Pros And Cons Of Mandatory School Uniforms

Improved Essays
School uniforms are a very controversial issue and continues to be an on going debate among several individuals regarding whether they should or should not be made mandatory in all schools. Many individuals have their reasons as to why school uniforms should not be implemented and made mandatory in the school systems such as taking away from the students right to self-expression, students opposing the idea of school uniforms, and that school uniforms may promote conformity over individuality. Whereas, other individuals think of it as a positive and believe that it should be implemented and made mandatory within all school systems. School uniforms are common in private schools but are also starting to become a popular trend in public schools …show more content…
However, “with the implementation of uniforms, students no longer spend hours deciding what they are going to wear to school” (Bradshaw), instead school uniforms keeps students more focused on their education and not their clothes. “A bulletin published by the National Association of Secondary School Principals stated that "when all students are wearing the same outfit, they are less concerned about how they look and how they fit in with their peers; thus, they can concentrate on their schoolwork” (“Pro & Con Arguments: "Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms?"”). With the use of uniforms it will set a more serious tone within the school environment that is conductive to learning and can improve the students performance. Schools that have the implementation of uniforms were proven to have fewer disciplinary problems among students and also increased attendance than non-uniform schools. In a study done at South Shore School in Seattle, Washington it was reported that the behavior and attitude in the school improved by 98 percent, and the absence and tardiness went down significantly as well (Bradshaw). Another study completed in 2010 at the University of Houston found that the language test scores for female elementary school students increased by about three percentile points after uniforms were implemented in the school (“Pro & Con Arguments: "Should …show more content…
However, school uniforms are considerably cheaper to buy than non-uniform clothes. What’s even better is that students can wear them multiple times and it is not considered unusual. Bradshaw states that “parents can buy a few pairs of pants, shirts, or other variations of a uniform for under $100, while parents of non-uniform-wearing students can spend from several hundreds up to $1,000 a year on clothing”. Based off a 2013 national survey that was taken by 517 United States school leaders, the reports revealed that 94% of those that were surveyed believed that “one of the main benefits to parents is that school uniforms are more cost-effective than regular apparel,” and the average annual cost of school uniforms per child is around $150 or less ((“Pro & Con Arguments: "Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms?"”). A uniform company generally prices a complete uniform set for about $45, and students typically only need maybe two or three sets. Thus, school uniforms will save families money and students won’t pressure their parents to buy clothes some families cannot afford. When the uniform policy is enforced, it essentially puts every individual on the same level as to the style of his or her clothing and how much it cost. As mentioned by Bradshaw, “uniforms reduce the differences between the haves and

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Requiring School Uniforms Being a little older than the average student it seems that peer pressures were different from what they are now. Friends my age remember going through grade school, junior high school and high school and not having to wear a uniform. In today’s society school age children have tremendous pressures from their peers to fit in and do favorably academically. In order to prepare our children for college and the real world, I believe school uniforms must be required to help our children succeed. I have three reasons why uniforms must be required, first they are economical, second classroom distractions are reduced and third they promote societal fairness.…

    • 735 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Pro School Uniforms

    • 1700 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Fifty-four percent of students say their school uniform does not compromise them of their identity, and forty-one percent say they noticed fewer disruptions in the classroom (Lake). The amount of school districts switching to school uniforms is on the rise; however, it is a hot debate right now. A school district is either extremely for or against their school switching to uniforms for many reasons. The school districts that are for switching to uniforms think it will benefit their school by cutting down on discrimination against the low-income students and create equality. They also believe uniforms can help lower the amount of cliques between students, and make the classroom a better learning environment.…

    • 1700 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Every day students come to school to learn. School makes up about a third of a student's life. Some schools currently have uniforms while others do not. This has been a national debate for years whether it should be mandatory to wear uniforms or not. Although some people believe uniforms don’t benefit students, opponents argue it does and it helps for a variety of reasons.…

    • 642 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Viadero, Debra. "Uniform Effects?: Schools Cite Benefits Of Student Uniforms, But Researchers See Little Evidence Of Effectiveness. " Education Week 24.18 (2005): 27-29. ERIC.…

    • 1795 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Students should be required to wear uniforms so that they can focus more on learning than on fashion, or on the hard decision of what to wear in the morning. Students wearing uniform cuts down bullying and improves discipline, helps promote focus, and save parents money throughout the school year. The main reason for uniforms is that they promote discipline, which in turn helps improve academic performance (Bennett). People who oppose school uniform have stated uniform requirement violates, or disregards, the right to freedom of expression, ("Fashion do or don 't?"). I believe students wearing uniforms makes them all feel the same, and look nice and…

    • 1053 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Recently, they have been arguments that school uniforms will keep students focused on their education, not their clothes. Some people think it is not important for a child to choose what they want to wear but that will actually violate the student’s right to express his or her freedom. School uniforms should not be required because it breaks a student’s right to freedom of expression, and is a financial…

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Over the course of several years, the controversy of allowing dress codes in public schools has been the topic in several school districts. The school districts believe that a dress code will help students to focus more on their education, and the dress code will decrease the amount of inappropriate attire. Thus, the school desires to enforce a strict dress code to all the students in order to further the students’ knowledge and well-being. However, numerous people disagree with the schools proclaiming that students should have the ability to wear whatever the students are comfortable wearing. Therefore, the students can express themselves and have the ability to make their own fashion decisions.…

    • 1842 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Several years ago in the United States of America, uniforms were symbolic for a higher socioeconomic status in the private sector of education. Today many public school systems across America have eliminated a dress code and are implementing uniform policies. One in five elementary schools in the United States now requires uniforms, according to The National Center for Education Statistics (“Should Schools Require Uniforms?” 7). On the contrary there has been numerous debates over whether uniforms limits students’ freedom of expression or improves the quality of education students receive. Allowing students to express themselves and individuality is important, however, school should be designed more so as a learning work environment.…

    • 532 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    School uniforms have always been a hot topic for everyone, teachers, students and parents that they often have different view points on. Because the issue directly affects the safety of students from all ages, nobody can make a choice solely on personal opinion, facts have to be used. According to a recent study conducted by Raymond Fench in long beach, California, “after a two year uniform policy in k-8, assault and battery in district schools decreased by 34%, possession of drugs went down, robberies were down and vandalism was lowered” (Procon.org) . The statistics all point out that having uniform is beneficial to all students and faculty. Because, the bullying that happens when students dress to what they feel like will be eliminated.…

    • 838 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    People who oppose school uniforms argue that requiring students to dress in a particular way is against the First Amendment of the US Constitution. Another opposing argument is that School uniforms restrict the students’ freedom of expression. Another argument against school uniforms is the claim that it forces conformity and decreases creativity development. Plainly stated, most students don’t like the requirement of school uniforms. Others who support school uniforms will argue that school uniforms improve academic achievement, school safety and the overall benefits for students’ social atmosphere…

    • 1768 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    School Uniforms If you were offered to go to a school that requires you to wear a school uniform, would you let your kids go to that school? If you say no, you're not the only one. The topic of school uniforms have been debated for quite some time on whether school uniforms should be required for every school. People say that uniforms don’t cost that much and prevents bullying while others say that they cost too much and may be uncomfortable.…

    • 531 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    School Uniforms Mandatory

    • 1007 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Whether school uniforms should be mandatory or not has been a debate that has lasted many years. Not many studies have been conducted over the issue, but the ones that did, presented positive effects with children who wear school uniforms. The board of education needs to enforce a school uniform policy amongst all public schools because regular clothing may be destructive to students’ social and learning skills. Doing so will present a stress-free environment that will help children improve academically and socially. “As of the 2007-2008 school year, 16.5% of all the public schools in the United States required students to wear uniforms” ("How Many Schools Require Uniforms?").…

    • 1007 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    School uniforms have been a controversial topic since they have begun to be implemented in schools. Some people believe they have no significant benefits and that they are a waste of time, but there is evidence to show that they help more than they hurt. “…86% of schools surveyed in 2013 believed their use of uniforms made a significant, positive impact… (Principal Leadership). School uniforms are beneficial to schools because they increase safety, are cheaper, easier to enforce, and limit distractions.…

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    School uniforms are popular in schools around the world, and are starting to gain popularity, in not only private schools but public schools as well, throughout the United States. While some parents and students may be against school uniforms due to students not being able to express themselves through their clothing, there are many positive outlooks as to why a school uniform policy should be enforced. The enforcement of school uniforms creates a level playing field amongst students, reducing peer pressure and bullying. School uniforms also help diminish the separation of social classes, promote unity, and help save parents money.…

    • 831 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Uniforms give them the sense of being dressed up to go some place nice thus changing their attitude to be better and more focused on school work (Huss 36-37). Academics are important in life, and school uniforms help boost the children 's attitudes to focus more on them. In a study orchestrated to receive teachers ' opinions about school uniforms at their school, the teachers believe the uniforms were better for the students. One teacher stated, "An increase sense of responsibility by students" while another teacher stated, "A more effective use of instructional time, and greater participation in classroom activities"…

    • 1798 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays