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Lesson 1 Research

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50 views2 pages

Lesson 1 Research

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sehrgutryan91
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© © All Rights Reserved
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The Pros and Cons of School Uniforms

Pros of School Uniforms


School uniforms, while heavily debated, can provide some positives for the kids who are
asked to wear them and the school itself. This is why many private schools require
uniforms and why more and more public schools have started to follow the trend. Here
are the four largest benefits to school uniforms:

1. They Can Break Down Class Barriers Between Students


When students don’t wear school uniforms it can be easy to spot kids with the most –
and least – economic privilege based on what they wear to school. One argument used in
favor of school uniforms is that when kids wear uniforms visible class markers between
rich kids and poor kids are decreased or eliminated, which may lead to more social
mixing along economic lines.

2. They Can Increase Student Focus


Another argument that’s often raised in favor of uniforms is that they may increase
student focus. The evidence for this seems to be thin, but many proponents of uniforms
argue that when students don’t have clothing to notice, comment on or respond to, they
can spend more mental energy on learning. Uniforms, this argument goes, add to a
sense of disciplined learning in school.

3. They Can Increase the Sense of Community in a School


Uniforms may also build community in a school as students of all ages and alumni bond
or commiserate over the outfits they all associate with their school days. When schools
that have traditionally required uniforms toy with removing the uniform requirement, it’s
often the alumni who speak out in favor of preserving the tradition of school uniforms.

4. School Uniforms Can Promote Safety


In areas where students may be gang-involved, uniforms can increase safety by
preventing students from wearing clothing that declares – intentionally or inadvertently –
gang affiliation. Some proponents of school uniforms argue that uniforms can increase
student safety in school and outside of school, as well as increasing students’ ability to
blend in and focus on learning without having to worry that their clothing choices might
make them a target.

Cons of School Uniforms


With all the positives that come with school uniforms, there are also some drawbacks.
These are all related to the personal impacts that the requirement might have on a kid or
the family of a child who is asked to wear these uniforms. The four largest cons of
wearing school uniforms are:

1. They Can Be Expensive for Parents


Keeping a child in school uniforms may be more expensive for parents and guardians
than buying regular clothes would be. Often, uniforms are only available from a limited
number of suppliers and the lack of competition (and captive market) keeps prices high.
Or, a uniform will include pricier items like blazers and dress shoes, which some families
might struggle to afford.
2. Uniforms Limit Student Self-Expression
Another argument made against uniforms is that they limit students’ self-expression.
Teenagers, in particular, are famous for needing to express their emotions and their
tastes in music, fashion and art through clothing, hair and piercings. School can be tough
on kids and teens as it is, without taking away one of the few areas where they can exert
some control and express themselves, say opponents of school uniforms.

3. Uniforms Might Be Sexist


Some uniforms may strike students and parents as sexist. For example, if a uniform
requires girls to wear skirts and pants are not allowed, some students and parents may
object, leading to conflict with the school administration. Not all girls want to wear skirts
and some may resent being told to wear traditionally “feminine” garments. Also, if a
student is unsure of their place on the gender spectrum or is experimenting with
different forms of gender presentation, school uniforms can present a real challenge.

4. Uniforms Lead to More Policing of Students


If a school has a uniform policy, it generally tries to enforce that policy by monitoring
students’ clothing and punishing students for violating uniform requirements. Of course,
even schools that don’t require uniforms may police student clothing that’s deemed too
revealing or offensive, but uniforms may add to the attention focused on student dress.

This can make students feel that they’re being scrutinized and punished for their
appearance, which could have negative effects on student self-esteem or attitudes
toward the school. And if students are sent home for uniform violations will miss valuable
learning time. Plus, policing student uniforms takes time and effort on the part of
administrators.

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