropouts are on the rise and that test scores for standardized tests have dropped. It is presumptuous of me to state that one causes the others, but it’s clear there’s some correlation.

Our schools are a priority for security. By introducing uniforms, students’ fears of attending schools with high gang populations could be reduced. The uniform policy would allow everyone to be dressed in the same way, reducing the difference between mobs and their activities. Learning could then continue in an environment that is more positive. Kilpatrick believes, if’repeated message’ does not work, then simply forcing pupils to conform is the best way to start a habit.

Peer pressure affects everyone, but it is more prevalent in adolescents. Human nature is responsible for this. In addition to other media elements in our society, the style, marketing and advertising industries add to peer pressure. Parents, as well parents, feel pressured to conform. The ‘casual’ clothing is pushed on pupils so that they can ‘fit’ in to their upper classes. Fashion is a way to gain acceptance and popularity amongst peers. The students can relieve some of the pressure they feel by claiming to have been bought dresses that are in style.

Parents have to purchase expensive clothes, which quickly go out-of-style, in order for their child to be liked or not feel stressed at school. Parents and students can use school wear to fight against societal stress. They can also focus on the importance of education instead of fashionable clothes. It means that pupils can sleep more in the morning, as they won’t spend hours deciding what to wear. If it means that the students will have more time to sleep in the morning, they will be able to concentrate more on their schoolwork. Uniforms instill a value that people are judged on their personalities and not just their looks.

Clothing costs are downParents used to spend a lot of money in August on school dresses. The International Mass Retail Association polled their members – such as Walmart and Kmart – to find out that parents and children are only buying school supplies in August, but dresses can be purchased later. They are curious to see what other people wear. Sellers stated that many young women buy dresses for the simple reason that they are needed. It may appear that schoolchildren are unable to understand the importance of education and not making style statements.

A uniform policy could help parents reduce their costs, or even eliminate them. Parents would save money by only buying a couple of uniforms each year and not trying to keep pace with the ever-changing fashion trends. IMRA’s recent survey of its customers found that 52% of the respondents wanted uniforms to be required for schoolchildren because they want to cut costs. Uniforms may be worn from year-to-year, or sold to new students. This is another way of saving money since you don’t need to buy new clothing every year. Those who are unable to afford uniforms or those with children will receive money from the school district, or the local professional landlords.

Increase in academic performanceInformation collected around the nation, concludes that the overall pupil performance is decreasing in the schools. In addition to the reduction in uniform test results, theoretical scores have also decreased. With a uniform school policy, pupils’ educational performance could improve. Students who attend schools that follow a uniform-policy are more visible and focus more on their education than their social preparations. Their academic results also increase. School districts and schools want to tell their children that they are focusing more on education and less on how to dress.

Increase the self-esteem of pupils. Students may feel inferior and be assumed to belong to a lower class if they wear hand-me downs or think they don’t have trendy clothes. This attitude can severely affect a person’s self respect and negatively impact their ability to contribute to culture in adulthood. Uniforms remove this bias because children are unable to differentiate between those who have and do not have.

New York City institutes are considering the idea of uniforms in primary school for the sole purpose of fostering self-worth. Rudy Crew believes that if students from kindergarten to third grade wear uniforms, they will be more self-respecting because of their academic performance rather than their wardrobe. This school believes that without high self-esteem, students will spend less time in class and thus their learning can suffer.

Disadvantages Of UniformThe idea of a uniform school policy may seem to have a positive purpose, namely protecting children and promoting an excellent education. However not all cultures agree. Schoolchildren, teachers, parents, and administrators are all opposed to a uniform school policy. This article will examine the reasons for some people’s disagreement with this policy.

Infringement First Amendment RightsA person’s right to freedom of expression is protected by law. But many school officers claim that uniform policies are in place for the purpose of ensuring students’ safety and health, not just to maintain compliance. Adults are concerned that uniforms prevent students from expressing their individuality.

The court of laws has determined that the school administration can control a child’s choice of clothes as an expression of their personality, even if they have extended First Modification defences to nonverbal communications. The court of law has a firm opinion that school administrators can control the choice of clothing for students as a means of individual appearance, even though they have extended First Modification defenses of political speech to nonverbal acts of communication.

Does not deter gang violence and violence. Many of the pupils that are involved in violent and gang activity come from a toxic environment. They may have experienced substance abuse or physical abuse. Mobs may use tattoos, scars, and other permanent markings to separate themselves from other mobs if uniforms are implemented. A uniform policy tries to ‘fix’ the children, but ignores social psychology evidence that how we behave and who are is influenced by our environment.

Some people think that schools need to work more closely together with law enforcement agencies in order for them to provide a safer school environment. School dress codes cannot eliminate mobs, violence or other social problems. Violence and gang activities will continue if these issues aren’t addressed. Law enforcement is needed to help schools regain control of their school from the destruction.

Opponents of a uniform policy claim that social classes will still exist among students. They believe this will happen even if uniforms are implemented. They will learn how to differentiate themselves based on academics, extracurricular activities and sports rather than the way that they dress. Teachers want pupils and parents to believe in a false notion of ‘oneness.’ In reality both students and society have their own social classes. Using uniforms to eliminate these classes will not work.

School uniforms are expensiveIt’s not unusual for people to have several children in the same school district. If a uniform policy were implemented, parents will be forced to buy new uniforms for their children, as they would not be able to use them on another child. This strategy would also eliminate the option of handing down clothes that multi-child families rely on to avoid the cost of purchasing new dresses every year.

Pupils’ lives are invadedParental privileges, duties and rights are violated if a uniform program is implemented because parents have no right to socialize and educate their children based on their own social class and values. The uniform policy limits the personality of pupils and also their individuality. Our schools would only have militaries if we removed all forms of appearance and made them compatible.

Uniforms are the latest tool to help students focus on their studies and not on the expensive clothes they wear. The administrators of many public schools feel that violence has gotten out of hand in their school and implementing uniform policies will allow them to regain control. They believe that, by implementing uniform policies, they can encourage pupils to work more and be proud of their school. Also, they believe that when students look good, they act differently. This can reduce violent behavior in schools. “Whether they’re in the first or eighth grades, all students are there to learn. Dresses divert teens from their goal.

This essay has examined the pros of and cons to school uniforms. People who support school uniforms often see them in a positive light, claiming that they can promote equality between students, lower clothing costs and increase academic performance. They also believe that uniforms reduce gung impact. Opponents of uniforms believe they violate First Amendment Rights and that these policies don’t address problems in the schools.