Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms?
School uniforms should be made mandatory, and students should be required to wear uniforms when attending school. According to the website, “School Uniforms – Pros & Cons – ProCon.org” (2020), school uniforms are an increasing trend among many schools in the United States, and many more are embracing the use of school uniforms. According to the U.S. Department of Education, wearing school uniforms can decrease risks of violence and theft, encourage discipline among students, and help school officials recognize outsiders to the school.
Firstly, school uniforms deter crime and increase student safety.
As reiterated on the website, in one school in California, reports of assault reduced by 34%, assault through deadly weapons by 50%, fighting by 51%, and sex offenses by 74% after a district-wide mandatory uniform policy. Indeed, many research studies have proven that school uniforms reduce the possibility of violence and danger for students, Han (2010). Moreover, they also prevent the possibility of students carrying or concealing weapons, thus posing a threat to themselves and other students. This is important, especially in light of increased mass school shootings, where keeping arms out of schools has been a worrisome concern. A school uniform will prevent weapons from being carried to school, more so under the disguise of baggy clothing. Moreover, as reiterated on the website, making students wear similar clothing makes them safer, as it would be easier to identify an intruder. It also prevents violence related to the theft of jewelry and other personal items
Those in opposition to this point of view claim that abuse and safety of students are dependent on the school’s security system, rather than the students themselves. The view supposes that instead of having students be responsible for their safety, schools should take the initiative and ensure security measures are enforced in schools. They argue that students can commit crimes whether or not they wear school uniforms. The argument of identifying intruders is disputable by the fact that students in a school often knew and identified each other, and would easily recognize a non-student. The two biases I held when choosing this point of view is because I schooled in school in which school uniforms were mandatory; therefore, I grew used to and grew accustomed to wearing school uniforms. Any other alternative seemed strange to me.
Secondly, they keep students focused on their education, not their clothes.
School uniforms make all students equal, regardless of their social or economic classes, and this makes it easier for students to study and concentrate on their school work. For instance, wearing heavy make-up or dangling jewelry can be a huge distraction in class, and so do certain types of clothing. Moreover, as DeMitchell (2015) points out, even school administrators will spend less time dealing with issues such as inappropriate clothing among students. Students themselves will also concentrate more on their schoolwork, rather than having to decide what to wear to school. As pointed out on the website, students will be able to improve their school performance instead of concentrating on fashion. There is often a lot of pressure among students to be seen in expensive or designer clothing, which can be more robust for parents who may not be able to afford it. It will help prevent issues such as pride, or self-esteem challenges, where students compare themselves to each other based on what they are wearing.
The opposing argument to this point of view claims that students can still wear their home clothes and even study and pass, as evidenced by schools that do not wear school clothes. Moreover, the view reiterated that differences would always exist at home and school, and it would, therefore, be better to train students to accept and live with diversity harmoniously, rather than forcing students to adhere to one system. My bias for this view was that I always felt comfortable when everything was standard and equal in school rather than different options for different people.
They may improve school attendance and increase discipline.
Discipline is not only relevant but also in real life (more so in the work environment.) By wearing uniforms, students are adhering to a school set of rules, which is a measure and evaluation of discipline — having students wearing school uniforms teach them the art of control, and how to follow the rules, an attitude which will help them in real life. They also foster a sense of cohesion among students. For instance, it would be easier to identify non-students when attending a school event with others from a different class.
The opposing view of this argument is that discipline is innate and inculcated through taught values, rather than clothes. My bias on this point of view is my own experience in a school where students wore uniforms. There was a lot of discipline, and I have always attributed it to the school uniforms we wore.
References
School Uniforms – Pros & Cons – ProCon.org. (2020). Retrieved 23 January 2020, from https://school-uniforms.procon.org/
Han, S. (2010). A Mandatory Uniform Policy in Urban Schools: Findings from the School Survey on Crime and Safety: 2003-04. International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership, 5(8). Doi: 10.22230/ijepl.2010v5n8a253
DeMitchell, Todd. (2015). Does Wearing a School Uniform Improve Student Behavior? The Conversation.