School Uniforms
The first recorded use of school uniforms was in New England in the year of 1222. Students were required to wear a robe-like outfit known as a “cappa clausa.” The first school district in the United States to require all its students to wear uniforms was the Long Beach Unified School District, CA in January of 1994 (Procon.org). Whether or not school uniform policies should be put into place has been at the forefront of the school dress code discussion for many years. As of today, 23% of public schools and private school have a mandatory uniform policy (statisticbrain.com). Instead of students wearing inappropriate clothing, there should be a specific dress code. K-12 schools should have school uniforms.
One reason K-12 schools should have uniforms is because it will eliminate distractions. By schools ruling out other revealing or inappropriate clothing advertising drugs, alcohol, or obscene language and replacing the dress code with a mandatory uniform, students will be more focused on school. According to Richard Thézé, “Some educators believe that a school uniform can actually improve learning by reducing distraction, sharpening focus on schoolwork and making the classroom a more serious environment that allows students to perform better academically” (thephuketnews.com). Because school uniforms are very professional and are all very similar, there would not be distractions regarding the latest fashion trends appearing in the classroom.
The second reason K-12 schools should have a uniform is because it will improve academic achievement. By eliminating the distractions of normal clothing at school and using uniforms, there has been an improvement in academic achievement. According to magicvalley.com, “the University of Houston concluded school uniforms have a positive impact on students’ academic performance and behavior” (Wootton). The use of uniforms has resulted in a decrease of tardiness and an increase in attendance rates. According to procon.org, “Attendance rates for these students increase by 0.48 percentage points after uniform adoption. This is a substantial increase equal to 7% of their mean absence rate amongst these students” (Gentile & Imberman). As school uniforms become mandatory in more schools every day, academic results are climbing as well as an increase in better behavior.
Another reason K-12 schools should have a uniform is because it will help improve safety. By having a school uniform, schools have a clear view of anyone who doesn’t actually attend the school; allowing staff to quickly spot if there are any intruders or trespassers on the school campus. Being able to easily identify a student from their uniform also helps outside of school campus. If students are seen doing something bad or putting someone’s safety at risk outside of school, they can be tracked down much easier than if they were in ordinary clothes. Uniforms can also make it difficult for gang member to identify each other, reducing conflict. According to Livestrong.com, a Long Beach California school district saw a “50-percent reduction in both fights and muggings and a staggering 74-percent decrease in sexual offenses” a year after they established a uniform policy (Fritscher). When mandatory school uniforms are put in place, students don’t have the baggy space in their clothes to conceal any weapons, therefor, uniforms create a safer learning environment for every student.
Another reason K-12 schools should have uniforms is to reduce bullying. Uniforms can reduce bullying by eliminating the socioeconomic differences within students. If all the girls have the same school uniform and all the boys have the same uniform, there is no way to show if they are rich from poor. With a uniform policy in place, bullying about income or who doesn’t have the trendiest clothing would decrease tremendously. According to Torontosun.com, “uniforms are social and economic equalizers, which reduce opportunities for children to criticize others on dress and appearance” (Hassan). Along with bullying, school uniforms would also decrease sexual behavior. When girls get to wear any clothes they want, some girls choose very revealing clothing. Revealing clothes often lead to sexual behavior, such as sexual comments, gestures or looks. According to theconversation.com, “38 North Carolina high schools found that 61% of the responding principals and assistant principals believed that there was a reduction in cases of misbehavior on campus when school uniforms were introduced” (DeMitchell). Having a school uniform equalizes economic diversity among the students and reduces sexual behavior regarding student’s appearance.
School uniforms prepare student for the work place. All work places have a dress code. Whether the dress code is all black clothes or a specific uniform you are required to wear, there is almost always a dress code. According to theguardian.com, “Uniforms help students to prepare for when they leave school and may have to dress smartly or wear a uniform” (Howlette). Students can where whatever they want to when they are out of class. Having a mandatory school uniform helps students understand responsibility and expectations! According to Chris Moran, “One of the hardest things for my daughter was the idea of “uniforms” in the workplace. Not that they actually had uniforms, but “office-appropriate” attire was so foreign to her…Many of her high school friends are still having problems moving up, working only where they can dress as they like” (theledger.com). School uniforms teach students to dress for success and take pride in their appearance. School uniforms are good preparation for the working world.
Another reason K-12 schools should have school uniforms is because it saves time in the morning and at night. Many students can spend hours picking out their wardrobe every day or night before school. According to naesp.org, 93% of the leaders believe school uniform policies have made a positive impact on saving time in the morning. When schools don’t have uniform policies, students often run late and don’t even have time to east breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! According to theconversation.com, “A study of 10,000 children and young people found that approximately 20% of children and more than 31% of adolescents skipped breakfast regularly” (Drummond). Because students with uniforms have extra time in the mornings, they are able to catch some extra sleep or eat a healthy breakfast every day.
The popular discussion on whether or not school uniform policies should be put into place has been on-going for approximately 795 years now. Students need a safe, stable, and successful learning environment, and school uniforms will improve all three of those things!
You should recommend to your school board that uniforms would be a good idea for K-12 students!
Works Cited
“Background of the Issue – School Uniforms – ProCon.org.” ProConorg Headlines, 25 May 2016, https://school-uniforms.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=006507
DeMitchell, Todd A. “Does Wearing a School Uniform Improve Student Behavior?” The Conversation, 15 Nov. 2017, https://theconversation.com/does-wearing-a-school-uniform-improve-student-behavior-51553
Drummond, Claire. “What Happens When Kids Don't Eat Breakfast?” The Conversation, 28 Nov. 2017, https://theconversation.com/what-happens-when-kids-dont-eat-breakfast-33311
Fritscher, Lisa. 18 July 2017, www.livestrong.com/article/560284-alternative-disciplinary-schools-for-troubled-kids-in-pennsylvania/.
Hassan, Farzana. “School Uniforms Will Help Stop Bullying.” Toronto Sun, 18 Sept. 2014, http://torontosun.com/2014/09/18/school-uniforms-will-help-stop-bullying/wcm/7c78aac7-da22-4c0e-8778-ec3d666a1822
Moran, Chris, and Winter Haven. “School Uniforms Help Prepare for Workplace.” The Ledger, The Ledger, 29 June 2009, http://www.theledger.com/news/20070817/mccheadschool-uniforms-help-prepare-for-workplacemcchead.
Spencer, Chloe. “What's the Point of School Uniform?” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 3 Oct. 2013, https://www.theguardian.com/education/mortarboard/2013/oct/03/why-wear-school-uniform.
Thézé, Richard. 20 June 2014, www.thephuketnews.com/school-uniforms-help-keep-students-in-line-46967.php.
Tucker, Kaylen. “National Association of Elementary School Principals: Serving All Elementary and Middle-Level Principals.” NAESP, 30 July 2013, https://www.naesp.org/national-survey-school-leaders-reveals-2013-school-uniform-trends
Wootton, Julie. 3 Oct. 2014, http://magicvalley.com/news/local/schools-say-uniforms-lead-to-better-academics-behavior/article_4f77b947-60bc-59dd-ab12-420f4183de1c.html
“School Uniform Statistics.” Statistic Brain, 7 Mar. 2017, www.statisticbrain.com/school-uniform-statistics/.