Essay on School Uniforms

Introduction

School uniforms should be mandated for all students because they promote equality and, as a result, higher academic contributions or achievements. Besides, there have been several debates over the significance of enforcing the wearing of school uniforms in educational institutions. Some parents argue that their children’s choice of outfit has little bearing on the overall outcome of their academic success. Others contend that since uniforms are costly, home apparel should be recognized as formal school wear. However, school uniforms have been worn from way back, during the 16th century at Christ’s Hospital School in England, and student’s performance has improved tremendously. Having said that, this essay will discuss the significance of legislating and adopting school uniforms and the advantages they have, such as promoting equality and academic achievement among students.

To begin, research on the significance of wearing school uniforms was done on 182 students at a charter school. Students from all backgrounds and ages participated in the research. The students were given a survey to undertake and complete, which included ten different categories comparing the association between school uniforms and social behavior in school. The study found that older students were more responsive or receptive to school uniforms. The reason is that they prevented bullying and taunting by other students and so many others. Besides, there are many reasons students should wear school uniforms. For instance:

1. According to Jones et al. research, school uniforms help avoid unnecessary bullying, as assessed by older and Hispanic students, fostering equality (1). A difference in attire will undoubtedly influence other students to bully or hate one another based on what one is wearing, but adopting school uniforms would automatically allow every student to appear the same, with no cause to harass or hate one another based on what one is wearing. This is because everyone would be wearing the same formal attire, resulting in little or no distinction.
2. On the other hand, Francis and Murray believe that the attire students wear significantly impacts their perceptions of themselves and their peers. The school surroundings have been linked to students developing a strong sense of belonging. Kommer studied the best approach to enhance positivity within the school community among children from diverse backgrounds in 1999 (Jones et al., 1). Kommer concluded that instituting a uniform policy would significantly enhance education quality and foster student equality by allowing learners to have a sense of belonging within school settings.
3. Allowing students to wear their outfits widens the gap between the affluent and the poor. It is easy to cite expensive clothing based on the branding and material. Attires made of leather, for example, represent affluence, but attires made of light material symbolize substandard quality (Jones et al., 1). As well, students are capable of identifying such differences, which may result in disparities among them. Bullying and taunting become commonplace in such scenarios, and equality deteriorates. However, having every student wear uniform apparel wipes out the disparities. Therefore, since no definitive evidence supports the distinction, the social rank divide is null and void.
4. The learning environment has a significant influence on student’s academic success. Many scholars have suggested that school uniforms have no direct association with educational performance. However, wearing a school uniform correlate to a favorable school environment, which is directly related to academic performance. The reason is that students are more devoted to their learning process with no distractions rather than focusing on fashion and what others are wearing. As a result, it is correct to state that school uniforms favor students’ academic progress. According to Harinarayanan et al., there is a link between the school environment and students’ academic progress. Harinarayanan and his fellow scholars suggest that measures be taken to ameliorate the school environment, for instance, enforcing the wearing of school uniforms to foster productive school communities (Harinarayanan et al., 13). According to them, mandating school uniforms promotes peaceful coexistence among all students with zero sideshows.
5. Another additional benefit of uniforms is that they represent discipline among students. School dress codes specify what students can and cannot wear, and if a learner is not formally dressed, they will be sent away to dress properly. Such codes encourage and allow students to uphold other policies by exemplifying how strongly the institution observes the uniform policy. Furthermore, schools should not care so much about the “fingertip length” restriction or other uniform rule breaches since the uniforms will be tailored within the correct length (Morton).

Conclusion

The essay highlights the relevance of enacting and implementing school uniforms, as well as the advantages they have. For instance, it is undeniable that school uniforms serve to prevent needless bullying. In addition, school uniforms have a tremendous influence on students’ perceptions of themselves and their peers. It is also worth noting that having every student wear a school uniform eliminates disparities. Wearing a school uniform also correlates to a positive school environment, directly tied to academic success. Finally, it is abundantly clear that school uniforms represent student discipline. That said, it is important to realize that students must feel comfortable in their learning environment. This is to ensure effective teaching and learning. Learning takes place on several dimensions, including peer-to-peer discussions. A hostile environment hinders peer learning, which negatively impacts academic productivity. School uniforms have facilitated good cohabitation among students, boosting peer-to-peer learning, which considerably enhances students’ academic achievement. As a result, school uniforms have a lateral effect on academic progress. School uniforms should thus be made mandatory for all students since they promote equality and, as a result, higher academic outcomes.

Works Cited

Harinarayanan, S., and G. Pazhanivelu. “Impact of School Environment on Academic Achievement of Secondary School Students at Vellore Educational District.” Shanlax International Journal of Education 7.1 (2018): 13-19.

Jones, Aaron B., et al. “Perceptions of School Uniforms about Socioeconomic Statuses.” RMLE Online 43.6 (2020): 1-13.

Morton, Emily. “School Uniforms Help Prevent Bullying, Making Them Worthwhile.” Sandusky Ohio News | Sandusky Register, 11 May 2014, sanduskyregister.com/news/157838/school-uniforms-help-prevent-bullying-making-them-worthwhile/.