Here are some of the other pros and cons of school uniforms to think about. Costs Related to School Uniforms While school districts have argued that uniforms will be less expensive than clothes for some students, they don't take into account the cost for low-income families. Dressing alike helps them learn that what really counts is on the inside. School uniforms often look pretty lousy. That has to count for something too. Opponents cite research that shows a lack of individualism and comfort among students, working to actually decrease student learning and success.
For the most part, do school uniforms for high school students promote learning and contribute to better behavior or is it just another stress and added expense? To have a better understanding on how school uniform policies affect the educational system and the students as well, let us take a look at the benefits and setbacks of this policy. It improves the social aspect among schoolchildren. In the 1980s, public schools were often compared unfavorably to Catholic schools. However, most public schools are turning to something more casual and more acceptable to parents and students: khakis or jeans and knit shirts of varying colors. Conclusion Basing on the pros and cons listed above, there might be no easy answer to whether schoolchildren should wear uniforms or not. Uniforms are more prevalent among private schools Altogether, 30% of public schools have instituted some type of uniform guidelines for students. When all students are dressed alike, competition between students over clothing choices and the teasing of those who are dressed in less expensive or less fashionable outfits can be eliminated.
Many parents like the freedom of being able to get use out of hand me down clothing or even shopping at consignment or discount stores. In some cases, these pieces of standardized clothing can be more expensive for those who used to buy from second-hand stores or those who rely on hand-me-down clothes from family and friends. Some opponents of uniforms say that it is unfair to require this additional expense for a public school and a uniform policy might create a financial burden to some families. Because kids will be kids, you can expect to be replacing at least one pair of pants that were torn at the knees during the year, as well as a paint-splattered uniform shirt or two. Although some families might spend more time doing laundry with school uniforms, the actual process of the chore becomes a lot easier to complete. For the past decade, schools, parents and students have clashed over the issue of regulating student attire. Outsiders who do not belong on campus are easily identified, and thus, do not pose a great threat to the students.
Students who wear school uniforms may be more likely to pursue an education that is freer from peer pressure, but it also eliminates one form of their identity. Proponents of school uniforms often cite increased academic achievement as a reason for schools to use such a policy. Most kids are not going to want to wear their school uniform clothing unless they are going to school. In a work environment, people wear smart clothes even though, normally, wearing uniforms is not required. The First Amendment guarantees our right to free expression.
Research has shown that among middle and high school students increased by less than 0. Without the outlet of expression in their clothes, students may turn to other avenues of self-expression that may be viewed as even more inappropriate than clothing, such as nontraditional hairstyles or make-up or more importantly, acting out against school and parental authority through the decisions they make and behaviors they exhibit. There is a lot of educators believing that schoolchildren who wear uniforms show better academic performance. For further cost savings, some schools run used uniform programs, where parents can buy another student's outgrown items at a discounted price. School uniforms create an automatic age identification. Opponents say school uniforms infringe upon students' right to express their individuality, have no positive effect on behavior and academic achievement, and emphasize the socioeconomic disparities they are intended to disguise. They typically include bottoms in neutral colors like khaki, black, or even dark green, and tops that are either neutral or in the school colors.
Many students feel as though their individuality is being ripped away from them when they are forced to wear a school uniform. However, with an increase in school violence and gang-related activities, the political climate seems to have turned more conservative, and the Supreme Court has begun to return many decisions back to the discretion of the local school board. If so, check out our guide to the pros and cons of school uniforms. The students in this video discuss the pros and cons of school uniforms. That seems like a lot until you consider that nearly 54% of private schools have similar rules in place.
These are all conflicts that could be avoided with school uniforms. Students who are not comfortable will not be encouraged to retain the information they are being taught. Makes Schools Safer :Uniforms increase school safety. In an effort to create equality, school uniforms can create segregation. When all students are dressed alike, competition between students over clothing choices and the teasing of those who are dressed in less expensive or less fashionable outfits can be eliminated. Boosting comradery when everyone is dressed alike leads to a sense of unity and belonging that many schools do not have. Perhaps, the best way to address this issue is to have a talk among school administrators, parents and students before implementing school-sanctioned policies.
While in the second article School Uniform Pros and Cons by Rashida Khilawala, this author is Switzerland. With only a few sets which they can easily wash, there is no need to buy their kids more clothes to wear in school. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 47% of high-poverty public schools required school uniforms, while only 6% of low-poverty public schools required them. Doing one week's worth of laundry for just school clothes will simplify the process and allows your child to focus on what's more important: going to school. Some schools that have implemented them have chosen what one usually thinks of in connection to private or parochial schools: nice trousers and white shirts for boys, jumpers and white shirts for girls. School uniforms reduces the wearing of gang related clothes and helps some students concentrate more on academics instead of on clothes, which in turn, increases grades.
Explore the latest studies into links between student performance, sleep and music. Denying children and teenagers the opportunity to make those choices may make them ill-prepared for the adult world. The vast majority — 90 percent of students — reported that they disliked wearing uniforms. Also, they believe that that these students would only find other less-appropriate ways to express themselves, such as inappropriate use of jewelry and make-up. There can be a lot of politics involved in the creation of a school uniform policy. In Toledo, Ohio, elementary school students have a limited palette of colors that they can wear: white, light blue, dark blue or yellow on the top half and dark blue, navy, khaki or tan on the bottom half. It makes getting ready in the morning much easier for families.