Advantages of Uniform in High School - Essay Example

Advantages of Uniform in High School I support the notion that wearing uniforms in high school is advantageous to wearing regular clothes because of a number of reasons as will be illustrated herein. It is emergent that most high schools have embraced the use of uniforms owing to the multiple advantages that come with it, leading to a win-win scenario for both the students and the school management. First, the use of uniforms among students is important because it enhances uniformity while reducing disparities among students. It is essential for the school to promote uniformity among its students for the simple reason that it works to reduce discrimination among students based on their social status and financial capacity. Allowing civilian clothing in schools evidently functions bring out the aspect of class and social status as other students will be wearing trendier and more expensive clothes than others. Such disparities and divisions result in peer pressure among the students and prompt unnecessary distraction from the core objective of gaining knowledge and excelling in their academics. Hence, the use of uniforms goes a long way in helping students to concentrate on their education and functions to minimize the differences existing between them in as far as economic empowerment and social class are concerned. The resultant effect of implementing this code of dressing is increased performance and reduced peer pressure, achieved through equality (by way of having a defined dressed code). Billy Clinton echoed these sentiments when he supported the need to have school uniforms in American public schools in order to avoid cases of teenagers killing each other over designer jackets and other trendy outfits (Tofel-Grehl & Callahan, 2014). Secondly, it goes a long way in promoting discipline among students. Wearing uniforms makes the students become more responsible in terms of the actions within and without the school premises as they are obliged to abide by the school rules at all times since they wear school uniforms-which can be used to identify them, meaning that they have to behave as is required of them by their respective management systems. These school rules and guidelines work to instill discipline and good conduct among the students. Recent research has documented beyond reasonable doubt that students who have good discipline perform equally well in their class work. This is attributed to the fact that being disciplined makes it easier for one to learn new concepts, positively embrace corrections, and the discipline enforced by their tutors. Clarke & Aiken, (2012) stated that, “if you wear your uniform with pride, it means that you are half way there to being respectful, buying into what the organization is all about'' (p. 212). He sought to illustrate the need for embracing togetherness and unity in any given organizational setup. The discipline that comes with wearing school uniforms is evidently seen when comparing catholic schools where uniforms are a mandatory requirement in some public schools. Catholic students tend to own up to their schools and abide by the rules, hence displaying good conduct while most public schools are marred with numerous cases of abuse, conflicts and high levels of misconduct (MUCCI, 2014). Thirdly, it espouses the school management’s role of teaching students to adhere to set out guidelines while at the same time promoting a sense of belonging and accountability. A school in which students wear uniforms makes it easier for the management to monitor them and in case of any eventuality; the school leadership can take up responsibility as is required of them. For institutions without uniforms, it is out rightly a tall order for them to instill discipline among its members and be responsible for their students. In this case, members of such an institution lack a sense of belonging, making the institution vulnerable to vices emanating from both within and without the organization. Wearing regular clothes exposes the institution to foreign intruders, hence rising incidences of insecurity. Such cases can be amicably and sufficiently addressed in the vent that the schools in question adopt a specific dress code. As construed by many scholars in the educational sector, there is an urgent need to pass a statutory law that will require all public and private high schools across the state to have school uniforms as a mandatory requirement for the sake of their safety and for purposes of identity. According to Jackson Park (2013), a professor of sociology at Cambridge University, the security of the students at schools ought not to be compromised at any given time and this can be enhanced through wearing uniforms. Fourthly, using uniforms in school is essentially cheap and affordable to many families as opposed to furnishing the wardrobes of students with civilian attire. Students coming from poor families do not have to keep up with affluent children by dressing up fashionably as they are all obliged to put on standard outfits (as dictated by the management). The use of uniform has hence made it manageable for students from different social and economic backgrounds to associate at the same level. This is quite essential as it works to boost the morale of students regardless of their social status and substantially reduce incidences of bullying and harassment (Clarke & Aiken, 2012). Another importance of students wearing uniforms is in the fact that they will be in a position to save a lot of time that would otherwise be spent trying to determine the kind clothes to put on every other day as they head to school since the dress code is already predetermined. Hence, the considerable amount of time saved in preparing for school can be utilized to tend to class work and other meaningful activities, ultimately increasing performance. The school management will also have an easy time controlling the students while focusing on academics rather than side-shows such as indecent dress codes (that may force them to send students home to dress appropriately). In essence, uniforms save both parents and their children a lot of hustle and prepare the students into being more responsive to and proactive in the various organizations in the corporate world. Lastly, having students wear uniforms will ensure improved attendance records. This owes to the fact that students in civilian attire have the tendency of disappearing into town after leaving their homes without the knowledge of either their parents or teachers; as none of the parties have the capability of keeping a close contact with the students. If such schools adopt the concept of school uniforms, then such incidences will remarkably be on the low as the students will find it hard to move around town in school uniform since they can be easily identified by the school management, parents or the general public; a notable significance of school uniforms. Despite the overwhelming support for the general adoption of school uniforms, it is evident that adopting this dress code in schools also comes with a host of challenges that downplay the significance of such attire over regular clothing. For instance, it is in a way, a violation of the student’s right to freedom and expression. Restricting them to a particular dress code and demanding them to abide by it denies the students their freedom to enjoy having the attire that suits them best. It kills the aspect of creativity and diversity, which is a prerequisite for the corporate world out there. Therefore, denying students such privileges only works to create an ideal environment that is contrary to the dimensions of the real world, hence failing to prepare the students adequately to face the world out there. Many schools have institutionalized the aspect of school uniforms with the core agenda of reducing bullying among students. In most instances, however, this strategy does not work since bullying will always exist regardless of the dress code. Social groupings among students also prove to be unavoidable regardless of the uniformity created by having similar dress codes. According to the 1st Amendment Rights Crushed, each and every person is entitled to freedom of expression. In that case, institutions that vouch for school uniforms violate this right by introducing such attire among other regulations and restrictions. Being a learning institution, the best approach to this issue would be to advocate for decency in dressing; one that will not distract others while giving them the freedom to choose their own styles, tastes and preferences (Walmsley, 2011). According to sociologist, Lewis Armstrong (2011), in his study of human behavior, the more one is restricted from doing something the higher they are curious to pursue their interests. The same principle may also apply to this case, where students develop some form of resistance to the rules that govern the institution with an aim of attaining freedom that has been ‘snatched’ from them leading to a series of indiscipline cases. Even though it appears that having school uniform is less expensive than regular clothing, it goes without say that they can also be pricey. Some schools have tenders with specific suppliers who are essentially expensive with some vested interest; hence shifting the burden to the parents. In England, for instance, the Liberal Democrats held a conference to specifically deliberate on issues to deal with the ever-rising costs of school uniforms across the country. The recommendations arising from this conference were consequently forwarded to minister David Lawis for further scrutiny and implementation with the major objective of mitigating the high uniform costs shouldered by parents. All this hustle could be easily averted by allowing the students to wear regular clothes to school (MUCCI, 2014). Viewing it from another perspective, the use of school uniforms makes students vulnerable to bullying and harassment from other schools. This is very prominent where one school performs better than the other and hence students from the underperforming schools fall victim of embarrassment and abuse from their performing counterparts. Such incidences lower the self-esteem of pupils from the affected schools, making them feel inferior while in the midst of their peers. Such labeling and stereotyping in schools is bound to affect the performance of the students due to the perception created by others. There are also aspects of unhealthy competition among students from various schools as each one tries to outdo the other in all aspects of life and this may distract the students from their main agenda of excelling in class work. Such incidences could be minimal where there are no uniforms in these schools, hence giving students the confidence to interact with others without being associated with certain negative aspects of their school. Having regular dress code among students reduces conflict between them and the administration. This is because; most teenagers would want to do the things they like without being restricted hence, giving them freedom and providing a platform for the students to reciprocate by being obedient and observant to other school rules as compared to when subjected to a strict management system (Cullen, et al., 2013). There are very many public schools faced with the dilemma of whether to adopt a school uniform or just allow their students to wear their regular outfits. This concept of a dress code has always raised jitters among the schools’ management. It has however been proven beyond any reasonable doubt that wearing uniform comes with a host of advantages as compared to civilian wear. Uniforms symbolize uniformity, identity, a sense of belonging and unity among members of a specific institution. This is a prerequisite for any high-cadre learning institution as it works to reduce unnecessary distractions and prompts students to instead concentrate on acquiring knowledge. In spite of it enabling one to act naturally, the biggest hurdle that lies in the way of civilian dressing is the fact that teenagers are widely influenced by the media and celebrities in as far as dressing is concerned and hence teachers may have a rough time advocating for decent dressing. The ever-changing times, fashion and trends in the market also influences their tastes and preferences (Ercikan, 2010). The students stand high chances of being swayed by such trends and hence end up in constant tussles and conflicts with the school administration. In conclusion, it is imperative for high schools to have school uniforms so to avoid the afore-mentioned hurdles that are abound to affect the schools’ performance. Incidences of violence and abuse have been on the rise over the years owing to the lack of discipline among students. Such could be easily fixed if school administrations are vibrant enough to proceed with implementing the concept of school uniforms. Introducing uniforms in a public school where students are used to ordinary casual wear may be a tall order and is bound to receive opposition from the students, but with a properly laid out management structure, such implementations are possible and within no time the culture of the institution changes and gets fully adapted to the new system. References Clarke, S., & Aiken, L. (2012, January). Is it legal to impose school uniforms. American Journal of Education, 103(1), 42-47. Cullen, J., Levitt, S., Robertson, E., & Sadoff, S. (2013). What Can Be Done To Improve Struggling High Schools?. Journal Of Economic Perspectives, 27(2), 133-152. doi:10.1257/jep.27.2.133. Ercikan, K. (2010). Translation Effects in International Studies. 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STEM High School Communities: Common and Differing Features. Journal Of Advanced Academics, 25(3), 237-271. doi:10.1177/1932202X14539156 Walmsley, A. (2011). What the United Kingdom Can Teach the United States About School Uniforms. Phi Delta Kappan, 92(6), 63-66. Read More