Are School Uniforms Beneficial - Essay Example

Are school uniforms beneficial?

Introduction

The issue of incorporating school uniforms in America has for long elicited mixed reactions from parents, teachers, schools and the government. Throughout the American schooling history, requiring school going children to wear uniforms has not been easy, considering the background of the issue. The origins of school uniform could be dated back in the England where the archbishop of Canterbury at the time mandated the wearing of uniforms. Modern-day uniforms can likewise be traced to England in the 16th century. In present-day America, more schools are embracing the use of school uniforms. Those supporting the ideology that school uniforms are beneficial claim that they provide socioeconomic homogeneity, security, and pride in institutions; factors that cannot exist if students were allowed to wear anything to school. Amongst other reasons, those opposing school uniforms claim that individuality is lost and that school uniforms do not impact on the children’s’ academic life. Although it is debatable, the use of school uniforms should be arrived at in accordance to an institution’s existing regulations, and upon the discretion of the appropriate stakeholders for the common good of the students.

Discussion

Those who believe that school uniforms are not beneficial or necessary have a set of well-founded arguments against them. The strongest of these reasons is that school uniforms infringe on children's individuality, freedom, and choices (Yeung 847-874). Requiring children to specifically wear a set of clothes inhibits them from expressing what they want. In effect, they are forced to conform to the society’s demands. The society teaches them that they have to follow a rigid way of life, which may not necessarily be the best the world has to offer. The society has failed to borrow examples from people who went a different way and achieved greatness. The likes of Martin Luther King Jnr did not act ordinarily but rather thought and acted differently to warrant a change in the world. Children should be given a lifeline with which to exercise non-harmful choices; one of which is being exempted from mandatory school uniforms. Students need to be provided with the freedom of choice in order to let them discern between the rights and wrongs of the world.

As a lesser sublime reason, school uniforms do not impact on the children’s academic performance. They are not indicators of how well a child is poised to perform in the exams or the grades achieved at the end of the learning cycle (Yeung 847-874). If this were true, institutions not requiring school uniforms would be performing poorly vis-à-vis those that obligate school uniforms. Giving children the liberty to wear whichever clothes they wanted to school in the contrary, makes them comfortable enough to concentrate in school work. This may even elevate their performances.

School uniforms are beneficial. It is through these uniforms that institutions can be distinguished from each other. Those wearing the uniforms act as the schools' ambassadors to the public. They show that one is part of an organization, helping instill a sense of pride and belonging. Wearing a school uniform is identical to wearing a team’s jersey to the pitch. It shows a collective unity of purpose and the willingness to conform to the institution’s system of belief and traditions. Respect is hence earned for being a part of the school (Walmsley 63-66). The community can often identify a school by its uniform, hence helping identify and report incidences that need attention and redress. Of equal importance, school uniforms help in reducing economic and social discrepancies of students. This applies where, regrettably, some students come from difficult financial backgrounds. The uniforms help in disguising these difficulties, saving them from constant ridicule, mockery and discrimination. It is upon these school uniforms that the students are deemed equal. Any social and economic differences are hence hidden away from the light, helping mitigate competition on dressing and judgment ensuing from clothing differently (McDaniel 162-167). In addition, having school uniforms keeps students focused on academics and related matters, and not clothing.

School uniforms also help improve both internal and external security. They discourage the formation of gangs and social groups in schools. These groups provide a ground for bullying, violence, peer pressure and fighting which may result to harm (Sanchez, Yoxsimer and Hill 345-356). Clothes may be subjects of theft, assaults, and fights too. Students may be compelled to indulge in criminal activities because they lack identity by virtue of school uniforms. Having the uniforms hence dissuades students from criminal activities, which sometimes involve groups from different schools clashing. Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States of America once supported the course for school uniforms in the country (ProCon.org). His support was on the grounds of improved security as students would no longer kill for designer jackets.

While those in opposition to school uniforms site loss of individualism and its zero impact on academic performance, it should be noted that school uniforms create a sense of pride and belonging to an institution. As such, individualism can still exist with the incorporation of school uniform. While uniforms ensure economic and social equality, these differences are only disguised but not done away with. The reality of each student’s circumstance returns as soon as he or she removes the school uniform. Even if the benefits of having school uniforms outweigh the shortcomings, the factors discussed in opposition of the issue should not be dismissed in entirety, since they can still provide valuable insights on how to accommodate those for or against school uniforms in the country.

Conclusion

Schools and institutions should agree upon the use of school uniforms, as the issue directly affects them. They should arrive at a decision after a careful analysis of the pros and cons. In addition, prevailing government and state regulations on the matter should act as guidelines in determining the way forward. In dealing with the matter, a tailored approach should be employed, depending on a schools’ judgment. This will help save against unending differences.