MANDATORY OF WEARING SCHOOL UNIFORMS

Implementation of school uniforms may be a hot topic, but it is certainly not a new
concept. Around the globe, students have been donning school uniforms for centuries.
The first recorded use of standardized dress in education may have been in England in
1222, when the Archbishop of Canterbury mandated that students wear a robe-like outfit
called the “cappa clausa.” Wearing school uniforms may have a negative impact, for the
students. The disadvantages of wearing school uniforms are outweighed by the
benefits for students: it plays an important role in promoting pride, self-confidence,
removing the additional pressures of deciding what to wear and the added stress of
meeting the expectations of their peers.

Uniforms have a positive impact on student safety in two ways: they lessen fights,
gang activity, and victimization of students. For example, Long Beach, California, officials
reported that fighting in schools decreased by more than 50%, assault and battery
decreased by 34%, sex offenses decreased by 74%, and robbery decreased by 66% in
the first year of the mandatory uniform policy. In order to determine whether bullying and
gang activity were more prevalent in uniformed or non-uniformed schools, Kathleen Wade
ran an experiment. She administered a questionnaire to faculty and students at various
schools as part of her research to determine whether there was a discernible difference.
According to her research results, wearing school uniforms significantly lowers bullying
and gang activity among students.

Wearing school uniforms eliminates the need to keep up with fashion. Expensive
clothing fads come and go, especially for students. All students wearing the same uniform
all year round saves money. If students have a set uniform to wear to school, parents
don't have to worry about creating an entire wardrobe for them. Parents no longer have
to fret about having plenty of tops, bottoms, shoes, and accessories to complete outfits
and have something different to wear each day. If the school has a school uniform policy,
it may seem expensive upfront to buy multiple sets of uniform pieces. However, if parents
only have to buy those pieces, it will save money overall. For example, instead of parents
buying dozens of shirts so their child has something different to wear every day, parents
only need to buy 5 or so shirts that can easily be washed and rotated.

Additionally, wearing school uniforms keeps students focused on their education

rather than their clothes. It can be damaging to a student's confidence if they feel they
don't fit in or don't have the latest and greatest clothing. Wearing school uniforms removes
the pressure of keeping up. One of the most significant barriers to academic growth is a
lack of confidence. According to the National Association of Secondary School Principals,
"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."

In conclusion, we support the requirement of wearing school uniforms because it

is clear that wearing school uniforms benefits not only students but also parents.This
provides equality for all students. Wearing school uniforms may seem simple, but it has
significant benefits in terms of safety, socialization, savings, and confidence, especially
now that we are returning to face-to-face learning, with students attending school almost
every day.

WORKS CITED:
Brunsma, David L., and Kerry A. Rockquemore. "Effects of Student Uniforms on
Attendance, Behavior Problems, Substance Use, and Academic Achievement." The
Journal of Educational Research 92.1 (1998): 53-62. Web. 31 March 2015.
<https://faculty.unlv.edu/sloe/Courses/EPY%20702/Class%20Exercises/Lecture%201%
20Materials/Articles/Brunsma%20et%20al.%20(1998).pdf Archived 5 March 2016 at the
Wayback Machine>
Wade, K. K., & Stafford, M. E. (2003). Public School Uniforms: Effect on Perceptions of
Gang Presence, School Climate, and Student Self-Perceptions. Education and Urban
Society, 35(4), 399–420. http://doi.org/10.1177/0013124503255002
Wilde, Marian. The Debate Over Dress Codes and Uniforms (2006): 1-3.Boward
Teacher's Union. July 2006. Web. 9 April 201