Many people agree that having students wear uniforms while at school can help foster a spirit of unity and school pride. However, there is still much anti-uniform dissent among teachers, students, parents and administrators at many public schools in the country. Then there are those who are in support of school uniforms for a variety of reasons.
There have been many studies conducted on the subject of school uniforms, and these studies have discovered a variety of conclusions. First, school uniforms help students learn faster and helped stop some negative trends. When students were allowed to wear whatever clothes they wanted, they were often judged by which clothes they were, and some students even reported having their expensive designer clothes stolen while at school.
DISADVANTAGES OF SCHOOL UNIFORMS
Despite what the national studies have concluded, many professionals, parents, students and teachers are still against uniforms for a variety of reasons. Psychologists say students must learn to express themselves – and there is no better way for this to happen than students wearing their own clothing. Another problem is cost. Parents often complain that school uniforms are more expensive to purchase and maintain than street clothing, and this can create an unnecessary financial hardship on impoverished families. Finally, there are many that feel cliques can never be totally avoided or destroyed, and therefore school uniforms are a waste of time and money for families.
ADVANTAGES OF SCHOOL UNIFORMS
There are many proponents of school uniforms in both public and private school settings. The number one argument that is most often used is that uniforms build a sense of belonging and unity for all members of the student body because no students are allowed to wear clothing that differentiates themselves from the rest of the student body. Students feel more confident when everyone is wearing the same clothing and it makes cliques harder to form and maintain, allowing all students an equal chance to socialize with each other.
Many students dislike wearing school uniforms because they feel they are out of style or not trendy. However, school districts around the country are employing big name fashion retailers such as Old Navy, GAP, Dockers and others to design school uniforms that are stylish and fresh. These uniforms are reasonably priced and easy to care for, making them more economical than street clothes.
School uniforms were once viewed as just a way to keep kids from wearing the wrong clothes, but now they are viewed as a way to bring unity and pride to a student body, which in turn brings along with it many more advantages. When students can feel good about what they are wearing, they start to socialize more and ultimately make more friends and feel more comfortable while at school. This in turn leads to higher grades, higher academic standings, and better rounded students.