School uniform - Research Paper Example

School Uniform Introduction A school uniform is a dress code worn by students to symbolize what school they come from – whether from a private or a public institution. A basic school uniform for boys includes a white shirt and a black trouser while for girls include a white blouse and a skirt. Other schools require a more formal dress code which comprises of a coat and tie (Dunlap 26). The wearing of school uniform originated back in the religious educational institutions in Germany and England (Brunsma 3). The wearing of proper school uniform has become a long debate on whether it provides an advantageous effect or the opposite to the school life of students for years. Many students who are trendsetters and individualists are against it while the conservative ones are in favor for it. This paper will explore the pros and cons of school uniform to students. It will analyze on the impacts of school uniform to students in regard to their academic performance, student life, and behavior. Pros in Wearing a School Uniform One positive impact of school uniform is the prevention of gang activities and other violent acts by students because they can be easily detected if they do such actions (Wiseman and Hunt 200). Students will be more mindful with their actions because they are bringing the name of their school through their uniform, and such violent acts will be prevented since it will put the reputation of their school to shame. Furthermore, Wiseman and Hunt also cite an example on the successful program brought out by the imposition of school uniform to students in Long Beach, California where a dramatic decrease of student violence had occurred after a year it was imposed (200). Former U.S President Bill Clinton also suggests the use of school uniforms for public schools in order to lessen the cases of violence and gang wars to happen (qtd. in Brunsma). This initiated the introduction of school uniforms in the public schools in the U.S. Ebert and Culyer note that the imposition of school uniforms lessens the unequivocal existence of financial disparity among students (213). Since the wealthy students will wear the same clothes as with the less privileged, the latter will not feel inferior, and thus, increasing their self esteem. Bullying cases will be lessened and prevented since the rich can no longer make fun of their classmates who cannot afford to buy branded and signature clothes. The implementation of school uniforms diminishes distractions of students from unnecessary contemplation of what to wear every day, thus, focusing their attention more to school academics (Ebert and Culyer 213). This would greatly improve the students’ academic performance since their attention will be focused more on their subjects rather than on the effort in looking good and being on fashion all the time. Peer pressure to be wearing what is in for fashion and to dress expensively will also lessen; thus, students focus their efforts more in learning and studying (Larson 180). Performance at school will greatly improve, since they look good and smart in a school uniform; they tend to perform better at school. Oneil implies that when students put on a school uniform every day, this will give them a connotation that they have to take their education seriously (61). When they see their parents going to work wearing their business suits and attires every day, students will also get motivated to practice a business-like approach in dealing with their studies since they are wearing a uniform themselves to school. Not only that they look smart in a uniform, they also look proper and neat in a uniform. School uniforms are economical and practical as compared with buying fashionable clothes since students will just have to repeatedly wear their uniforms everyday (Oneil 61). Parents favor school uniforms more than not wearing one because they will not be pressured with their children to buy designer clothes for them to fit in the ostracizing crowd (Oneil 62). They will just have to buy a set of school uniform every school year and not every time a new fad of clothes comes along. Furthermore, great savings will be derived from purchasing a set of school uniform rather than buying clothes every season. Oneil also emphasizes on the sense of belongingness that students feel when they wear their school uniforms (62). It gives the students an improved feeling of pride towards the school that they are in, and it boosts their morale as students per se. This leads to an improved participation in school programs and a better performance in school activities. This also entails that students are one, and they are united in accomplishing their goals and dreams since they are wearing the same uniform. Cons of Wearing a School Uniform Along with the positive effects of school uniform implementation in educational institutions, there will also be negative effects to be considered. One of them is the inhibition of the students’ individuality and creativity (Ebert and Culyer 213). Other students consider the wearing of school uniforms as a violation to their freedom of expression and creativity because they will be required to wear the same mundane clothes as the other students (Alexander and Alexander 377). A case has been presented in the Arizona court in regard to this issue, and the court had decided that the school’s imposition for the compliance of school uniform to the students has been justified, and if students do not see it fit, it is their discretion to transfer to another school (Alexander and Alexander 377). Another disadvantage of school uniforms is the rise of rebellion of students against the school’s rule of wearing them every day. Oneil mentions the probable non-compliance of some students who are against in wearing the proper school uniform in terms of length and color which would greatly affect the enforcing power of teachers in implementing them over their students (62). Whatever rule there may be, students always tend to resist and a school uniform policy is not an exemption of it. When students go against the school uniform policy rules and guidelines, it does not necessarily mean that they wanted to fully negate the policy; they only wanted to resist the rule (Oneil 62). One disadvantage that Ebert and Culyer present is the unnecessary purchase of clothes by parents that they find not suitable to be used after class (213). Parents consider buying school uniforms as an additional cost to their budget since they believed that the clothes the students already have are suitable to be worn to school every day. Oneil also implies that although parents spend money for school uniforms, it only happens once every school year and school uniforms now are affordable as compared to designer clothes (63). Conclusion The implementation of school uniform has been an ongoing battle between those who are in favor for it and against it. This paper illustrates the significant pros and cons of school uniform. Those in favors emphasized that having or wearing a school uniform has positive impacts to student, such as reducing cases of student violence and financial inferiority. Also, students’ performances in school are improved as they gained self confidence. In contrast, it has been mentioned that school uniform completion would hold back students’ creativity and self expression. The worst scenario is uprising against the school. Hence, based on realities presented in this paper, it is hard to tell whether a school uniform is good or bad. Works Cited Alexander, Kern and M. David Alexander. American Public School Law. 6th ed. Belmont: Thomson West, 2005. Print. Brunsma, David L. The School Uniform Movement and What it Tells Us about American Education: A Symbolic Crusade. Lanham: The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc., 2004. Print. Dunlap, Scott E. The Comprehensive Handbook of School Safety. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2013. Print. Ebert, Edward S., and Richard C. Culyer. School: An Introduction to Education. 2nd ed. Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2008. Print. Larson, Rodney. Improving the Odds, Raising the Class: American Education. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2009. Print. Oneil, T. P. Student Manifesto. Ft. Lauderdale: Liberation International Ministries Publishing, 2005. Print. Wiseman, Dennis G., and Gilbert H. Hunt. Best Practice in Motivation and Management in the Classroom. 2nd ed. Springfield: Charles C. Thomas Publisher, Ltd., 2008. Print. Read More