Should Students Have to Wear Uniforms - Assignment Example

Should have to wear uniforms? The school uniform debate has dominated education sector in the recent years, with different stakeholders giving conflicting opinions on the issue. Traditionally, school uniforms were worn by underprivileged students learning in charity schools, and only came to be introduced later in public schools. School uniforms were typically thought to consist of dark shorts for boys, a skirt for girls and blouse or a shirt. A school tie and a blazer also form part of the uniform. Those in support of this idea argue that uniforms play a greater role in reducing the negative conducts that are related to students dress that include absenteeism, teasing, school violence, and activities that are gang related (The Ethical School, pg 23). On the other side the opponent’s main argument is that uniforms deny students their individual rights including the right to choose their dressing. While many public schools today maintain strong policies on dress code, the weight of this subject matter begs the question as to whether students should be required to wear uniforms. In the United States, public schools have increasingly embraced the idea of school uniforms even as parents and other stakeholders in education device new ways to make school a safe place. Based on report gathered from administrators of these schools, criminal tendencies planned and executed by the students reduced significantly upon the introduction of school uniforms. Given such statistic many regions across America have witnessed a clamor for uniforms in public schools; however, an equal number of people tend to believe that uniforms are of no benefit. This work will argue on the ground adopting school uniforms in our public school is much beneficial when compared to the many issue raised against its implementation. To begin with, school uniforms eliminates the issue of students treating school environment as a fashion show ground and instead encourage them to focus on their school work. Families are not always the same; some are economically strong and can afford expensive clothing for their kids while others struggle even with their daily survival. According to Leon 2004, allowing students to wear as they please has the effects of subjecting the less privileged students to psychological torture now that they cannot afford the kind of clothes worn by their friends from families that are rich. Such is the case that, the less privileged student wills more than likely struggle to fit the lifestyle of others and end up frustrated. May be the most worrying thing is the fact that all these competitions will probably be done at the expense of studying, which is the main reason for them being in schools. As a counter argument against this idea, it is argued that clothing is not the only thing for which students can compete. There are other things such as school supplies and other accessories for which student compete. It is in fact claimed that the whole issue only serves to deny students their right of self expression. In this case it is argued that although school uniforms present nothing bad on their own, the whole idea of having to decide what students will wear denies them the pleasure of having to choose their style of clothing. The argument that students schooling in institutions with no set uniforms often get distracted raises doubts. Leon, 2003 argues that having students wear school uniforms cannot prevent them from thinking or talking about the latest cloths fashions on the market if they are determined to do so. The reality is that they can still have their mind preoccupied with such things or even other similar things and thus usher in distractions. In this regard it is important to note that whether a student will be distracted from academic work or not solely remain his or her decision and absence of school uniforms should not be used as a reason. Secondly School uniforms have also been found helpful when it comes to reduction of indiscipline cases that include teasing and bullying. Dincer, Feryal and Aysem have clearly established past studies on bullying behaviors which show that bullying have the propensity to pick on their victims based on what they are wearing. Given this revelation it is good to ask what will happen if all students are wearing the same thing. The obvious answer is less room is given for one to be picked on since everyone is dressed the same. When students look the same, typified here with the uniform they wear, there is actually nothing for fellow students to point out and thus use it to make fun. In this regard school uniform offers a more bully-free learning environment for students that goes along to make them comfortable and improve their performance. While it may be true that having students wear school uniforms minimizes the cases of students being picked on the ground of their clothing and bullied, there is equally evidence of increase of inter-school conflicts on the ground differences caused by the same uniform. According to Dincer, Feryal and Aysem, fights are likely to blow up between students from different schools on the ground of their orientation. Such is the case that students from a school in which uniform policy has been put in place may be offended by criticism or jabs from students from school with no such policies. In addition, students coming from schools that have implemented the uniform policy may pride themselves in the presence of those without and thus cause an inter-school conflict. When such conflicts erupt the innocent students often find themselves victimized. Another positive contribution of having students wear school uniform is the elimination social classes among students build based on family economic abilities. According to Brunsma 2004, if uniforms are not made the mode of dressing in public schools, the student community will likely naturally develop two separate group; those who have and those who don’t. On one side we will have the popular kids, typically from higher social classes wearing trendiest clothing while the poor students from lower social classes wearing less presentable clothing. Brunsma goes further to assert that this scenario offers an experience that will certainly not go well with the objectives of learning. School should always be made to offer equal opportunity for learning without considering students backgrounds. It is on this ground that uniforms serve well as they bring the different social classes together. Here, everyone is made to wear the same brand of clothes, all of them bought from the same stores designed to sell school uniforms. Dincer, and Aysem 2014, support this argument by stating that school uniforms minimizes the likelihood of spotting the different social classes on the ground of what one is wearing. Here, all the students are made to blend. Elimination of differences based on social classes has direct effect on student’s socialization and even their ultimate performance in class work. This argument also presents some flaws since students can still assert their social standing on the basis of many other factors lie accessories, hair style or even by the way they talk or act as presented by Leon. According to Leon, 2003 nothing can stop students from grouping themselves based on their social standing if they are determined to. Leon argues that it only requires one to look at the accessories and school supplies of a student to find out ones social class orientation. It is also true that not all students will be able to afford new supplies whenever needed and as such even school uniforms will possibly bring out some difference. Such is the case that some parents may find it hard to buy their children brand new clothes and only manage to afford second –hand uniforms. Given this fact it is obvious that the so much sought evenness of the student by their uniforms may not work as some will come wearing old and faded ones that will contrast the brand new uniforms worn by others. The last argument in support of school uniforms has it that students wearing uniforms appear more formal and well put together as opposed to those without. This argument hold the view that those schools with no requirement that their students wear uniform often have some of their kids lives a carefree life. The said kids go around with their pants sagging or even have their underwear showing. In other cases, kids come to school with shirts or jacket printed with inappropriate logos. Definitely such characters will not go down well with any serious teacher or parent who knows what schools ought to be. According to Brunsma 2004 such characters destroy the reputation of the school. On the other hand schools with all their students well dressed in their assigned uniforms looks outstandingly put together .Such environment make students take their attention away from what they wear when going to school and instead focus more on bettering their academics. Brunsma argues that encouraging school uniforms will not only make it easy to improve students grades by drawing them away from taking most of their time planning what they will wear but also makes the school to be presentable. While it may appear good to theorize the idea that school uniforms makes students to appear neat and well groomed, in reality it is not the case. According to Dincer, and Aysem, uniforms do not guarantee that students will always appear neat. Some students are generally untidy and will always appear with issues such as torn clothes, dirty clothes or even untended hair despite having worn uniforms. These issues are equally able to earn a school bad reputation. In conclusion, requirement that students wear school uniform present a great undertaking by education stakeholders. It should be well taken that the debate on whether students have to wear uniforms or not will never comes to a decisive conclusion. Opponents of having schools require their students to wear school uniforms have cited the major issuer of denying students their right of expression. Such is the case that with school uniform in place students only wears what their respective schools dictate most of the time against what they ideally would wish to wear. However, the whole issue presents more benefits than negative outcomes on schools that have their students wear uniforms (Dincer, and Aysem, pg 239). . Uniforms have been found to reduce cases of bullying that ensue from bullies who pick on particular students on the ground of their clothing. Additionally, uniform has been established to curb the separation of students based on social classes, particularly when it is based on the brands of clothing individuals wear. Although it is true that school uniforms to some extent limit student’s right, the whole idea is good. It should be noted that the student still maintains much freedom to express themselves by the way they choose to style their hair or by what accessories they decide to wear. Additionally, students maintain the freedom to choose the kind of shoes they wear, and the way they design their uniforms, as long as the school dress code is not broken. Schools should be taken as places for learning. Away from schools, students are free to dress and express themselves in any manner they please. In this regard, although the requirement for all students to wear school uniform has been faulted as violating students self expression, uniforms should be considered a positive thing that seeks to make the learning environment better for all. . Works Cited Brunsma, David L. The School Uniform Movement and What It Tells Us about American Education: A Symbolic Crusade. Lanham, Md.: ScarecrowEducation, 2004. Print. Dincer, Tulay, Feryal Soylemezog, and Aysem Aydin Yana. "The Determination of the Problems and Solutions Related to the School Uniform Prefrences of the High School Students." The Social Sciences (2010): 237-45. Print. Leon, Donna. Uniform Justice. New York: Atlantic Monthly, 2003. Print. Mcdaniel, Thomas R. "Making the School Uniform Decision: Is It Right for Your School?" Kappa Delta Pi Record: 162-67. Print. The Ethical School. Taylor & Francis, 1997. Print. Read More