Preview

The History of School Uniforms Essay Example

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
589 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The History of School Uniforms Essay Example
Ryan Aguilar
Per. 1
You may have thought that school uniforms were only worn by those of private schools or upper elite classes, but in fact it was quite the opposite. Uniforms were given to poor communities and schools, known as charity schools that would help children learn to read and write, in England around the 16th century. The uniforms that students would wear consisted of a blue blazer, cap and short trousers, and a brown satchel bag. The reason uniforms were issued was because it would cost less to just make the material for one style of clothing and mass produce them.
Uniforms became more and more popular around the 19th century, mostly in state elementary schools. This was done because times were very dangerous and it helped create order within the communities and let the students focus more on the curriculum than on what they are wearing. Wearing uniforms was just a part of England’s plan to make their schools better. Along with stricter supervision of the students’ lives and morals, and new teaching methods to make the students do better in school. Schools improved a great deal over time just because of school uniforms and the things that changed because uniforms were now mandatory (Chris Carson).
About one half of Catholic schools around the 1960's all had uniform policies (Carey Webber). Not all Catholic schools agreed on mandatory school uniforms because some felt that it was against the parent’s rights and right to individuality. Others said that it would put all the students at equal terms appearance wise. But this claim was not completely true because some families would still struggle with payments for the uniform and keeping it in good condition, so for the families that struggled, their kids would have worn school uniforms therefore being different in some perspective. In America during the 1980’s, arguments over schools requiring their students to wear school uniforms upset people because it was preventing individuality or

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Many Americans are oblivious to the controversy of school uniforms but it is, nonetheless, a highly debated issue among students and families. Private schools often enforce uniforms, which are standardized to indigo or khaki pants and collared shirts limited to the school colors. Many of the public schools in the United States that do not have a uniform policy, administer a dress code which the students often neglect and teachers fail to implement. Those in opposition to school uniforms argue that they remove individuality and violate the right of self-expression. However, schools should approbate uniforms as they offer many benefits for students and families.…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Essay On School Uniforms

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “When you put on a uniform, there are certain inhibitions that you accept”, said Dwight D. Eisenhower. School uniforms first entered the United States of America in 1994 with Long Beach, California adopting the idea (Portner, Jessica). These uniforms vary in what they look like (School Uniforms) and schools with school uniforms have had an increase in safety (Dress Codes) and school academics (School Uniforms and the Courts). School uniforms have many benefits that are helpful for their schools and their students.…

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    This paper is about the issue of school uniforms and whether or not for schools (K-12) to require them. I analyzed three strong arguments from both sides of the issue. The side advocating uniforms argued that school uniforms keep students focused, which may lead to an improvement of grades. Advocates state uniforms deter students from crimes and save money for parents by relieving parents of the pressure of buying new clothes for every school year. The other side of the issue against uniforms in schools argue that uniforms threaten and infringe on student’s freedom of expression by requiring students to wear the uniforms with consequences if not hearkened. The opposition to uniforms also presented a study where the students oppose…

    • 1105 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Surveys were sent out to patents as well and 486 parents responded. Bodine randomly selected 30 parents to interview as well as 14 children making sure to include all the ethnic backgrounds. Bodine interviewed 39 participants face to face and nine parents and one student by phone. Additional information was used from local and national press; from interviews with teachers, administrators, students and parents. The results of this study came in two concerns one from the public and the other from the schools representatives. The parents of the students were concerned about the economic disparity to the families of the children having to afford the special clothing for school. They were also concerned about social exclusion to children due to a different dress style. Schools were primarily concerned with the ability of families to afford the clothing required but relished the thought of all the students being on equal ground and easily identifiable. Although both parents and school officials agreed that uniforms may improve the security of the school environment it just doesn’t leave the students free to just be themselves so, there were more adverse opinions than positive opinions on the…

    • 1409 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Willaims, Darlene. "School Uniforms: The Raging Debate." . 2000. Web.. Asserting Parental Rights – it’s Our Duty.…

    • 2927 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    common ground

    • 1233 Words
    • 5 Pages

    All around the world, no matter the location, education stands to be one of the most important elements in a child’s life. Most parents are concerned that their child gets the best education possible, fits in with his or her peers, and to have the best possible experience he or she possibly can. Parents will search schools around the area they live and try to pick the best school that will give their child everything they need. However, when it comes to schools, there is one controversial issue that each school encounters, every year: whether or not the children in their school will be required to wear a uniform. In the article “The Pros and Cons of School Uniforms,” Michelle McDermott explains that 23% of schools in the United States require uniforms. Some parents want their children to go to a school with required uniforms, some parents do not want their kids to wear uniforms, and other parents could not care less on the issue. No matter where each parent stands on the issue, there will always be a few things that all parents will agree on, and that is the fact that they want their children to receive the best education they can.…

    • 1233 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    One reason why students should wear uniforms is schools would be a safer place because not many dangers would harm the school. For example, schools “struggling with gang problems report that school uniforms” (http://www.articlebase.com/advice-articles/pros-and-cons-of-school-uniforms-182.html). Any sort of gang related “identity or markings would not be an issue” and in “addition baggy clothing used to hide weapons, drugs or pregnancy would make the lives of teens more transparent and less hidden from adults” (http://www.procon lists.com/list/education/school-uniforms/35). Making students wear school uniforms would make it easier to identify hidden icons that many teenagers hide. Uniforms “make identification of children who belong to the school and those who don’t easy” (http://www.proconslists.com/list/education/school-uniforms/35). School “intruders are more easily identified in a school of uniformed children” (http://www.sheknows.com/living/articles/809991/the-pros-and-cons-of-school-uniforms). If we wear school uniforms then you can easily find intruders in school because they will not be wearing uniforms. Therefore, American school students should wear uniforms because dangerous activities and…

    • 752 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Dress Code in Schools

    • 324 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the 1980s, public schools were often compared unfavorably to Catholic schools. Noting the perceived benefit that uniforms conferred upon Catholic schools, some public schools decided to adopt a school uniform policy.…

    • 324 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    School Uniforms

    • 425 Words
    • 2 Pages

    c. Not taking for granted freedom of dress and dressing appropriately for school when you have “free” dress.…

    • 425 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    A school uniform is a specific design for clothing designated to be worn while attending academic classes at a school. The school context comprises grades one through twelve of public and private schools in the United States. Different schools and different grades within schools may have different uniforms, as determined by parents and school administration. In today’s society all public schools should require student uniform. These generations of school kids are more worried about how your hair looks, what name brand clothes you have on, and also what kind of shoes are on your feet. These kids are worried about all the wrong things. Instead of worrying about their peer’s attire they should be into their books. Worrying about all the wrong things can be distracting. When ones focus is on something other than what’s important can cause sidetracking. "We are under no illusions that it's a silver bullet that is going to make kids smarter," school board President Pedro A. Ramos said last week. "We do think it will improve school climate. It removes a lot of anxiety and stress from lives of our students and parents," (Johnston). To understand why this is an issue, let us look at the problem, why the problem is significant, whom the problem affects, why others’ attempts have failed, and how I propose to solve the problem. This is an everlasting debate that whether school uniforms should be worn or casual clothing is as good. And like most of the popular debate in the world it has no concrete answer, it totally depends on a person’s beliefs actually. For some it is a benefit for others a disadvantage. I believe public schools should require students to wear uniforms. First wearing school uniforms promotes good discipline. Second it reduces distractions. Thirdly it is a far less expensive to buy school uniforms than many other clothes.…

    • 1332 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Some parents feel that if public schools would enforce schools uniforms it would put a restriction on their child’s uniqueness or creativity. Although that argument is invalid, because wearing the same uniform would result in students expressing themselves through their personalities and attitude rather then pricey brand-named clothing that not every student can afford. Another argument that the individuals opposed to uniforms propose is that uniforms lack comfort. Parents say that the collared shirts can make some students itchy and that the pants sometimes don’t fit correctly so it makes the student uncomfortable, but others believe that most female students are uncomfortable wearing clothing that shows all their skin but do it because they crave attention and social acceptance. Uniforms would not cause students to be any more uncomfortable than they already…

    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Have you ever attended a school where school uniforms were mandatory? The answer is probably yes, as during the 2013-2014 school year, one-fifth of public schools in the United States had to do so. As for me, from Kindergarten until 5th grade I had to wear a school uniform. But once 6th grade rolled around and I changed schools, uniforms were not enforced. I’ve seen both sides to this story, and believe that school uniforms are a controversial subject which can be easily contrasted. Some may think that school uniforms can help students succeed, while others think that they don’t alter the success of a student at all. No matter if a school enforces uniforms or opposes them, the education of the student is most important.…

    • 784 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Support School Uniforms

    • 1419 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The issue of implementing a school uniform policy has both strong supporters and opposition. This is a controversial and lingering subject facing many of our public school systems throughout the nation. This issue is so hot and controversial that when the school board of Polk County, Fl voted into effect a school uniform policy, 154 families filed a lawsuit in attempt to defend their rights ( Anderson,n.d). Yet when former President Clinton Expressed his support for school uniforms in a March 1996 speech, he was applauded by thousands (Atkins, 1996). Those in favor of uniforms claim there are many advantages to instituting them such as, a cost savings by eliminating name brand clothing, student security,…

    • 1419 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    School uniforms don’t allow students to express themselves. School dress codes are neglecting to teach boys respect for girls and responsibility. For example, "Schools...are neglecting to think in a more liberal way to teach boys to respect girls and control themselves around them" (Boboltz). With dress code, students can't express themselves and aren't able to show their true identities. “Dress is always…

    • 425 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Uniforms in School

    • 530 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Students who wear uniforms are more likely to focus on school work than the latest fashion. It also cuts down on distractions caused by students…

    • 530 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays