Student Uniforms: Should students have to wear them?
Today school uniforms are hotly debated. They are a clear visual representation of the enforcement of discipline within schools and for this reason they are often controversial. There are many critics who deem them to be restrictive, old-fashioned and too regimented for today’s children. Yet student uniforms exist in many schools across many nations. So should students be made to wear them, or are they no longer appropriate in our modern schooling systems?
There are few states schools in the United States that require students to wear uniforms, though some have dress codes which students are expected to follow. The Supreme Court ruled in the 1960s that students were entitled to freedom of expression in public schools. Where school uniform policies exist, they usually require all members of the student body to wear clothing that adheres to certain standards. These standards usually include the colour, type and style of the garments. Student uniforms are usually comprised of a shirt and trousers for boys (with a blazer or jumper) and a dress, or a skirt and blouse, for girls. Uniforms often vary slightly according to season.
It is often claimed that student uniforms diminish or remove the individuality of a child and encourage them to think in the same way as those around them, rather than take independent initiative. Some scientists claim that they actually harm academic performance, but the evidence for this is scarce. Many teachers say that having uniforms encourages a positive work environment, which helps students to concentrate and perform better academically. They create a sharp distinction between work and play environments and mentalities.
Student uniforms may not be a way of fixing all of a school’s problems. Studies in the US surveyed a representative sample of 8th graders and found that there was no significant difference in attendance, attitudes to school, or behavioral issues between children attending schools with uniforms and children not required to wear them. There is not enough scientific evidence to support the claim that they reduce incidents of violence within schools. However, there are several reasons why uniforms may be a useful and positive measure for a school to implement. They establish a school as a place of work and encourage a work-orientated mindset in the students. They also ensure that all students appear smart and well-dressed and enable a school to regulate what is worn more closely. It also prevents students from competing against each other to wear the most fashionable and expensive clothing, which can negatively impact the confidence of poorer students.
Uniforms help to foster a positive image for a school. They encourage the children to feel that they are part of a unified wider community and to have pride in their school and the work that they do within it. It may make them more likely to cooperate with other students. Student uniforms are often inexpensive and can remove the need for parents to spend a lot of money on their children’s clothes. |
