Let’s Call A Vote On School Uniform
School uniform debate has not reached its end point. Partial students are enjoying school uniforms, but the others dislike the policy and feel they have no freedom. School uniforms have increased at public schools in the United States. Many public and private schools are choosing to wear uniforms. According to the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 25.4 percent of public primary schools, 19.5 percent of public middle schools, and 12 percent of public high schools required students to wear uniforms during the 2015–2016 academic year (Gale, 2018). Student’s opinions range from feeling uniforms are ugly and restrict freedom to feeling uniforms can eliminate clothing competition and create equality. School uniforms differ from school dress codes, which set rules about what cannot be worn but do not require a specific set of attire. According to researchers, the critics of both dress codes and school uniforms argue that such restrictions limit students’ freedom of expression. The School Uniform Policy serves as an improvement in a student’s life, but it restricts students’ freedom of expression and can be costly.
Proponents say that school uniforms make schools safer for students, create a “level playing field” that reduces socioeconomic disparities, and encourage children to focus on their studies rather than their clothes (ProCon, 2018). School uniforms keeps students focused on their education has repeatedly been mentioned. Students focus more on their studies and what is occurring in class than being less concerned about the clothing the students are wearing. Depending on the brands clothing can influence others and bring down their self-esteem. Also including, that the average absence rate of girls in middle and high school decreased seven percent after the introduction of uniforms. Proponents have argued that the uniform policy prevents students from forming gangs. The gangs can be created depending on the clothing worn or wearing clothing associated with established groups. School uniforms have helped decrease violence and theft. It has helped prevent students from concealing weapons under baggy clothing, making it easier to keep track of students on field trips and make intruders on campus more visible. Uniforms promote positive behavior and have allowed students to be part of the school spirit and to be proud of their school pride.
Opponents say school uniforms infringe upon students’ right to express their individuality, have no positive effect on behavior and academic achievement, and emphasize the socioeconomic disparities they are intended to disguise (ProCon 2018). School uniforms restrict student’s freedom has repeatedly been mentioned. Students love to experiment with their clothing and accessories and to have to wear uniforms now limits students to express themselves; it is restricting individuality. As Mayam, age nine points out, “sometimes clothes can show your opinion emotions and expression… and you should be happy your different.” What students mean by this, for instance, is if they one day feel sad and depressed they can express those feelings by the wrinkled and non-matching outfit, but if they feel happy because its Friday, they want to express they can wear a pretty dress to start off the weekend. Many opponents believe that school uniforms do not stop bullying and may increase violent attacks. Uniforms make bullies better to target students from the public, especially from other schools. Students feel as if they were simply a Band-Aid on the issue of school violence. They can suffer embarrassment at school from wearing the same outfits, rather than selected outfits that suit their body types.
Dress codes seem to be less strict than uniform policies. Dress codes requires students to wear solid colors and banned images or logos on clothes. Uniforms are when the genders wear the same thing repeatedly. For instance, one school might require white button-down shirts and ties for boys, pleated skirts for girls and blazer adorned with the school logo for all (Wilde 2018). “Retailer J.C. Penney Co. says school uniforms are “a huge, important business for us,” Maria Halkias mentions. Can it be possibly true that school uniforms are driven by commercial interest rather than educational ones? According to Joe Mathews, Americans spend around one billion dollars on school uniforms every year. This factors into the fact why students and parents say uniforms are expensive.
What is the most cost efficient? Parents having to buy school uniforms for their kids or having to purchase regular clothing? Some will say that school uniforms are not only less costly but less stressful for parents as they do not have to go out and find different types of clothing for their child. On the flip side, this may vary on if the school sells the uniforms themselves or if the parents can go out and buy the uniforms from a third party. A United States-based survey of 517 school leaders found that 94 percent of the 517 surveyed believe “one of the main benefits to parents is that school uniforms are most cost-effective than regular apparel.” Seventy-seven percent calculated that the average yearly cost of uniforms per student to be approximately $150 or less (Schoolwear News, 2015). When you think of the debate between uniforms or out of school clothing, it may come down to if the savings is worth having students wear uniforms or not.
This has been increasing since 2000 when the average of public schools with uniforms was approximately 12 percent. The debate of the cost-effectiveness of school uniforms can vary in so many ways that both proponents of school uniforms and those against can make arguing points. There are various things that could dictate which side would have the best argument. Such as, does the school provide any financial assistance for uniforms? Do they require uniforms to be bought through them? There is also the argument of the cost of the out of school clothing. Depending on the child’s style and the parents budget, the pricing per student could significantly vary. There are many factors to consider when debating school uniforms and the cost is one to consider strongly!
The debate on school uniforms is continuing; it has not met its breaking point. The School Uniform Policy serves as an improvement in a student’s life, but it restricts students’ freedom of expression and can be costly. There is a balance of statements and opinions of uniforms. Proponents think students focus on their education, not their clothes. It improves attendance and discipline by decreasing the amount of time captured to get an outfit together instead of using that time in their studies. The opponents are against uniforms. One of the main reasons why students disapprove of uniforms is because it does not allow them to express their freedom. It comes across as it contradicts the message of diversity; where it does not matter where you are from or what you wear, we are a mixture. Students wearing the uniform does not decrease bulling, in fact, students and faculty think it allows the bullies to target students easier. More like to differentiate between other people dressed in regular clothes. “Dress codes seems to be more of an issue to uphold a school policy rather than uniforms. it is easier for schools to control student dress with a wholesale approach, like uniforms, rather than dealing with individual situations or a list of apparel to be excluded in a dress code policy,” mentioned by Julie Underwood.
In my opinion, although there a great point for either sides opinion, I personally like the idea of uniforms. It is more cost effective, helps prevent bullying or students feeling different based on how they dress, and ultimately creates convenience for the student and parents. If it were up to me I would love to see more schools choose uniforms over the regular clothing!