Walking into a school, an outsider obtains a fair sense of the school’s spirit relatively quickly. The hangings on the walls, the attitudes of the students and faculty, and the condition of the building all work together to create an aura that is individual to that school alone. One particularly controversial factor in the individuality of a school is tied to what the students are wearing: specifically, if the students are uniform in dress. Some argue that uniforms dim individual expression, while others argue that school uniforms allow true expression and success from the students wearing them. According to experts in the field of education, the latter is true; schools which enforce uniformity of dress see benefits academically, behaviorally, and socially on their student bodies.
In its simplest form, the school is a place of academia. Its purpose is to educate and uniforms improve upon students’ learning. Many educators believe that clothing distracts students from their work. Students are often distracted by their own clothing, which may be uncomfortable or impractical for school-related activities. The clothing may become a topic of conversation if of a particular trend, taking students’ attention off the lesson at hand. Finally, if a student arrives at school in inappropriate attire, they likely will miss class time in order to change into proper attire. These issues can easily be avoided with the use of a uniform system. In fact, according to Beth Asaff, a study done at Notre Dame showed a “statistical elevation in student performance among students who wear uniforms”. Clearly, uniform dress allows students to focus more closely on academics.
Uniforms have been shown to reduce behavioral issues in schools which use them. Students tend to be less tardy in these schools because they need less time to prepare their morning outfits. Students also often show higher levels of respect both in and outside of school, as uniforms often bear a school insignia; students are literally representing their school in their behaviors. Most importantly, studies have shown that uniforms can curb violence within schools. According to Asaff, “the US Department of Education maintains that the mandatory use of standardized dress reduces violence within the school”. The safety which a reduction in violence provides to a school is a strong positive for school uniforms.
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Most significantly, school uniforms can positively affect the social climate within a school. Standardized dress can help bridge the various socioeconomic classes which may be held within a single school facility. According to Asaff, “uniforms can be a social equalizer”. Children living in poverty and those living in financially-stable homes all look the same when they are wearing uniforms. This reduces acts of bullying, increases students’ self-esteem and self-image, and allows the fostering of diverse friendships among students.
In my opinion, school uniforms are beneficial for the above mentioned reasons as well as countless others, one of the greatest being safety. Not only do uniforms reduce incidents of violence, they reduce intruder crime as well; outsiders to the school can easily be identified because they are not wearing the school uniform. This also applies when students are on field trips in public; the students’ wearing of uniforms makes them more visible to chaperones. Uniforms are also much more economical and convenient for families. When requiring uniforms, schools must provide them to families which cannot afford them; this policy makes certain that impoverished students have clothing to wear to school which fits properly and is in good condition.
