High Schools Should Require Uniforms

High Schools Should Require Students to Wear Uniforms to School
By Ashlea Fletcher

When some people think of high school students wearing uniforms, the words such as
“childish”, “inconvenience”, and “inappropriate” come to mind. However, students wearing uniforms can be considered to be a good idea if you take time out to think about the positive outcomes. If students were required to wear school uniforms it would improve social outcomes, better academic performance and it would save parents money.

The first reason, that schools should be required to wear uniforms is that it will improve the social outcomes in a school environment. Clothing and fashion is often the root of social conflict. Students are often ridiculed by other students because of the way they dress. Many student use clothing to express themselves and define themselves; this self expression and definition often leads to the formation of cliques in the school environment. Many students feel that they are judged according to what they wear by other students, as well as teachers and administrators. School uniforms remove these factors from the social environment within the school, thus relieving students from the pressure to fit in. By improving the social environment through mandatory standardized dress, both academic and behavioral outcomes improve.

Another reason I believe students should be required to wear uniforms is, they will perform better academically in school. Students are often so focused on their wardrobe that it distracts them from learning. I believe that a mandatory uniform policy will remove this distraction and improve student attention. Uniforms set a more serious tone within the school environment that is conductive to learning and can improve student performance. Many students are concerned about their appearance and spend a great deal of time planning and choosing their daily clothing. By making it mandatory that students wear uniforms they will have more time to sleep and study.

The last reason I believe that schools should require uniforms is that it would save parents or legal guardian’s money each year. Americans live on a budget, so when the beginning of school comes near it is like Christmas shopping all over again. I know from experience we spent at least $500.00 a year, and that is just on one child. From buying clothes, to shoes, to school supplies, it can get real expensive real quick. If all students were required to wear school uniforms, it would cut down on expenses for the parents.

In conclusion, students would benefit more if they were required to wear school uniforms. Students would improve the social outcomes, their academics would improve and it would cost less for parents. I personally never wore uniforms to school, but I believe that it would have been much easier for my parents, since they had three girls in school at one time.