Advantages of School Uniforms Essay Example

Imagine you are a new student and you do not have the best clothes, and people make fun of you so now you are getting upset and mad, but instead of getting beat up about it, your school got school uniforms.  But it has come to people that this very datable, but school uniforms are the way to go because school uniforms create a level playing field among students, it is being adopted by more schools, school uniforms deter crime and increase student safety, and school uniforms can save parents money

Two advantages of uniforms are that create a level playing field among students and students can express their individuality. First, kids that wear school uniforms are less likely to be bullied. For example, “Figures from the United States where fewer than a quarter of schools have uniforms, reveal 160,000 children miss school every day due to bullying and classroom intimidation while one in ten drops out of the education system for similar reasons. In the UK more than 16,000 young people are estimated to skip school due to bullying.” According to (“Research Shows Wearing a School Uniform Helps to Reduce Bullying.”) audial “If it means that the schoolrooms will be more orderly, more disciplined," Mr. Clinton said, "…and that our young people will learn to evaluate themselves by what they are on the inside instead of what they're wearing on the outside, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms"  (Alison Mitchell). This shows that a lot of people are bullied, and over one hundred thousand people miss school because of their clothing. But in the UK, fewer than 16,000 skip school due to bullying. Bill Clinton himself said that young people will learn to evaluate themselves by what they are on the inside instead of what they're wearing on the outside. Additionally, students can express their individuality in school uniforms by introducing variations and adding accessories. For example, “Uniforms are worn in almost every secondary school in the UK (98%) and the majority of primary schools, 79%, ranging from a formal blazer and tie to more relaxed polo shirt-based outfit. The report says that while schools are not legally bound to have a uniform policy the Department of Education states they play “a valuable role in contributing to the ethos of a school and setting an appropriate tone” ( Department of Education). It found that schools with strict uniform rules report that bullies find it harder to identify targets which are historically children who do not quiet. “A standard dress makes for a level playing field and removed pressure on children to wear the latest fashions or designer labels which can highlight inequalities among students who come from different family backgrounds.” (“Research Shows Wearing a School Uniform Helps to Reduce Bullying.”)  this shows that people that do not have a lot of friends it is mean that popular kids will have less of a risk to be bullied. By the kid in poverty. All in all, this shows that people have a level playing field.

On the other hand, the disadvantages of school uniforms are that they don’t help self-esteem. “School uniforms emphasize the socio-economic divisions they are supposed to eliminate.” (“Procon.org”) However, school uniforms promote school spirit for example. “Wearing school uniforms raises school pride and community spirit. School uniforms promote school spirit because they provide students with a sense of unity. This unity brings a bond that allows students to feel closer and more connected.” (“How School Uniforms Promote School Spirit”) this proves that there are more good reasons even though there are some bad things.

This shows that even though they limit self-expression, school uniforms boost school spirit. Moreover, “This is unpleasant for some students and downright torture for others. Consider a teenage transgender student who knows that skirts, dresses, and blouses make them feel uncomfortable. Forcing these students to wear a school uniform is cruel and can have significant impacts on their self-esteem” (Peter McGuire). People have their wear clothe that fit their body. To sum up, school uniforms can lower self-esteem, but they can increscent school spirit.

The three most important advantages of school uniforms are that they’re being adopted by more schools, school uniforms deter crime and increase student safety, and school uniforms can save parents money. First, the school is choosing to apply school uniforms. For example, “According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 20% of all public schools have adopted uniform mandates. Approximately 22% of elementary schools, 19% of all middle schools, and 10% of high schools currently require uniforms, and this trend continues to accelerate” (Grace Chen). This data is show that only 20% of American schools have uniforms, but in the U.K “90%-School uniform is worn in over 90% of schools in England” (Esther Fleming). This leads to my next reason. School uniforms deter crime and increase student safety and school “Overall, Washington is very similar to the nation in the percentage of schools recording violent incidents on campus, 76.3 percent versus 75.5 percent. The state had a higher percentage of schools recording serious violent crime, 21.9 percent than occurred nationally, 17.0 percent”( Washington Statistical Analysis Center Violent Crime in Washington’s Schools 2008-09 School Year). But in the U.K, “6.3% had been assaulted • 4.7% had been sexually assaulted or raped; • 4.5% had been robbed at school” (Tina Power). This is lower than America. Finely, school uniforms save people money for example, “The average teenager spends $2,391 per year according to the ‘Taking Stock with Teen’ research reports. Upper-income teens spending on clothes add up to nearly $1,100 annually. On average, the teenager spends $2150 in 2020 and that's due to the pandemic. 93% of parents say their children influence family and household purchases” (Jacob. m). But school uniforms can cost, “$25-$200 per outfit” (Scott Miller) this shows that people can spend less and focus on other things. All in all, this proves that school uniforms save people money, less crime, and more school are bringing it into play.

To summarize, school uniforms create a level playing field among students, reducing peer pressure and bullying, it is being adopted by more schools, school uniforms will deter crime and increase student safety, and school uniforms can save parents money. Go confront your school about school uniforms today.

Work sited 

“Dress Code.” Dress Code, 3 Jan. 2020, https://dresscoderanchi.com/how-school-uniforms-promote-school-spirit/. 

“Pro and Con: School Uniforms.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-school-uniforms. 

“Research Shows Wearing a School Uniform Helps to Reduce Bullying.” bTRU2u, trutexbtru2u, 8 Nov. 2018, https://www.trutexbtru2u.co.uk/research-shows-wearing-school-uniform-helps-reduce-bullying/. 

Chen, Grace. “Uniforms: The Pros and Cons.” Public School Review, Publicschoolreview, https://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/uniforms-the-pros-and-cons#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20National%20Center,this%20trend%20continues%20to%20accelerate. 

Fleming, Esther. “Home.” SidmartinBio, Sidmartinbio, 26 Jan. 2021, https://www.sidmartinbio.org/what-is-the-debate-about-school-uniforms/. 

M., Jacob. “22 Fascinating Teenage Spending Statistics That Need to Know in 2021.” Renolon, 14 Jan. 2022, https://www.renolon.com/teenage-spending-statistics/#:~:text=The%20average%20teenager%20spends%20%242%2C391,Stock%20with%20Teen%E2%80%9D%20research%20reports.&text=Upper%20income%20teens%20spend%20on,influence%20family%20and%20household%20purchases. 

McGuire, Peter. “No Skirting the School Uniform Debate.” The Irish Times, The Irish Times, 8 Feb. 2016, https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/no-skirting-the-school-uniform-debate-1.2522619Mitchell, Alison. “Clinton Will Advise Schools on Uniforms.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 25 Feb. 1996, https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/25/us/clinton-will-advise-schools-on-uniforms.html. 

Power, Tina. SCHOOL VIOLENCE, https://section27.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Chapter-17.pdf. 

“Washington State Criminal Justice Data Book - Data Definitions.” Washington Statistical Analysis Center Violent Crime in Washington’s Schools 2008-09 School Year, https://sac.ofm.wa.gov/sites/all/themes/wasac/assets/docs/cjdb_dictionary.pdf.