The Importance Of School Uniforms

Improved Essays
The way one dresses can say a lot about his or her personality. Fashion choices are a way for students to show how they feel. For example, an athlete may have more of a relaxed look versus the student body president who dresses for success. However, in some cases this expression can lead to problems such as bullying. Not only bullying, but the cost of a child keeping up with the current fashion can end up putting a dent in a parent’s wallet. Yes, freedom of expression is a right that should be upheld, but in schools a uniform dress code should be enforced due to the cost efficiency for the student’s families as well as the sense of community that having a uniform brings to a school. Many students who must follow their schools uniform dress …show more content…
In an article regarding the positive things that come from schools having uniforms, Stephen Daniels says, “schools with uniforms say that their students have better self-esteem because without the name brand clothing on display, the students are placed on an equal level. Poorer students do not feel and are not treated as inferior because they don’t have nice clothes.” Not to mention that, “uniforms keep wealthy students from showing off as well as contribute more to school spirit” (School Uniforms). This statement made by Daniels is an enormous reason why all schools should adopt some form of a uniform. Children can be extremely mean without knowing simply due to their lack of knowledge on social situations. It has been proven that having uniforms can make a school safer as well. In an article regarding school uniforms, it is stated that “teachers can more quickly identify students on field trips as well as spot outsiders who enter the building” (School Uniforms). Continuing in the article, “Long Beach California Unified School District was one of the first districts to require student uniforms in grades K-8 in 1994. Following the new requirement, crime in the K-8 schools dropped by 22 percent” (School Uniforms). A crucial piece of information to consider in how a uniform policy effects safety within a school comes from Stephen Daniels’ article. Daniels says …show more content…
In the case of Mike DePinto, “an 11-year-old fifth-grader from Bayonne (New Jersey)” (Kelly), he did not like having to wear his school uniform and is quoted in saying, “I’m opposed to somebody telling me what to wear and forcing me to wear an emblem against my will” (Kelly). Mike Kelly is extremely opposed to DePinto’s stance on the issue. In an article regarding the issue, Kelly says, “against his will? An emblem? We’re not talking about DePinto being forced to put on a political or religious symbol. The school district merely wants him to wear a pair of khakis and a shirt with a school emblem on it.” Kelly continues by saying, “what will DePinto say if he earns a spot on a high school athletic team in a few years? Would he tell his coach he wants to design his own uniform?” What DePinto’s actual violation was will shock some. Kelly says that, “DePinto accessorized his Bayonne uniform by adding a button with a photograph of Hitler Youth members in their trademark Nazi uniforms. DePinto claims his button, which has a red circle and a slash across the Hitler Youth photo and the slogan ‘No School Uniforms,’ is his personal form of protest.” Kelly’s view on this situation is quite comical because he has no respect for this student who believes his freedom of expression is being stripped away. Kelly satirically

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Danielle Spanner mentioned that bullying and peer pressure is a major problem in educational environments without uniforms, because students tend to be more focused on those who are wearing the new brands and styles. There is an important reason to support those schools across the country that are requiring students to use uniforms. It will help to create a better learning place, with less victims of bullying and disciplinary issues. "School Uniforms Should Be Mandatory." The List Land.…

    • 766 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Some parents and students may never like the idea of school uniforms due to students not being able to express themselves through their clothing. However, there are many more positive outlooks than there are negative when it comes to uniforms being enforced in schools. With school uniforms, students can still express themselves through shoes, accessories and hair styles. The enforcement of school uniforms creates a level playing field amongst students, reducing peer pressure and bullying. It also helps diminish the separation of social classes, promotes unity, and helps save parents…

    • 831 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Uniforms create school spirit and increases the chance of students getting along with their peers. There may be pros and cons on school uniforms and maybe cons are overrated, but with the help of the parents, students, and school staff members, this economy will be a better place to live in. Keeping the children safe as well as the adults. Gangs form all the time, mostly based on a certain color. With the uniforms and strongly enforced, gangs will be prevented.…

    • 1284 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Either way, there are many benefits of wearing school uniform. School uniform should be mandatory for public school because statistics show that school uniform has increased academics and school safety. One of the most important reasons why school uniforms is important because, it helps improves academics and it also makes school a safer environment. School is a place where students learn, it not a place to show off your new clothing. Students get distracted easily, by wearing school uniforms it can reduce the distraction.…

    • 1134 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Uniform would teach kids that what they wear does not really matter and personally and attitude is more important than a pair of Nike shoes.Many parents have fought to have school uniform because it would less stressful and it would save them a lot of money . Kids or parents would not have to worry about if what they wear match or is appropriated so you do not break the dress code. People said that the uniform would give the students responsibility. They would have to take care of their uniform because they have to wear that everyday. Also many parents said that having school uniform would be really expensive.…

    • 849 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Intellectual Growth or Expression Everyone has seen “back to school” commercials which seem to encourage students to dress by the most current trends and to wear name brand attire. The “back to school” commercials imply that by wearing certain clothes, students are self-expressing. In certain places, “self-expressing” is acceptable, but in educational institutions students, should be dressed appropriately to the occasion. Requiring school uniforms is a way to prepare students for future proper occasions. Although many people believe that self-expression is repressed, school uniforms should be used in schools because they relieve parents and caregivers of the monetary distress, enhance academic focus, and school safety.…

    • 760 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    School Uniformity

    • 1927 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The largest argument for school uniforms is that uniforms keep students more focused on bettering their education than they do on their clothes. However, all these arguments can be met with various counter arguments. School uniforms are expensive, and in inner city public schools, where school uniform policies are the most prominent, most families would not be able to afford such uniforms. School uniforms also promote uniformity over individuality, and may discourage students from choosing their own clothes. Choosing an outfit for oneself leads to the creation of a sense of identity and pride within oneself.…

    • 1927 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Furthermore, it is also create the empathy among students. To sum up, wearing uniform to school is very necessary for students all over the world. Some benefits that wearing uniform can bring to students are give students convenient time, protect the safety for students, and bring them an equality school environment. Students who wear uniform can save their time and less spend time on buying clothes before a school season. Students can escape from a lot of kidnapping cases.…

    • 1459 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Even though uniforms restrict a student’s freedom of speech, she uses statistics to support her argument that uniforms reduce school crimes. She believes that before students are able to learn effectively in school tensions need to be resolved. Her statistics show how uniforms lead to less tension in school and places more focus on a student’s education. Since uniforms help students see themselves as a part of a community, they feel…

    • 839 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    School uniforms are necessary elements of educational system. Every school is in essence a learning environment, which assists learning is acceptable and hinders learning is unacceptable. When the students show up with paints below waist, skirts above knees, or tight shirts with sexist or racist signs, this is not good appearance to view nor a good representation for the school. School uniforms are essential for school students because school uniforms contribute positively to student’s behavior and make life easier to students and parents. School uniforms are significant for helping students to appear more professional and to behave accordingly.…

    • 701 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays