Discussion on Whether Schools Should Have Uniforms

The debate for whether schools should have uniforms or not has been raging on for decades and still continues to remain a popular topic. Most private schools have uniforms and the majority of public schools do not. Public schools should require students to wear uniforms to improve the overall atmosphere of the school. Although many people say uniforms restrict a student’s freedom of expression and are too expensive, studies show that students felt they still had their identity while wearing a uniform and that uniforms saved their families money. After a school uniform policy was implemented in multiple Nevada middle schools, researchers set out to find what the seventh and eighth graders thought about the change.

According to Great Schools, 54% of the students still felt like they had their own identity and 50% said that uniforms saved their family money. Even with uniforms, there are still ways to express yourself with jewelry, shoes, hairstyles, etc. Uniforms encourage students to express themselves beyond looks and labels. They allow students to be seen by their intellect, personality, and skills. Buying a few uniforms is economical, parents just have to buy a few sets opposed to buying lots of clothes for the whole school year. Parents find themselves continuously buying their kids new clothes as new fashion trends become popular and the weather changes. School uniforms give students the opportunity to express themselves by who they are not what they wear and they save families money.

School uniforms increase a sense of school pride, spirit, and unity. Uniforms are worn by sports teams to create an immediate identification and a feeling of unification. Uniforms are unique to your school and form a feeling of oneness. Students, especially those who are not apart of a sort of team, feel a strong belonging that they may have never felt before. This sensation of belonging can encourage an extra effort for the student to try their best, improving the whole learning community. Uniforms offer the opportunity for students to feel close to their school and community. Children and teens should be community spirited and inspired to excel in learning. Experts believe that when students wear uniforms they feel professional and behave better. Educators believe when the whole student body is wearing uniforms, they develop a strong team mentality.

School uniforms are good for the school community. School uniforms decrease bullying and teasing, eliminate economic and social barriers between students, and improve attendance. Uniforms develop a safer environment by helping prevent gangs form on campus and helping identify intruders in the school. With uniforms everyone is wearing the same thing and the focus changes to who you are not what you are wearing or can afford. In our era of status brands and high fashion trends, clothes have become the defining status symbol for kids and teens. By “evening the playing field” students are less likely to be picked on for their clothes.

Self esteem is an issue for people of all ages. Many students feel uncomfortable going to school because they are afraid of being teased or made fun of for how they are dressed. Uniforms put these students at ease and make it easier for them to go to school with comfort, increasing attendance. Students from lower economic brackets can feel more eager to attend school because they feel equal and no longer inferior to their peers with uniforms. Long Beach, California implemented a school uniform policy in 1995. According to Statistic Brain, the results showed that overall the crime rates dropped by 91%, incidents of vandalism went down and the attendance increased. Uniforms create a safer environment where everyone feels equal. Public schools should require uniforms because it will improve the overall atmosphere of the school in multiple aspects. You can talk to your school board and staff about implementing school uniforms.