Do School Uniforms Affect Student Learning?

Smarter students, friendlier school environments, students who go to school eager to learn and much more is the issue concerning school uniforms. Many aspects go into the decision to enforce dress code at a school. More schools with uniforms could take this generation to greater heights. Although most of the research is inconclusive, school uniforms affect student learning. Enforced uniforms allow school employees to focus on what the students wear. Mason stated, "too many conversations with students were about tucking shirts in. We were desperate to focus on the important issues of teaching and learning" causing too many minutes going by without learning (Northern). If you ask teachers, more than likely the majority are going to say they …show more content…
"Proponents of school uniforms often claim they eliminate the pressure on low-income families to purchase name-brand clothing" allowing students with less money to look just as nice as the students of wealthy families (Messit). School uniforms make it easier for low income families to put their children in clothes that make them look presentable. Most uniforms cost anywhere from $30-$150 depending on the school and uniform. Although that seems like a large sum of money, normally it is a pair of nice pants if a skirt and a collared shirt that the student would wear everyday. Also, most schools have multiples of each piece of clothing. The students wearing uniforms look more professional and clean than students wearing sweat pants and baggy shirts to school. When you dress differently you are more likely to stand out, and "schools that enforce uniforms; you can not tell the poor to the rich and the kids get to stand on who they are and others can not judge you on just how you dress" (Steele). Students get to be who they really are and not be pressured into fitting in. The only "freedom" students really have is to wear the shoes they want. This way students who you would never thought would be friends, could be. You would not imagine what small things like putting away regular clothes could do to a school environment. Putting lower income students in uniforms no longer separates them from the …show more content…
Because the research is inconclusive, "the debate over uniforms in public schools encompasses many larger issues than simply what children should wear to school . . . 'it is no wonder the debate goes on '" leaving questions for many schools (Wilde). Multiple debates also discuss the topics of the prices of school uniforms. Not every family can afford all the clothing items they have to purchase from the school. This debate also continues on because the topic of "free education" is taken away. If students must purchase uniforms it is not a free education. "As more research went on Draa stated, 'I really went into this thinking uniforms do not make a difference, but I came away seeing that they do . . . I was absolutely floored '" seeing what the effects clothes can do (Wilde). Schools that enforce uniforms are more successful than those what have a standard dress code. After visiting schools, Draa was "absolutely floored" at the results. Like most, Draa did not expect uniforms to effect a school as much as it does. Through the continued research, schools around the world may be able to see what effects school uniforms