Should School Children Wear Uniforms?
In other parts of the world, they do wear school uniforms, even in public schools. In the United States, we know that school uniforms are normally limited to private schools. The question remains: should our school children wear uniforms to school?
The reason I am asking this question is that in Bloomfield, kids in K-8 are going to be required to wear them come fall. A post in Courant writes about this:
Proponents suggest that uniform policies improve safety. How many incidents of violence related to gang colors have occurred on the playground of Bloomfield elementary schools in the past five years and what was the reduction since the voluntary policy was implemented? How many incidents of 6 to 10 year old trespassers at Bloomfield elementary schools that have been more easily identified with a uniform policy have actually occurred? The policy ’solves’ problems that don’t exist. Putting a white polo shirt on a school bully will not eliminate the bully; it will simply make more bullies wearing white polo shirts - making it more difficult to identify the perpetrator. Rather than improving safety this policy does the opposite. This conclusion is supported by empirical data that showed a negative effect on the perception of safety by both students and principals in schools with uniform policies.
So the bottom line is that children need to follow certain guidelines as to what they can wear in school. Let us look at both sides of the argument.
On the one hand, having children wear school uniforms can make it easier for authorities to identify intruders – those who are not supposed to be within the school premises and who may pose threats to the children’s safety. Another argument would be that the families can save money on clothing as the children would have a set of uniforms to wear day in and day out.
On the other hand, if children already have enough clothes to wear to school, having to purchase new uniforms would simply add to the family’s expenses. Regarding security, do we really think that children in K-8 would sneak into the school premises and pose a threat to the “legitimate” school children?
I think that personally, I have nothing against school uniforms. They can be handy – no need to dwell on what the kid would have to wear everyday in school. But to use the argument that it will make schools safer is, I think, not fair. There are other more effective things we can do to ensure school safety. Let us not use school safety as an excuse to do things that we want.
Are you for or against school uniforms?
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Posted on July 30th, 2008 by Deborah J Thomas
Filed under: Administrators, News, Parents, People Involved, School Grade Level, School Safety Issues, Security, Students
I’m not for or against uniforms. The questions that need to be answered when considering a switch to uniforms are:
Does the current dress code impact school safety?
How will the community react to this change?
What positive impact will this bring?
What negative effects may the policy change have?
What is the smallest change we can make that will have the greatest impact?
How does this change fit with the school’s plan for improving school climate and safety?
There may be more questions. The point is that this would be part of a plan. Without thought about what else you would do, it might not have the intended positive effect.
it was helpful!!!
i need a little bit more information
i believet that students should choose rather they want to wear uniforms. some people express themselves through their clothing and for those children that doesn’t like being like everyone else this might be a little hard for those people!!
i know that children must follow the rules but i believe that children need to express themselves as far as what they want to wear in school!!!
please reply back to this rather you agree or not!!!
Dearest Darlingest Readers,
It’s not always easy being green. I realize that uniforms are manditory in many schools across the nation, therefore I believe that America stands strong! We should look presentable, not to mention here in Shizz University, being a Shizz student is difficult and such a bear. Haha.
-Goodbye fellow Ozians.
I have three reasons why kids should wear uniform.
One reason is because if we are all wearing the same clothing there won’t be any discussion about whom wearing what. Another reason is most kids don’t have a lot of regular clothes and if they continue wearing the same thing over & over of course that will lead to someone to notice that and talk about them. Finally the last reason I think kids should wear uniform is because if there unexpected guess in the building to see how they kids and how the school if crepitated and the kids just dressing any old way will not be acceptable. It sets an example of the school.
Also there would be more fights/bully due to the lack of ‘fashion’. Young people often express their feelings through the clothing that they wear. The schools have instituted the uniform code to keep everyone from any hurt feelings or jealousies b/c maybe one child can afford more expensive clothes than others. Also to keep the theft of designer clothes down.
If everyone’s wearing the same thing threes no need to envy anyone else. Schools mandate uniforms so that there is no one person dressed better or may think they are better than anyone else. This conclusion is supported by empirical data that showed a negative effect on the perception of safety by both students and principals in schools with uniform policies. I think that personally, I have nothing against school uniforms.
Uniforms can be handy no need to dwell on what the kid would have to wear everyday in school.
Thank you for all of this information! I am doing a persuasive essay for school about why uniforms are helpful. This information really saved me a lot of time and internet. hehe!
THANK YOU
thanks for all the information in school uniforms, they are pursuasive essay, and while i am here i say kids shouldn’t have to wear uniforms because they have to show expression about themselves!!! =D
No thy should not; 1.freedom of religion 2. individuality 3. the cost of them 4. freedom of choice
I dont think kids should wear school uniforms, because of the ways people may make fun of their “fashion sence”.
mossbaby is stupid no one bullies over clothes at the most they will talk about it once and then leave it and it wont be aggressive it will be more of a laughing giving them a hard time type thing
I agree with mossbaby.
Im also doing a persuasive article on why we should wear uniforms. At my school we have plenty of bullying surrounding who’s wearing what, and how “cheap” a person is because of their namebrands. If there were uniforms and somebody said, “Eww, look what she’s wearing, how cheap is that?.” the other person could easily say, “I’m wearing the exact same thing as you.”
im doing a speech on how uniforms help, i agree with mossbaby, but i also think that the people wearing uniforms should have a little freedom too. i mean the shirts are okay, but my school only lets you wear khaki or navy. and if you wear a non school jacket, you get detention. i think that is a little rediculous, but we have a big school so they are trying to get everyone in line. we have alot of people who have money, and they bug you if you don’t have the best clothes at school gatherings.we have only 2 uniforms that we have to wear on certain days. we have a chapel uniform, and a p.e uniform otherwise its ok to wear any school shirt.
thanks everyoneeeeeee! it saved me soo much time becausee im doing an essay about it thankss xx
NO kids should no have to wear uniforms to school because why should i spend my money on some thing my child is only going to wear for a school year + kids these day are growing every time you turn around
Students should have wear uniforms to school because try to make students focus in school instead of worry what they wear.
I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD WEAR DRESS CODE BECAUSE DONT NOBODY WANT TO SEE YOUR BOXERS OR GIRLS BODY PARTS SO ALLLL YALL THAT SAID THAT YOU SHOULDENT WEAR DRESS CODE THINK TWICE
well im against uniforms because u want even be able to show wat u have an u need to feel comfortable with your style
I am doing an essay on school uniforms. From what I have found, I don’t think uniforms should be required. Students are abusing the dress code and that makes Staff think that uniforms should be brought in. A lot of people would say of course, your a student and you don’t want uniforms. If you think of it there’s a lot more cons to uniforms. Do we really want to be growing up in schools full of clones?! It may be cheaper for a parents but it isn’t bad to shop at thrift stores like Goodwill, Jubilee, Salvation Army, etc. Sometimes you can find some designer clothes for cheap. Some kids refuse to go to thrift store because “it’s not cool”. With this economic crisis going on, not every family has the money to buy fancy clothing from expensive stores. Even with uniforms, students are going to find some way to make the uniform ” cooler “. With uniforms, students do not get to express themselves. They may not be pretty and they may not be skinny but anyone can express who they are through clothing. So really, overall, uniforms will not help schools.
i think uniforms r stupid kids should epress what and hwo they were it
i do not agree with all the people that said that we should wear uniform because when you wear uniform people make fun of you because a lot of people dont wear uniform in their school and you like the only one. That’s not right that you go outside and you have to go through that every single day because they are going to bully you because you got unifrom on so none of the schools should not wear uniform!!!
( if you got a problem of what im saying or want to comment say to me my email is Luvablebaby448)
uniforms are some of the dumbest things on planet earth nobody wants to grow up all around clones & they will cost too much & they dont help with test scores or vandalism as much as theyre supposed to & if you say they do then i advise you to go read all the story behind Long Beach school district’s improvements & then you should google studies on uniforms & you will see just how bad they are
i think that it is pretty gay
im wearing a uniform right now
and i have to do a really big essay on this
but thanks for info
Kids need to be individuals! It is important for kids to express how they feel while they are young. Building self esteem threw self expression will help kids learn how to dress nicer.
A school uniforms policy inhibits a student’s freedom of choice. Schools teach students that our country is a free one. But when school boards make students wear what they tell them too it takes away the student’s freedom because kids could not show their likes. They couldn’t show how they dress like hip-hop, preppy, or mix matched. This isn’t fair because it takes the kids personality away.
Another reason why kids shouldn’t wear uniforms is because uniforms would be uncomfortable. Instead of being comfortable and focusing on class you would be itching, scratching, and being distracted from their uniforms. In the winter you would have to wear extra clothes and you would sweat if they had the heaters on. Some students have to wear something they don’t want to, like skirts.
The money is expensive and predictable. Some kids parents cant afford the uniforms because they cost over 180$ at some stores and others higher. Parents also have to buy normal clothes for the weekend or for parties and they can’t pant their nails, can’t do their makeup, and can’t do your hair. And girls need there up or down or pant their nails girls need to think there pretty I think I no that cause I am a girl.
I think that kids should be able to express them selves parents and other adults tell them to do there best and be there selves well how are they suppose to be there selves if they wear uniform….duh i mean what is the point of trying to get to know somebody and then you cant tell cause first of all you can tell what a person may be like by the way he or she dress thats a major thing i get tired of adults that like to decide something but not thinking that the fact that kids will be kids if you don;t like the way they dress sorry but get over it it’s a kids job to express your self and you don’t incourage that by making them wear stupid uniform that pissed me off when i heard about the uniform i know my daughter was so sad when she found out because my daughter loves to express her self duces
I dont care what mossbaby has to say. I say we should all dress up in what we like to wear. We should express what we like to the world and not be dressed like clones. I meen really, its the 21 century, not when jesus was born. I say to obama that we hate uniforms and they look so ugly. Not to mention my daughter is on my side with this to. Also my son. Heres a question to all who like uniforms.
I don’t want to get offensive but it is like you rewired your brain and don’t read fashion magazines. NO UNIFORM FOREVER!!!!!!!