Essay on Wearing Uniforms in Public Schools

Uniforms in public schools should be encouraged amidst the few challenges that undermine the implementation of compulsory school uniform policies. School uniforms are common in parochial and private institutions. However, for most public schools, the culture has failed to be well-acknowledged (Mitchell et al. 2003). Mandatory school uniform policies in the United States are only found in high-poverty regions. There should be mandatory school uniform policies to avoid disparities and segregation among the public institutions' students. Schools should be educational centers where students go in search of more knowledge and not fashion competitions.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

First, the school uniforms keep the students concentrated on their studies more than on clothes. Take an instance where all students, except for a few, are dressed in designer clothes. What will such differences bring? The few students will feel out of place and may fail to concentrate on their studies. When students are subjected to the same clothing, they become less disturbed about how they appear before their peers. By so doing, they can give more attention to their studies. Also, the uniforms provide a level platform for all students within the institution. Creating such an environment reduces the incidences of bullying and peer pressure. When there are no uniforms, the less-fortunate students may be bullied since they lack expensive clothing such as those of their wealthy counterparts (Brunsma 2005).

School uniforms also create a sense of belonging among the students of a particular institution. Picture the example of a football team. What does the uniform of a team depict? Without the uniform, there is no sense of belonging. It is the uniform that creates the bond, and the members of the team feel that they are united. The same case would apply to school uniforms in public institutions. When the students wear school uniforms, they can develop school pride, community spirit, unity, and a sense of belonging. Also, it is difficult to establish dressing code policies when students are attending school in plain clothes. However, when students are subjected to uniforms, the dress code policies are easier to develop. For example, in the case of girls, it becomes easy to state the length, and the material to use during the making of the skirts. Conversely, the boys' pants are easier to regulate concerning the bagginess and tightness.

Do uniforms have an impact on the punctuality of students? Punctuality in schools is an essential factor. Consider the time spent by teenagers trying out clothes before deciding the ideal pair to wear. A lot of time is wasted during such times. However, when uniforms are imposed, the time spent trying on different attires is minimized. When getting ready for school, the student spends minimal time hence improving on punctuality. Lateness becomes a non-issue in schools where uniforms are compulsory. Also, consider the sum of money parents spend on buying clothes for attending school. It is a financial burden for most parents to buy clothes regularly for their children for attending schools. However, with the imposition of uniforms, the parents' financial burden is eased (Brunsma 2005). A student requires only two or three pairs of uniforms which may last for a whole semester.

What are some of the arguments against uniforms in schools? Are they valid?

Those who are against school uniforms in public institutions argue that they undermine the students' right to express individuality and the freedom of speech (Mitchell et al. 2003). They claim that students learn about diversity over conformity and thus should start by applying the same in school. Individuality presses on being distinct from other persons. Schools have different uniforms which mark them as distinct. Also, individuality should not be marked regarding clothes and physical appearance but the personality of the student. The dressing code in schools is a myopic way of elaborating on individuality. Also, there is the argument presented that school uniforms bring socioeconomic disparities. However, this argument is based on the fact that most of the schools that have uniforms are found in the poor neighborhoods. This variation can be eliminated by ensuring that the clothes are worn by students in all public schools. Also, the uniforms are worn in many private institutions which are way expensive than the public schools hence the claim that uniforms are worn by the less fortunate students is futile.

Lastly, there is the argument that the push for uniforms in the public schools is more of a commercial interest rather than educational purposes. I disagree with these sentiments which are founded on prejudice observations. Parents spend a lot of money in purchase and re-purchase of school uniforms. The manufacturers of these uniforms make huge profits which some analysts interpret that they focus more on how much they sell and not the benefits that the uniforms bring. However, such claims are baseless since the spending that parents incur in buying other clothes surpass the amount spent in buying uniforms by far. In conclusion, it is evident that the benefits accrued to the effecting wearing of uniforms in public schools are many.

References

Brunsma, D. L. (2005). Uniforms in public schools: A decade of research and debate. Rowman& Littlefield Publishing Group, 4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706.

Mitchell, H. W., & Knechtle, J. C. (2003). Uniforms in public schools and the first amendment:A constitutional analysis. Journal of Negro Education, 487-494.