Uniforms represent the idea that one is a part of an organization. When one wears a uniform to school, it suggests unity. The fact is that uniforms allow for the sense of belonging to a group. Some critics suggest that school uniforms will automatically improve the learning process as students will spend more time focusing on their lessons instead of becoming distracted by thinking of what to wear and when to wear it. In addition, students often become distracted by others and what they wear to school. In fact, a student who falls in the lower socio-economic strata of the society feels inferior to those who can afford nicer clothes and those who can wear different styles of clothes daily. With the introduction and implementation of uniform in the school setting, students are better able to sharpen their focus and perform at a higher academic level.
Most importantly, uniforms offer the solution to peer pressure. Students who wear uniforms do not have to worry about their peers applying pressure to the clothes they wear and when they wear these clothes. When all students wear the same outfits to school on a daily basis, no one has to worry about the overall physical picture that the public sees. Additionally, the competition to wear a different suit everyday is no longer there, as students do not have to worry about wearing the latest trend in clothes. As such, this eases the financial burden on the parents and students. In fact, prospective bullies will not have much work to do as they cannot tease anyone about the outfits that students wear. In the United States, most public school students do not wear uniforms. As a result, a number of students do not go to school because of the intimidation that comes with bullying. The fact is that uniforms offer a feeling of safety for many students and brings a sense of order in the school.
Wearing a uniform is less expensive than wearing regular clothes to school. One may argue that school uniforms are also expensive, but schools find ways the make the cost of uniforms cheaper. A number of schools use one particular supplier so that students and parents get their supplies at a cheaper rate. Nonetheless, this can prove to be a problem when individuals have to search to find uniforms that fit their sizes. Arguably, uniforms can change over time and this makes it difficult to source the exact shade that the schools require and the emblem. The fact is that when a parent changes the suppliers there is the problem of increased cost in purchasing uniforms for schools.
Michelle Kouzmine writes “the debate rages on in school and in homes,” (Kouzmine, par.1). But, why should students not wear uniforms? The debate is unwarranted as school uniforms provide one with a sense of uniformity. Additionally, Kouzmine postulates “educators and experts who are pro school uniforms believe that uniforms contribute positively to students' behavior,” (Kouzmine, par. 2). The fact is that students, who wear uniforms, feel more professional when they put on these uniforms, and as such they behave in a professional manner. Conversely, educators see that fashion and fashion trends distract students as fashion is the way of life of many individuals. When one turns to the average teen-aged movie on television, one sees that the typical teenager in these movies dwell on the need to overdress for school. Of course, the typical teenager will want to follow his or her role model and dress in the latest fashion trends for school. Who then has the right to stop these children from wanting to be like their role models? The fact is that when all students wear uniforms, there is less focus on fashion.
If there is no debates o what students wear to school, then parents find it easier to meet their financial needs. In addition, this leads to a decrease in the number of arguments that parents and children have about appropriate dressing. The fact is that many schools do not have any policies in place to regulate what students wear. Of course, this leads to a breakdown in values and attitudes as parents struggle to maintain this balance in the homes. On the other hand, some schools do have policies on what students wear to school even though there are no policies on a strict code of uniform. Students adhere to these policies, but they will not adhere to the policies of uniforms.
The issues of uniforms in public schools continue to be a problem for parents and children. Uniforms serve a number of purposes, but the main purpose is that uniforms serve the main purpose of identifying one group of individuals from another group. The question of wearing uniforms is rather controversial. Why should individuals wear uniforms and look like others when they can afford to look different from others. Arguably one can look at the situation and question what the purpose of a uniform is. The fact is that a uniform is a symbol that helps to distinguish one individual from another. Nonetheless uniforms serve as distinguishing tool for those who choose to wear it. While some people believe that school uniforms offer security to the wear.
In addition, a uniform acts as a distinguishing mark of a school and gives a sense of belonging. Individuals feel as though they belong to a specific organization when they wear uniforms. The fact is that uniforms are important to the public school setting as it distinguishes students from the wider society. In many cases, children play truant in public school. They cannot be detected on the roads because of the fact that they have no markings to distinguish them from the average citizen. Therefore they carry out criminal acts and no one is the wiser. In this case, the presence of the uniform would help law enforcers to find the suspected individuals.
With current economic problems in the country, children face the problem of finding new clothes to wear on a daily basis. The wealthier students will always have the advantage of finding new clothes regularly, but the poorer students will face ridicule. Even with the wealthier class affording new clothes for a daily basis wearing uniforms saves money. The uniform will also help to keep some form of rules in the school intact.
It will help to keep some form of unity among the students on special occasions because everyone will be dressed the same way, so no one will have to be offended by what they wear. Not only does it help the school and helps financially it also makes identifying the different schools easier. It shows a unique look differentiating their students from everyone else. Some students look mature as adults a uniform will help to put a stop the confusion as it may identify this particular individual as a student and not an adult. If dress is standardized the wealthier students would have no scope to outdo the poorer ones. This prevents the development of inferior and resentful feelings among the less fortunate because everyone will be dressed the same way. No one will have a higher class of clothing over another. There will not be any discrimination between the rich and the poor.
Sherry Bowen writes “opinions about uniforms and dress codes vary about as much as the reasons for having them,” (Bowen, par. 1). In fact, “parents seem to love them and students seem to tolerate them at best,” (Bowen, par. 1). Nonetheless, schools have taken on the challenge of encouraging students to wear uniforms despite the concerns that students have on the idea. Bowen cites Clinton’s speech as he reiterates "school uniforms are one step that may help break the cycle of violence, truancy and disorder by helping young students understand what really counts is what kind of people they are," (Clinton as cited by Bowen, par. 3). The fact is that wearing uniforms offer no threat to students as countries such as England have had students wearing uniforms over the decades and students display a strong sense of discipline.
Works Cited
Bowen, Sherry, (2014) “Should Kids Wear School Uniforms?” Web, Accessed December 4, 2014
