The requirement of school uniforms in our public schools is a big issue in our community. Among our teachers, parents, and students, everyone has a different opinion. School uniforms will help solve many issues inside and outside our school walls. For the students, uniforms will help eliminate the everyday worries of trying to fit in with other students, parents will not have to deal with the financial stress of buying fashionable and expensive clothes, and teachers will have a better advantage with providing a better learning environment with students more focus on their education, rather than what their wearing to school.
Trying to fit in is one issue that students deal with at school, and requirement of uniforms can eliminate that stress. With all the different fashion trends coming out every day, keeping up with them are stressful, but a student being picked on for not following in that fashion trend is even more stressful. Uniforms can help encourage students to accept each other for who they are, and not for what they are wearing. MPS Superintendent, Barbara Thompson, believes uniforms “will create unity among the school system,” and “create a level playing field for all students” (Johnson, 2010). Some people that are against the requirement of uniforms believe that they interfere with the students’ right to self- expression, but how can a student express themselves if they are being picked on about what they are wearing? We believe that without the interference of fashion, students will be more focused inside the classroom rather than being the next fashion queen or king. President Clinton, in 1996, said “if it means teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to r...
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References
Holyoke, C. (2010, July 28). 'Opt Out' policy added to MPS uniform code. Retrieved August 3, 2010, from
WSFA 12 News: http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=12881301
Johnson, M. (2010, February 6). MPS Superintendent Thompson suggests uniforms for all students.
Retrieved August 3, 2010, from WSFA 12 News:
http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=11946613
Weisburd, A., & Silverman, J. (2009, March 25). School Uniforms: Contributions and Consequences.
Retrieved August 3, 2010, from NY Teachers:
http://nyteachers.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/school-uniforms-contributions-and-
consequences-by-amy-weisburd-and-jackie-silverman/
Wilde, M. (n.d.). Do Uniforms Make Schools Better? Retrieved August 3, 2010, from GreatSchools:
http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/defining-your-ideal/school-
uniforms.gs?content=121&page=all
It is a great idea for schools to implement a policy on school uniforms because statistics show that students who wear uniforms make better grades. Additionally, male students are not distracted by what female students are (or aren't) wearing. Moreover, students feel a sense of fairness with one another as they are all wearing the same things. When students are at one with one another, their confidence soars, which leads to better academic performance. Student uniforms help reduce the amount of bullying, and students who would normally be bullied now have a much better disposition while at school.
The teenage years are a time when adolescents try out various personas, often trying out different styles of fashion. Adversaries argue that uniforms suppress an individual’s freedom of expression. However, the clothes that people wear, or can afford to wear, often classify the group by which they are acknowledged. As a result, many teens are outcast due to the fact that they cannot afford the latest trends in clothing. This rejection can lead to a number of problems for the outcast teen: depression, inability to focus on schoolwork, or just a general feeling of inferiority. School uniforms put everyone on the same level. According to Karin Polacheck (1995), “Uniforms help to create balanced diversity by alleviating racial and cultural tensions and encouraging values of tolerance and civility.” School Uniforms permit students to relate with one another without experiencing the socioeconomic barrier that non-uniform schools generate. More importantly, students are not criticized on how much they spent on clothes or how fashionable they look, but rather for their talents and their
Simpson, Susan. "School Policy Offers Uniform Clothing Choices." Daily Oklahoman, The (OK) 31 July 2008:Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 13 Jan. 2014
...of deciding whether or not there should be enforcement of a policy or taking part of the rules that are to be implemented could decrease the number of students that are against the policy. Now ask yourselves this, how American and just are these uniform policies?
High school is typically a time when kids begin to distinguish themselves from one another. Students begin to develop their own sense of personal style, desperately trying to both fit in and stand out simultaneously. Being self-conscious and often lacking the confidence needed to assert themselves, teens are forced to use clothing and outward appearance as the means to manifest this individuality. Thus, students should not be forced to wear uniforms to school. Standard uniforms are unproven deterrents to student violence; are a "Band-Aid" to cover up the real problems faced by children and teens; and they violate students' right of self-expression, depriving them of their search for identity.
In society today, school-age children are under tremendous pressure to fit in with their peers and still perform well academically. I believe that school uniforms in pre-K through high school levels is an excellent way to help children succeed not only in school, but to prepare them for college and the “real world.” Three reasons why I believe school uniforms should be used in all schools is first, they are economic, next, they reduce distractions and finally, they help with social equality.
For the past decade, schools, parents and students have clashed over the debate of dress code regulations. Although traditionally preferred by private or religious institutions, the abundant range of benefits that uniforms bestow upon Catholic schools have been observed, and public schools are encouraged to adopt this beneficial policy to improve their establishments and acquire these attributes. In regards to the immense peer pressure students face to stay on trend, teenagers have to deal with competition with their peers to buy the latest designer wear, which can result in low self-esteem or bullying. Moreover, uniforms are considered to be a normalizer throughout schools; specifically, with every student wearing the same uniform, the competition over clothing choices and the harassment of those who are
Uniforms in public schools are becoming more and more accepted around the world. “Over the last two decades, the debate over the implementation of school uniform policies in public schools has been a consistent presence in schools and districts around the United States.” (Sanchez, 345). Teachers, parents and school administrators feel the need for school uniforms as a positive way to increase school safety and increase academic performance. Even though school uniforms are not the most popular choice among students and parents, the positive impact school uniforms make on students and the school outweigh the negative opinions.
School uniforms are a topic that comes up quite often in the Henderson County School District. The benefits of school uniforms that I find to be the most important are that it will decrease the crime rate and bad behavior, improve attendance, and increase school pride and unity within the school. Uniforms are a great way to change how our students learn and put them in the best atmosphere possible to improve their chances of success through education. Enforcing school uniforms can seem to be an expense problem and a way that the students can’t express their self-expression, but do uniforms actually take the place of that? Education is important and students should be taught in the best way possible to succeed in their future, uniforms will bring out their individuality through other aspects.
At the beginning of the 20th century almost no parent or faculty had any concerns with how students dressed to attend school. Nowadays, though, this is a giant concern among students, parents, and school board officials. Many arguments have been made over the matter saying uniforms should be required and enforced in schools. But, uniforms should not be required as they ultimately eliminate freedom of expression, promote conformity over individuality, may have a detrimental effect on students self image, emphasize the socioeconomic divisions they are supposed to eliminate, and lastly, school uniforms in public schools undermine the promise of a free education by adding an extra expense for families.
"People will learn to evaluate themselves by what they are on the inside, instead of what they're wearing on the outside, then our public schools should be able to require students to wear school uniforms."
Mentioned in Pros and Cons of School Uniforms, “When children wear their own clothes into school, this then becomes a time for them to judge each other, so it prevents competition and teasing” (Pros and Cons of School Uniforms). When you have school uniforms you won’t be wearing different things so you will become more equal. If the students are equal, it then reduces judgement and bullying between the students and makes the school a better place. Another positive statement on how school uniforms are beneficial comes from, Pros and Cons of School Uniforms, “Many educators believe that students who wear school uniforms perform better academically in school, and a study done in 1988 by Notre Dame shows a slight statistical evaluation in student performances among students who wear uniforms” (LoveToKnow). School uniforms will remove the clothing distraction and increase the amount of time given to the academics. Some students take time in the morning to get ready for school, uniforms will allow that time for sleep and studies. According to Procon.org, “Parents can reduce their financial burden when their children are limited to wearing one outfit everyday” (ProConorg Headlines). You won’t feel the pressure to buy clothes that are in style, or expensive and trendy. Uniforms are easier to maintain. They tend to last longer and can be washed easier than other clothes. Wearing school uniforms create a community of higher educated students and equality to
Uniforms in public schools are becoming accepted throughout the world. The public school systems would benefit significantly if this policy were to be accepted. Wearing uniforms in public schools result in positive effects.
School Uniforms are a logical choice for the public school venue. Uniforms prevent students from a lower income background to be singled out for poorly made or cheap clothing, prevents use of gang colors, allows for certain safety measures, and allows teachers to form impressions of students based on actions and work rather than dress code choices.
All individuals struggle with discovering who they are and who they may want to be in the future. School environment, either negatively or positively, impacts the result of this greatly. Uniforms in the learning environment have become a highly debated subject all across the country. Although some individuals believe school uniforms have a positive affect, those people should understand the negatives because uniforms promote appearance over character, lower student’s self-esteem, and conflict with the right of expression.