Topic > Education Policies: The Pros and Cons of School Uniforms

IndexAdvantages of uniformLimiting the impact of gangsReduced peer pressureDecreased clothing costsIncreased academic performanceIncreased student self-esteemDisadvantages of uniformViolation of First Amendment rightsDoes not discourage violence and gang activitySocial classes among pupils will remain School uniforms are an economic burden Intrusion into pupils' lives Conclusions Works Cited School uniforms have been a highly debated topic for a long period of time. While some believe that introducing a school uniform policy can solve many problems related to school education, others strongly oppose such policies as they limit students' freedom of expression. So the purpose of this essay is to analyze the pros and cons of school uniforms. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayBenefits of UniformSchool uniforms promote equality among students. Both rich and poor wear the same uniform. Create equality between rich and poor. Furthermore, the school uniform shows the unique identity of the school. When a student wears a school uniform, he or she goes to school with a study mindset. Therefore, students pay more attention to studying rather than clothes. Competition among students related to wearing fashionable clothes decreases. Limiting the Impact of Gangs Crowds have become a growing fear in our universities. These groups generally wear a certain color or emblem to differentiate themselves from each other. Sometimes, students who are not members of the gang are not allowed to wear certain articles of clothing or colors because they do not want to be mistaken for gang members. “Reports say gang wearing conveys messages of threat, intimidation, fear and defiance to rival gangs.” The study on gang activity in schools has not yet been proven, but evidence shows that gang violence has increased, dropout rates have increased, and standardized test scores have decreased. It would be presumptuous to say that one causes the other, but it is logical to infer that such a correlation exists. Safety in our schools is a major concern. By introducing a school uniform policy, the fear pupils feel about attending a school populated by gangs could be reduced. Everyone would be dressed the same, so the distinction between mobs, along with mob activity, would be reduced. Therefore, the learning process could continue in a more positive atmosphere. Kilpatrick believes that if "repeated messages" don't work and then you simply force pupils to comply: "Sometimes coercion is necessary to acquire a habit." . This is a part of human nature that has limited control. Both the style and marketing industries, along with other parts of the media in our culture, increase the peer pressure we all experience. Not only do pupils feel pressure to conform, but so do parents. Pupils are pressured to wear 'casual' clothes so that they can 'fit' into the upper class. Making a fashion statement is the way to be accepted and appreciated by your peers. Pupils relieve some of this pressure by having their parents buy them the latest clothing trend. Parents find themselves in the situation of buying lavish clothes that quickly go out of fashion just to please their child and/or to avoid stressing them out at school. . School clothing offers parents and studentspupils an additional tool in the war against social stress and allows pupils to place less importance on fashionable clothes and more importance on a useful education. For pupils, this means more time to sleep in the morning because they wouldn't have to spend endless amounts of time deciding what to wear to school. If this means sleeping more, then students will be more attentive and concentrate on their studies. 'Uniforms also impose a valuable attitude on the part of people to be judged on their personality and not on their appearance.' Decreasing Clothing Costs In the past, parents spent large sums of money each August purchasing head-to-toe school clothes for their teenagers. Currently, "the International Mass Retail Association (IMRA) conducted a survey of its members - stores such as Walmart, Kmart and Burlington Coat Factory - and found that students/parents only purchase school supplies in August and purchase clothes later on the time or day around . They want to see what their friends are wearing. Sellers also said that young customers tend to buy clothes because they are essential and they need it to remember that the purpose of the school is education and not a statement of style. By introducing a uniform policy, the financial burden that parents face could be exhausted, if not eliminated of clothing because they would only need to buy a few uniforms for the year instead of trying to stay up to date with changing fashions." A recent census of IMRA customers found that 52% of respondents preferred government suggestions requiring uniforms. for school children because parents want to save money." Uniforms could be carried over from year to year, so progressing pupils could gift or sell their uniforms to new incoming pupils. This once again helps one's budget as one would not need to purchase new clothes every year. For those individuals and/or students who still could not afford uniforms, the school district itself or local professional owners would donate the money to provide families with the recommended or required uniforms. Increasing academic achievement Information gathered across the nation concludes that the overall achievement of pupils in schools is declining. Uniform test scores are dropping along with theory scores across the board. By having a school uniform policy, the emphasis could be placed on learning which could advance pupils' educational performance. 'Pupils who enter schools with a uniform policy appear more regularly and when they are at school they focus on their learning rather than their social preparation. As a result, their academic results also increase.' Focusing more on academics and considering that education is more important than how you dress is the message that schools are trying to convey and school districts are trying to communicate that message to their youth. Raising pupils' self-esteem Pupils can develop a low emotional state of regard and are often second-guessed by their upper class when they wear second-hand clothes or believe they do not have fashionable clothes. This attitude is very hard on one's self-respect and can have an overwhelming influence on how one contributes to the culture as an adult. “Uniforms eliminate this prejudice” because pupils are unable to distinguish between “haves” and “have-nots”. New York institutions are thinking aboutneed for uniforms for primary school children for the sole reason of developing self-esteem. “The head teacher, Rudy Crew, believes that if pupils in kindergarten through third grade wore uniforms, their self-respect would be based on academic performance rather than wardrobe.” This school system believes that without a high self-image, pupils would have the habit of not spending much time in school and therefore their learning could be difficult. Disadvantages of Uniform The impression of having a school uniform policy appears to serve satisfactory purposes: to defend pupils and provide a valued education, but not all societies believe this. There are many people in society, including schoolchildren, parents, teachers and school administrators, who have a divergent idea of ​​a school uniform policy. The following information will examine the reasons why some do not agree with such a promising policy. Violation of First Amendment Rights Freedom to express oneself through appearance is a legal right, although many school officials are trying to circumvent this right by claiming that the school uniform policy aims to control pupils for matters of suitability and safety, not for matters of compliance. Some adults are distressed that pupils are not able to show their personalities through their uniforms and believe that this diminishes pupils' uniqueness. The court ruled that schoolchildren's choice of clothing as a means of individual appearance can be controlled by the school. administrators even as they extended First Amendment defenses of political speech to acts of nonverbal communication. It is unclear, however, whether privacy and free speech guarantees apply to pupils' choice of clothing. It does not discourage violence and gang activity. Those who compete with school uniforms believe they will not deter violence or mass activity because these actions are not a consequence of the school atmosphere.' Many of the pupils who contribute to violent and gang activity come from an unhealthy environment containing aspects such as physical/substance abuse, maternal impact, lack of family values ​​and cultural traditions; these factors encourage pupils to participate in such violent acts. If a uniform policy were implemented, crowds would use other means to distinguish themselves from each other, such as permanent markings such as tattoos and scars. A uniform program "proceeds by trying to 'fix the kids,' and ignores accumulating evidence in the field of social psychology that shows that how we act and who we are mimics the conditions under which we discover ourselves." The intense activity in schools is such a burden, so the school should work more closely with law enforcement to ensure a safe environment. Schools alone cannot counteract the social issues at hand and exclude mobs and savagery, simply by enforcing a school dress code. If these issues are not adequately addressed, violence and gang activity will continue. Schools must resort to external assistance, such as law enforcement, to "reclaim" their schools from ongoing destruction. Social classes among pupils will remain. Opposes a school uniform policy, believes that pupils will continue to segregate by social class even with the implementation of school uniforms. They will wear accessories and learn to distinguish themselves through academic, sporting and extracurricular events, rather than by the way they dress. The idea of ​​creating a unity is the falsehood that educators want it to be, 77(5), 200-204.