Why students wear uniforms

Why Students Should be
Required to Wear School Uniforms

Jacob Millerleile
English 1551
Mr. Dickey
November 12, 2014
“Administrators thought that some students were more interested in designer names and who was and wasn 't wearing them than in schoolwork. They also suggested… would save teens and parents money by making it unnecessary, at least at school, to dress to impress” (2000, p. 3). As stated in “School Uniforms and Dress Codes: The Pros and Cons,” the reader can see that students in schools will judge another student based on the way he/she dresses. With that in mind, many students who cannot afford to keep up with the latest fashion trend may end up being bullied. Although people may argue that this will take away individualism, in the long run, it may help to save a student’s life.
Throughout grade school and high school, students are able to provide self-expression based on the way that they dress themselves. Their outfits, typically, will play a bigger role based on how a student expresses him/herself. As stated in the article “Student Uniforms are a Good Idea,”
If one will recall, the military has had uniforms for some time now. Uniforms build pride in one’s school, do away with the ‘keeping up with the Jones’s,’ and if purchased through the school, will cost families considerably less to outfit students than they now spend buying expensive garments to remain with the clique they hang with. (2006, p. 16)
School uniforms have been a growing topic as to whether or not students should be required to have a uniform, but, how does applying a uniform actually benefit the student’s education? Uniforms have provided students with more confidence, discipline, and higher academic standings over schools that do not imply uniforms among their students.
Furthermore, from the previous article, “School Uniforms and Dress Codes: The Pros and Cons,” a statement from President Clinton can be found which has advocated uniforms to "make public schools more orderly centers of learning and safer sanctuaries for children" (2000, p.3). The clothing a student wear’s can be related to gang/criminal activity. Although this is argued to have little to no effect, the evidence shows improvements in criminal activity and some schools have reported to have reduced crime rates by mass percentages. By implementing a school uniform among students may help to seize gang relations in the school district and help students develop a better discipline.
Another question about school uniforms is how exactly they can be beneficial to students. By implementing student uniforms, the disciplinary structure of a student is tested and has shown to provide students with better manners. As stated in “What the United Kingdom Can Teach the United States About School Uniforms,” this is supported by the following paragraph:
Students walk the school hallways in an orderly fashion, dressed professionally in uniforms consisting of blazers with the school’s crest and skirts for girls and trousers for boys. They don’t walk with hands in their pockets. Students are polite and wait for the teacher outside the classroom door. When he says to enter, all students enter and stand at their desks until everyone is inside. They don’t sit until the teacher invites them to sit. Students prepare for their lesson and are, for the most part, quite content and respectful. (Walmsley, 2011, p. 63)
With that in mind, one may notice the disciplinary acts of a student who is not dressed properly may be different than a person who is dressed in school clothing. An example of this is closely compared to the way people view men or women dressed in suits. For the most part, most may agree that a person dressed in a suit has a significant change in behavior. What about the students who wish to get away from their peers who believe that graffiti written across their t-shirts is a better choice than wearing a clean dress shirt with the schools logo? Some students view school outfits as a chance to avoid students who feel an education is a waste of time. An example of this is from personal experience as well as articles which show similar scenarios. As a former student of a public school, which did not follow a school uniform, I found myself in between hanging out with the stylish group to hanging out with the smarter students of the class. Unfortunately, the more popular students did not care for their education nearly as much as the smarter students. In the end, I found myself wishing to make a standard uniform that would make students feel more obligated to stand for their school rather than be a face in it. Just as when students go on a class trip, when required to dress nicely, the student’s behaviors tend to change and put a better impression as to what their school stands for.
On the other hand, a major argument about having school uniforms is that students do not actually improve their way of learning when a dress code is in effect. Although this is true but by implementing school uniforms, this does however, affect the way a student feels about their school. As stated in “Uniforms Rule,” this is supported by the following statement: “One of the best studies compared two middle schools… one with a uniform policy, the other without. A survey of more than 300 sixth to eighth graders revealed that uniformed students gave their schools higher scores.” When students have a better attitude in school, they are more likely to respect and attend their classes rather than skipping classes and disrespecting their teachers.
The current problems with uniforms is that, for the most part, schools who have uniform rules also tend to exist in a more financially funded community. Unfortunately for some students who want to attend these schools, not all of them have the money to buy some of the accessories that students insist on wearing. As a result, some poor students will find it difficult to keep up with any accessory-fashion trends that other students will pursue. On the other hand, some students may find this as a new opportunity to learn how to accessorize an outfit and can even learn the cheapest ways to do so. Depending on the student’s outlook, they may even learn how to start their own fashion trends.
In conclusion, school uniforms have played a major impact on students by providing students with more confidence, discipline, and higher academic standings over schools that do not imply uniforms among their students. As a result, schools should encourage school uniforms among students which could lead to leaving better impressions as to how well the school performs. In the end, it may help to seize bullying more and, it can be a more affordable situation for families of a lower class.

References
Akerman, B. (2005). White Tops, Grey Bottoms. Maclean 's, 118(10), 57.
Carney, D., & Sinclair, A. (2006). School uniform revisited: procedure, pressure and equality. Education & The Law, 18(2/3), 131-148. DOI: 10.1080/09539960600919829
Jenkinson, M. (1994). School uniforms in an atomistic age. Alberta Report / Newsmagazine, 21(47), 3/4.
Portner, J. (1998). Calif. district points to uniforms for plunging crime rate. Education Week, 17(19), 6.
Viadero, D. (2010). School Uniforms. Education Week, 30(12), 4.
Walmsley, A. (2011). What the United Kingdom Can Teach the United States About School Uniforms. Phi Delta Kappan, 92(6), 63-66.
Student uniforms are a good idea. (2006). American School Board Journal, 193(10), 16.
School Uniforms and Dress Codes: The Pros and Cons. (2000). Writing, 23(1), 3
Wingert, P., & Pan, E. (1999). Uniforms Rule. Newsweek, 134(14), 72

References: Akerman, B. (2005). White Tops, Grey Bottoms. Maclean 's, 118(10), 57. Carney, D., & Sinclair, A. (2006). School uniform revisited: procedure, pressure and equality. Education & The Law, 18(2/3), 131-148. DOI: 10.1080/09539960600919829 Jenkinson, M. (1994). School uniforms in an atomistic age. Alberta Report / Newsmagazine, 21(47), 3/4. Portner, J. (1998). Calif. district points to uniforms for plunging crime rate. Education Week, 17(19), 6. Viadero, D. (2010). School Uniforms. Education Week, 30(12), 4. Walmsley, A. (2011). What the United Kingdom Can Teach the United States About School Uniforms. Phi Delta Kappan, 92(6), 63-66. Student uniforms are a good idea. (2006). American School Board Journal, 193(10), 16. School Uniforms and Dress Codes: The Pros and Cons. (2000). Writing, 23(1), 3 Wingert, P., & Pan, E. (1999). Uniforms Rule. Newsweek, 134(14), 72