School Uniforms - Research Paper Example

They are of the view that uniforms can prevent the intrusion of external antisocial elements in school campuses. Proponents also argue that uniforms can prevent discrimination and can develop a sense of equality among students. At the same time, critiques argue that unified dress code is the prevention of natural right. They believe that the basic right of self expression is denied when uniforms implemented strictly in school campuses. The mental development of the children will be negatively affected if they denied the opportunity for self expression.

This paper analyses the pros and cons of implementing uniforms in schools. School uniforms can provide safety and security to the students. The 'safety' argument is that “school uniforms make it more difficult for unwelcome outsiders to infiltrate the school grounds” (Those disgusting School Uniforms). In most of the school violence cases, the intrusion of outsiders plays a major role. Antisocial elements always try to intrude into the schools in order to exploit the school children for different purposes.

School uniform prevents the intruders from entering the school campuses as the authorities can easily identify them when some problem occurs in the school campus. Thus the chances of crimes can be considerably reduced if school uniforms implemented strictly in school campuses. . Those who bring expensive dresses may show higher ego complexes whereas those who bring cheaper dresses may feel ashamed. Thus the development of self esteem may become different among school children if they allowed bringing their own dresses rather than uniforms.

Moreover, the attention of the students may shift from what they hear in the class to what they see in the class if school uniforms are not there. Absence of uniforms in schools can create family and social problems also. Seeing expensive dresses of fellow students will encourage poor students to persuade their poor parents to purchase such expensive items for them which may create lot of family and social problems. If the parents fail to purchase expensive dresses for their children, the children may create lot of problems inside the family and in the society.

Moreover, the jealousy about the expensive dresses of another student may result in the development of conflicts among students. It is quite possible that segregation occurs inside a class with respect to rich and poor students, if the school uniforms were implemented. School uniforms also ease the financial burdens on parents, who otherwise are forced to spend hundreds of dollars outfitting their children in the latest designer clothes. Uniforms also add to security since it is harder to conceal weapons while wearing a uniform and school administrators can easily detect non-students.

These factors create a safer, more open learning environment (Knowles) “The school uniform is the single-most visible element of any school. Students in school uniform are in fact walking advertisements for a school, giving an impression of the school for good or for bad throughout an entire town or city” (School Uniform). School