abolish school uniform essay

Why Students Should Not Wear Uniforms: A Thoughtful Exploration with 9 Reasons, Studies and Statistics

At the core of the anti-uniform stance is the belief in the importance of individuality and personal growth during the formative years of schooling. Uniforms, often seen as a tool for homogenization, can stifle the self-expression and creativity that are essential in nurturing young minds. By enforcing a standard mode of dress, schools may inadvertently suppress the diversity and individuality that should be celebrated within educational environments. Moreover, the imposition of uniforms can raise significant financial burdens for families, create unnecessary resistance to authority, and overlook important cultural and religious considerations.

I am seething about this poor young girl who has been put in isolation because she’s not wearing a school uniform bought from the right place, school uniforms are far too expensive for a lot of people in this country in the most ridiculous you can get just as good from supermarke — James Whale (@THEJamesWhale) September 17, 2023

Uniforms in Education: Educator and Industry Expert Perspectives

Teachers and educational experts are increasingly questioning the rising trend of school uniforms in U.S. public schools. While the period from 1999-2000 to 2017-18 saw an increase from 12% to 20% in schools adopting uniforms, there’s growing concern about their impact on student individuality and expression. In 2015-2016, uniform policies were enforced in 25% of public primary schools, 20% of middle schools, and 12% of high schools, with a notable prevalence in urban and high-poverty schools . Experts argue that such policies, while aiming for uniformity, might inadvertently suppress student creativity and self-identity, vital for holistic educational development.

“I completely disagree with uniforms on every level. Supporters of uniforms say that they reduce bullying with regards to fashion, but there is a great deal of evidence that says it just pushes that bullying underground. Instead of being bullied about something superficial like the shirt you are wearing, bullies just go to the tried and true body image shaming. Glass? Overweight? Acne? Too many freckles? Hair colour? Too tall? Too short? What school administrators see is a surface level reduction in bullying, followed by them patting themselves on the back and ignoring the problem completely.” — Scooter Campbell , assistant language teacher

“While uniforms are supposed to build a sense of community, they may have the opposite effect. Fashion is one way that students express themselves, and that may be an important part of the school experience. When students can’t show their individuality, they may not feel like they belong as much. School uniforms may not be the most effective way to improve student behavior and engagement.” — Arya Ansari, assistant professor of human sciences at The Ohio State University

“I really don’t care whether or not a student’s shirt is tucked in, as long as they are learning. I don’t care whether or not a student has on the right belt, as long as I can’t see their underwear. I don’t care if a boy has earrings, facial hair, or painted nails, as long as he’s not painting them in my class. I don’t care if a girl has bright pink hair, a tank top, and ripped jeans, as long as bosoms and butt cheeks are covered and secure. I don’t like hoodies on heads in my classroom because it makes it too easy to hide Airpods, but I don’t care if the sweatshirt has a hood. As long as it’s not a top hat or sombrero that blocks the view of the students behind them, I don’t care if my students wear hats or beanies in my class.” — New Orleans Mom Guest Author

The video below explores the debate on the impact of school uniforms on academic performance. It delves into whether mandating uniforms in schools truly enhances students’ learning and overall academic success.

9 Reasons Why Students Should Not Wear Uniforms

1. expression of individuality, 2. financial burden, 3. comfort and practicality.

The issue of comfort and practicality is a significant concern in the debate against mandatory school uniforms. Students spend a substantial part of their day in school, and their attire plays a crucial role in their overall comfort and ability to engage effectively in various school activities.

In essence, prioritizing comfort and practicality in student attire is not only a matter of convenience but also impacts their academic engagement and well-being. Allowing students to wear clothing that is comfortable, suited to a variety of activities, and appropriate for the weather can enhance their school experience, making them more receptive to learning and participating in school life.

4. Lack of Preparation for Real World

5. equality issues, 6. resistance to authority, 7. cultural and religious concerns, 8. psychological impact, 9. not environmentally friendly, addressing opposing perspectives on school uniforms, 1. uniforms save time, 2. uniforms improve attendance and discipline, 3. improving safety and security, useful resources, leave a comment cancel reply.

Do uniforms make schools better?

by: Marian Wilde | Updated: March 1, 2024

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Schools, parents, and students frequently clash over the issue of regulating what students may and may not wear to school. These controversies often pegged to the culture war of the moment touch on everything from gender and sexuality to politics, race, and religion. In 2021, a group of about 50 students in Georgia protested their middle school’s dress code for being discriminatory against BIPOC girls by wearing t-shirts every Friday emblazoned with the words “sexist,” “racist,” and “classist.” In 2022, a fight between students, staff, and police officers broke out at a Pennsylvania high school when hats and hoodies were banned as part of a revision by the school board to the school’s dress code. And in 2023, two Michigan middle schoolers, via their mother, sued their school district after they were banned from wearing “Let’s Go Brandon” sweatshirts.

Are school uniforms the best solution to this contentious debate? If every student is wearing the same outfit, will a host of campus problems be solved? Researchers are divided over how much of an impact — if any — dress policies have on student learning. There are multiple studies with conflicting conclusions, plus books such as 2018’s The Debate About School Uniforms , but the argument wears on, with a list of pros and cons on each side.

Why do some public schools have uniforms?

In the 1980s, public schools were often compared unfavorably to Catholic schools. Noting the perceived benefit that uniforms conferred upon Catholic schools, some public schools decided to adopt a school uniform policy.

President Clinton provided momentum to the school uniform movement when he said in his 1996 State of the Union speech, “If it means teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms.”

The pros and cons of school uniforms

According to proponents, school uniforms:.

• Help prevent gangs from forming on campus

• Encourage discipline

• Help students resist peer pressure to buy trendy clothes

• Help identify intruders in the school

• Diminish economic and social barriers between students

• Increase a sense of belonging and school pride

• Improve attendance

Opponents contend that school uniforms:

• Violate a student’s right to freedom of expression

• Are simply a Band-Aid on the issue of school violence

• Make students a target for bullies from other schools

• Are a financial burden for poor families

• Are an unfair additional expense for parents who pay taxes for a free public education

• Are difficult to enforce in public schools

Uniforms vs. dress codes

Schools and districts vary widely in how closely they adhere to the concept of uniformity.

What’s a dress code?

Generally, dress codes are more relaxed than uniform policies. Sometimes, however, dress codes are quite strict with requirements that are potentially viewed as biased based on race or gender. In 2020, two Black male students in Texas, cousins with West Indian heritage, were suspended for wearing dreadlocks in supposed violation of the district’s hair and grooming policy, part of the dress code. The elder one, a senior, was told he couldn’t attend prom or graduation until his dreads were trimmed. In 2022, girls on the track team at an Albany, NY high school were sent home for wearing sports bras at practice.

Uniforms are certainly easier for administrators to enforce than dress codes, largely because the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) can be depended upon to protect a student’s “right to express themselves.” The ACLU believes dress codes are often used to, “shame girls, force students to conform to gender stereotypes… punish students who wear political and countercultural messages. Such policies can be used as cover for racial discrimination… Dress codes can also infringe on a student’s religious rights…” To successfully enforce a dress code, insists the ACLU, the school must prove the student’s attire, “is disruptive to school activities.”

The ACLU’s dress code stance is regularly supported by federal courts , like the 2023 lower court ruling in North Carolina that ended a charter school decree that girls couldn’t wear pants to school. ACLU lawyers claimed this violated Title IX because the dress code “discriminated against female students by limiting their ability to fully participate in school activities, such as using the playground.” The U.S. Supreme Court later declined to take up a case challenging the lower court’s ruling.

Check with your school to see what the dress code is, as they can be fairly specific. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, for example, the dress code prohibits :

• Symbols, mottoes, words or acronyms that convey crude, vulgar, profane, violent, death-oriented, gang-related, sexually explicit, or sexually suggestive messages.
• Symbols, mottoes, words or acronyms advertising tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia.
• Symbols, mottoes, words or acronyms identifying a student as a member of a secret or overtly antisocial group or gang or that identifies a student as a member of an organization that professes violence or hatred toward one’s fellow man.
• Visible and permanent tattoos/brands incompatible with the standards set forth herein shall be covered to prohibit their display.
• Excessively large or baggy clothes

What’s a uniform?

School uniforms worldwide can widely range from nondescript to bizarre. (Extreme examples from China, Australia, and the UK on this YouTube video ) Most public school outfits in the USA are quite casual, with a “ common type ” for boys often a polo shirt in a solid color, with pants in khaki, black, or navy blue. A girl’s uniform is often a skirt and a white buttoned-up shirt. Dress shoes are frequently required for both genders.

In the United States, low-income families spend an average of $249 on a child’s school uniform annually, far less than the typical Australian student’s $578. But still, the cost is sometimes viewed as unfair because public education is intended to be free, paid by tax dollars, not “a stress for families on lower incomes.” The ACLU believes that public schools should provide free school uniforms , because the expense is unconstitutional, and it increases wealth inequity.

What research says about school uniforms

In 2006, Virginia Draa, professor at Youngstown State University, reviewed the impact of school uniforms at 64 public high schools that had larger percentages of economically disadvantaged and minority students than other urban schools. Her conclusion surprised her: “I really went into this thinking uniforms don’t make a difference, but I came away seeing that they do… I was absolutely floored.” Her analysis determined that the schools with uniforms improved their students attendance, and graduation rates rose an average almost 11 percent.

In 2022, Ohio State University and University of Pennsylvania researchers reached a contrary opinion in their report titled “ School Uniforms and Students Behavior: Is There a Link? ” Their view was that, in general, evidence that school uniforms improve social skills in the students was “inconclusive.” The solitary praise they provided to uniform-wearing was noting there was “some indication that low-income students in schools that required uniforms demonstrated better school attendance than low-income students in schools that did not.”

What to believe? Jury is still out.

What do students think about uniforms?

A student discussion: pros and cons of uniforms

Editor’s note: This video is part of our high school milestones series about communication skills. The students in this video discuss the pros and cons of school uniforms.

A University of Nevada, Reno, survey of 1,848 middle school students, published in 2022, revealed that 90 percent did not like wearing a uniform to school . Only 30 percent believed the uniforms “might reduce discipline issues, a mere 17 percent thought the uniform helped them focus at school, 34 percent believed their school was safer due to the uniforms and 37 percent said, “I worry less about my appearance” due to the uniform requirement.”

An earlier study, also in Nevada, displayed similar unpopularity with newly instituted uniforms among middle school students. However, when the researchers looked into school discipline and local police records and compared them to the prior year’s data, discipline referrals were down 10 percent, there were 63 percent fewer police log reports, and incidences of graffiti, fights, and gang-related activity were all down.

It’s a big issue

A new trend is the mounting pressure to establish dress codes for teachers. Apparently, the same casual mindset toward revealing outfits is cropping up in the ranks of our teachers.

The debate over uniforms in public schools encompasses many larger issues than simply what children should wear to school. It touches on issues of school improvement, freedom of expression, and hot-button culture wars. It’s no wonder the debate rages on.

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35 Pros and Cons of School Uniforms

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

Learn about our Editorial Process

School uniforms in public schools are considered essential for teaching children to obey rules and develop a sense of community in many countries, including the UK and Australia. But public schools in other countries like the USA and Canada rarely enforce mandatory school uniforms.

It is, however, far more common for private schools to enforce school uniforms no matter the country in question.

This article takes a deep dive into the pros and cons of school uniforms, showing that there are positive arguments on both sides of this debate.

Overview – 10 Top Pros and Cons of School Uniforms

Pros of School Uniforms

1. affordability.

Many schools intentionally choose uniforms that are very basic, such as “white polo shirt and grey shorts”, so that parents do not have to pay exorbitant amounts of money on the uniforms. Many low-cost clothing stores also make the effort to produce and distribute these typical uniform-conformant clothes at low cost during back-to-school sales.

A typical 5 pack of basic white polo shirts that students can wear to school as a uniform is likely to be significantly cheaper than an outfit a child would wear otherwise.

Furthermore, while children in schools without uniforms would feel pressure to change up their outfits regularly (adding to costs), the forced repetition of wearing

Related Article: 17 Surprising School Uniform Statistics, Facts & Data

2. Hand-me-Down Options

It is regular practice at schools with school uniforms for parents to offer uniforms for free as hand-me-down outfits once their children grow out of the uniform. This has the effect of helping poorer families to access uniforms for their children without cost.

There tends to be an over-supply of uniforms – both new and second-hand – because of the sheer number of children growing out of their uniform every month. As a result, parents in desperate need of uniforms are often able to source uniforms for free.

Many schools have a hand-me-down bin in their front office, allowing parents to drop-off pre-loved uniforms, and other parents to arrive and request free shirts and pants discretely.

3. Visible Poverty is Reduced

If all children are dressed the same, the poorer children whose parents cannot afford brand-name clothing are not as visibly singled-out. They will be wearing the same clothes as the wealthier children.

This can have the effect of reducing chances of bullying based on a child’s family’s levels of wealth. But it also enables children who are poor to feel as if they are no different from others. It helps to start all children off on a level playing field, and makes them feel more secure that they’re just another student – neither better or worse than other students who are of higher or lower wealth.

4. Students may Focus and Listen Better

In this study by Chris Baumann and Hana Krskova, published in the International Journal of Educational Management , it was found that children wearing school uniforms tend to listen more intently and for longer periods of time than children without uniforms.

As a result, they found that teachers also spent less time disciplining students and waiting for students to give their attention to the teachers. This leads to more engaged working time in the classroom.

One potential reason behind this finding is that the conformity in dress reduces distractions for students.

However, there are plenty of other studies that have found no significant difference in academic achievement by parents, so in my opinion the jury is still out on whether this is true. More research is required.

5. Ensures Appropriate Sporting Outfits

Even schools that do not have mandatory school uniforms often have sports uniforms for physical education lessons. This is for several reasons, including both conformity and practicality.

Firstly, there are unique pros and cons of sports uniforms that differ from those of school uniforms. Namely, teams in sports need to have a sense of camaraderie and unity that the uniform can help achieve. Wearing the same colors can instil team spirit that helps with the team’s performance.

Secondly, a team uniform is useful in sports for helping to quickly identify team members to pass the ball to or seek support in the fast pace of a game.

Thirdly, a sports uniform is specifically designed and loosely fitted so students are comfortable while engaging in physical activity, which may include physical contortions, stretching, sprinting, and other actions not usually undertaken outside of the sporting arena.

6. Increases Physical Activity During Physical Education

A study by Nathan et al. in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity found that children who wear dedicated sporting uniforms during sports lessons tend to do more physical activity than children who do not.

This was a sizeable study – with 42 schools and over 3000 children studied – making these findings some of the more reliable results within the school uniforms literature.

Logically, this also checks out.

Firstly, if all children are wearing a pre-approved sporting outfit that is fit for purpose and can be comfortable during physical activity, they will have less clothing distractions and have one less potential barrier preventing them from participation in lessons.

Secondly, another logical rationale for this is that the students know they can change out of the uniform after the lesson (into either their regular uniform or non-uniform clothing), giving them the sense that they can sweat and get the uniforms dirty without suffering negative consequences for the remainder of the day.

Thirdly, it could be argued that the act of putting on the sporting uniform can help students psychologically prepare for the physical activity. The uniform is a psychological signal to the students that it’s time for them to do exercise.

7. Less Bullying

School uniforms could remove one more thing that children can be bullied over. If all children are dressed the same, then children will not bully one another for their fashion choices.

And high school students seem to agree that bullying will be decreased if mandatory uniform policies are introduced.

However, empirical evidence does not always support this widely-held belief. This study , for example, found no difference in disciplinary issues before and after a school uniform was introduced at one particular school.

It is possible that bullying will happen regardless of uniforms, and that making all children wear uniforms does nothing to actually teach kindness. A bully will be a bully – targeting things other than dress codes if need be – unless the bully is actively taught not to do so.

8. Confidence and Self-Esteem

A study by Sanchez et al. interviewed 604 middle school students found that the students reported increased confidence and self-esteem while wearing uniforms. The primary hypothesis for this growth in confidence is that students didn’t feel so self-aware about the way they dressed.

However, it’s possible that some students may also develop increased confidence by expressing themselves through their uniforms. By trying out new clothes, children learn to develop a unique identity and get more practice dressing in ways that make them feel good about themselves.

9. Improves the School’s Image in the Community

A school with a cleaner uniform where students appear well-dressed may have a better image in the community than a school without a uniform, or even with an outdated or simple uniform.

And a study by the National Association of Elementary Schools Principals (NAESP) shows that this is a key concern for school principals. 83% of principals in the study reported that they believed the uniforms improved their school’s image in the community.

Here, the main concern of the school principals is the message the uniform sends and not and actual tangible effect. Given there are several studies highlighting that there is no academic benefit of a uniform, this seems like a vanity metric.

Nevertheless, the symbolism of having well-dressed students can have the effects of attracting new parents to the school and having parents and the community value and respect the school and its students more.

10. School Spirit

School spirit includes pride and sense of belonging within a school. Wearing a uniform may help with this. If all the students are wearing the same clothing, there’s a sense that they’re “a team” and “working together” rather than being individualistic.

The NAESP study named above also looked at principals’ perceptions of whether uniforms improve school spirit. 77% of school principals in schools with uniforms believed that uniforms did help with school spirit.

11. Saving Time in Mornings

Many parents also like schools that have uniforms. It’s simply easier to get ready in the morning if children know exactly what to wear. There is no back-and-forth choosing and changing outfits or arguments between parents and children about what is acceptable to wear.

And in fact, the NAESP study found that 92% of parents believe it’s easier to get their kids ready in the morning if they have a school uniform. Similarly, 93% of parents believe that a uniform policy saves time in mornings.

Significantly, the parents cited less wardrobe battles as the key reason time is saved.

12. Safety and Identifiability on School Grounds

If all students are wearing school uniforms, it’s easier to identify people on the school grounds who do not belong there. Those people would not be wearing uniforms.

This is why (as this study shows) parents and teachers tend to perceive uniforms as positively impacting school safety, while students don’t believe uniforms make them more safe.

Of course, there is one big hole in this argument.

It would only make it easier to identify children or teenagers who do not belong. Parents who do not belong could easily be confused for a teacher seeing as most schools don’t have uniform policies for teachers.

And of course, one big threat to school safety is adults coming onto the grounds impersonating teachers.

Which begs the question: why do children have to wear uniforms and teachers don’t? If the argument is children on school grounds need to be identifiable by their uniforms, then shouldn’t teachers also have to wear uniforms so they’re identifiable? It seems like adult hypocrisy to me.

13. Age and Gender Identification

Uniforms may also be useful to schools for age identification of children. This would require different year levels to have different uniforms. For example, the infants could wear one color while the older children can wear another.

This would allow schools to police movement through the school. If a younger child is in a part of the school reserved for the older children, they could be easily identified and sent to their dedicated space (which may also help with safety).

This identification could also work across gender lines, where different genders can wear different uniforms. For example, if there are two private schools side-by-side where one is all-girls and one is all-boys, then this could work well to ensure the two genders remain separated, as per the private schools’ policies and ethos.

14. Reduction of Prejudice

It could be argued that, if all students dress the same, then there is less chance of prejudice by students and teachers.

For example, if a child wears a particular religious dress that a teacher dislikes, the teacher may treat them differently. But if all children dress the same, then the teacher is less likely to be prejudiced toward that child.

However, there is an obvious flaw in this argument. It doesn’t reduce prejudice because it is potentially prejudicial to tell some children they’re not allowed to dress in ways that accord with their culture or religion.

15. Identification during Excursions

School excursions to busy places can be stressful for teachers. The teacher needs to keep an eye on all the students in the class while there are also many other members of the public in the same space.

Uniforms are very useful in these situations. The teacher can count-off all the people in uniform to easily ensure all the students are there and ready for their next instructions.

16. Learning to ‘Dress Appropriately’

All cultures have rules around acceptable forms of dress. Usually, these have to do with not wearing sexually provocative clothing and not wearing clothing with insulting or provocative signs on them.

A uniform gives students a set of guidelines about what is considered acceptable and unacceptable to wear.

And it seems parents and school administrators often cite this as a key reason for mandatory school uniforms, particularly in religious schools .

However, this also raises concerns about exclusionary dress. Different people have different ideas around what is and is not appropriate. If you’re attending a school that has more conservative values than your family, you may feel particularly constrained by an arbitrary dress code that doesn’t conform with your own values.

17. Protects and Extends Childhood

Most people believe that sexuality and sexualization should not be associated with childhood. By enforcing a school uniform, children are discouraged from wearing sexually evocative clothing that most of society would consider inappropriate at a young age.

Thus, by enforcing a uniform, children feel less pressure to focus on their outfits, ‘looking good’ for the opposite (or same!) sex, or thinking about sexually provocative clothing.

18. Truancy can be Identified

I grew up in a school where we all wore uniforms. Police would often approach students walking around town in uniform during the school day. They would ask if we were supposed to be at school (and sometimes even call the school).

If students were found to be truanting, the police would drive them back to school.

Thus, uniforms can also be a useful way for the whole community to oversee where children of school age should be at all times.

Of course, children can simply get around this by bringing a change of clothes, which would in-turn make it easier for them to truant if the police are looking for people in school uniform!

19. They Teach Gender Norms

Many conservative parents want their children to grow up conforming to society’s gender norms. Boys are raised to be leaders and girls are raised to be ladies.

And while in today’s age, gender norms are increasingly considered to be bad for society and children, some parents still desire this for their children.

So, for those parents, uniforms could be a positive. Girls are taught to wear skirts and dresses, while boys are taught to wear shorts. Even these uniform requirements send a message – it’s harder to do rough and tumble activities in a skirt than shorts!

By raising children from a young age to wear gender-conforming outfits, the schools are showing the children how to ‘act their gender’.

I personally consider this to be a negative, but many parents see it as a positive, so I’ve placed it here for them!

20. Protection of a School’s Religious, Cultural, or Social-Class Identity

Public schools usually do not have religious, cultural or social-class identities that diverge from the mainstream.

However, many private schools have particular affiliations, such as:

• Affiliation with a religion.
• A desire to appear upper-class.
• Affiliation with a particular cultural group (such as international schools).

For these schools, uniforms can act as signals about the school’s values. An upper-class school might enforce the wearing of blazers with school crests on them.

And some religious schools may have rules about wearing traditional or conservative clothing.

This can help create a unified sense of the school’s identity.

21. Prevention of Gang-Related Color Schemes

In areas where gangs are active, school uniforms can help ensure gang-related colors are not worn on school grounds. This can help make schools gang-free zones and help prevent student recruitment into gangs.

Without the visible signs of gangs at school, the gangs’ influence and perceived power is reduced. It can also help minimize chances of rival gang groups from targeting one another on school grounds based on the clothing the students are wearing.

Furthermore, students who have no affiliation to gangs could be made to feel safer if the visibility of gangs is reduced. The intimidating insignia of gangs would not be visible to them at school each day. Read more about the relationship between gangs and school uniforms here .

22. Uniforms make Plain Clothes Dress Days Fun!

Let’s finish up with a fun one. In Australia we used to have a thing called “mufti day”. We would have this day about twice a year. And it was a day where you could wear whatever you want!

In the lead-up to mufti day, we would all be on our best behavior so it would go ahead. The day was, after all, a reward for good behavior.

On mufti day, everyone would be very excited. We would plan out and wear our favorite outfits.

This gave the teachers extra leverage to get the students to behave. And it gave the students something fun to look forward to!

Cons of School Uniforms

23. there is no impact on grades.

Several studies have found no changes in academic achievement between groups of students who wear uniforms and those who do not. If there is no clear academic benefit of a uniform, it can be argued that the uniforms are pointless.

It seems that the true benefit of wearing a uniform is in the hidden curriculum – that is, in teaching things at school that are not in the academic curriculum. That includes things like discipline and conformity. Whether it’s the role of schools to teach these things, however, is open for debate. Should schools just focus on grades and not on reinforcing conformity and discipline?

24. Lack of Freedom of Expression

There are some who question the legality and constitutionality of enforcing school uniforms in public schools in the United States. The First Amendment protects freedom of speech , which may also protect free dress.

However, to date, the Supreme Court has not made any comment on the constitutionality of uniforms. In 1969 , it got close, but upholding students’ rights to wear black armbands to protest the Vietnam war.

Overall, the key argument here is that a dress code restricts creative expression. If we want our education system to build-up creative, critical, and free-thinking people, a uniform seems inappropriate.

The uniform literally makes people uniform , in the sense that ‘uniform’ means ‘the same’.

Do we really want schools to be making us all the same? Isn’t that exactly the problem with the education system today?

25. Visible Diversity can be a Good Thing

People who argue for school uniforms say that it prevents bullying. It stops children from teasing each other because of what they wear.

But if we want a multi-cultural world, isn’t school the perfect place to start talking about our diversity and how it’s a good thing?

But making all children wear uniforms, we’re hiding (“sweeping under the rug”) diversity. We’re preventing conversations about it and celebration of it.

Thus, uniforms are arguably outdated in a world where diversity should be something that is visible, celebrated, and discussed – especially in schools.

26. Lack of Choice of Dress Codes

Another key problem with school uniforms is that children often don’t get a chance to have a say about what the dress code should be. Many uniform dress codes are decades old , and the children currently wearing the uniforms just wear what they’re told to wear.

But, you would think that a fair and democratic school would let the children wearing the uniform to choose what it looks like.

Unfortunately, it is usually the teachers, administrators, and parents who make these decisions. Even worse, sometimes it’s an outside company that is hired to select the uniform. Children are rarely consulted.

What does that say about what sort of people we’re raising in our schools? Do we want to raise compliant sheep, or creative people who are active participants in community decision-making, especially when it comes to decisions that directly affect them?

Related: 31 School Dress Code Examples

27. Uniforms can be Ugly

This may seem like a very superficial point, but it’s also serious. We’re forcing children to wear clothing that the children themselves might consider to be ugly. It seems a little unfair to tell people to wear something that they consider to be unattractive.

You look around at some schools and they have color schemes that include browns, mustards, and greys, that most people wouldn’t choose to wear if they had the choice!

Of course, this isn’t the most serious of points. But, for the children, it may be a very serious one indeed. They have to deal with it every day!

28. Violation of Religious Expression

This is one of the most serious problems with school uniforms. There are religions that have very strict dress code rules. These include having to wear certain colors, hair coverings, and even ceremonial knives (for some Sikhs).

By enforcing a strict uniform policy, you may be violating religious liberty.

When I was in school, we had one girl at the school who was a Muslim and who wore a Hijab. Her parents had to negotiate with the school principal about what uniform she could wear, seeing as the school didn’t have approved hijabs in the uniform code.

At the end of the day, her mother made her a hijab that was in the school colors, and everyone was happy. But, it still required some negotiation because of differences between religious requirements and school uniform policy.

29. Uniforms Require Parental Cooperation

Uniforms can cause conflicts between the school and the parents. I remember one girl I went to school with who would sometimes come to school out of uniform. She would get into trouble and not be allowed to play at lunch.

The problem was that it wasn’t her fault. Her parents often wouldn’t wash her uniform for her, meaning she didn’t have a choice but to wear a non-uniform outfit.

Here, my classmate was getting into trouble even though it wasn’t her fault – it was her parents!

We can see that parents need to cooperate and consent to the uniform policy. They have to make sure their child wears the uniform, and if enough parents don’t participate, the mandatory uniform policy falls apart.

30. Gender Expression Issues

In today’s day and age, we’re learning that enforcing gender norms in schools could be a violation of the gender expression of children. Some girls don’t want to wear dresses . And sometimes this isn’t even an issue of gender selection. It’s simply the fact that some girls don’t want to wear dresses!

Here, a uniform could be considered a violation of a child’s gender expression. Conservative old people are telling kids what to wear, even though perhaps their values are outdated for today’s world!

In fact, this became a big issue in a state in Australia where it was found many private schools forced girls to wear dresses . The state government had to intervene, with a government commissioner saying the schools were “stuck in a different age”.

31. Erases Cultural Differences

While school uniforms are seen as a positive for helping to erase visible social-class differences in schools (rich vs poor), they also have the negative effect over erasing cultural differences.

Children of all different races, cultures, and ethnicities attend modern schools. But, at least in Western schools, they must all adhere to a western dress code that doesn’t allow for cultural expression.

Forcing children to wear the clothes of a culture that is not their own is most visible (and, perhaps, offensive) when it comes to religious objections. However, even without the religious element, forcing children to wear uniforms can be seen as a form of cultural assimilation. It denies people their chance to practice their culture in the public sphere.

32. Difficulty in Finding the Uniform

When a school decides to enforce a uniform policy, it needs to take into account how easy it would be for parents to find the uniform.

Many public schools with uniform policies intentionally make this easy. They will be okay with a plain white or blue polo shirt.

But more prestigious schools will often develop uniforms that are very specific – with complex logos or designs on them. These uniforms often need to be bought straight from the school uniform shop or a small number of pre-approved nearby stores.

At the start of the school year, it can be find to get your hands on a uniform. All the parents are trying to get them at the same time!

This can also lead to price gouging where shops raise the price because they know demand is higher than supply.

33. They Promote Social-Class Identities

If you look at different schools’ uniform policies, you quickly see that some schools have very posh policies while other public schools that serve working-class communities have simple bland polo shirts.

In fact, some elite private schools require ‘white collared’ dress shirts, while public schools will require ‘blue collared’ shirts you’d more commonly see being worn by a construction worker.

These differences in dress codes from so early on reveal something unfair about the school system: wealthy people have the choice to go to elite schools where they’re raised for high-powered, high-paid white collar jobs (lawyers, etc.). Many public schools, as seen by the sorts of uniforms provided, are more humble and appear to be raising people in comfortable clothes that you’d expect to be worn for manual labor jobs.

In other words, uniforms don’t just train people to embrace gender norms. It also trains people to embrace social-class based identities.

34. It’s Another Thing for Teachers to Police

Mandatory school uniforms are just one more thing for teachers to have to worry about. In a world where teachers are over-worked and under-paid, it might be better for teachers to simply not have to worry about what their students wear.

Furthermore, for teachers who are on a power trip, it gives the teachers an excuse to get children into trouble. A small and minor problem, such as having an untucked t-shirt , could lead a child to get into trouble.

Here, rather than the school focusing on education, it may focus on nit-picking and bullying of students (as a teacher, I have a real issue with how often I see teachers bullying students based on things irrelevant to their education).

35. Upfront Costs

While it is arguable that school uniforms can be a more affordable choice than non-uniform outfits for children, some still argue that mandating school uniforms adds a cost burden for parents. Parents need to buy everyday clothing for their children regardless of whether they’re at school. Children need something to wear on weekends and during school holidays, after all!

So, at the start of the school year, often parents do need to fork out money they hadn’t planned to, and all at once.

For example, this report from the London School of Economics, points to one case study where a parent in England had to pay £310 for her children’s uniforms at the start of the school year. The woman was under particular financial strain as she was living on subsistence from the government, which was £556 a month. In this instance, uniforms took up more than half the family’s income for the month.

Summary Image

Clearly, there are many pros and cons of school uniforms. But, one thing I did realize when researching for this article was that there are a lot of differing opinions within the research. Some research papers (such as the one by NAESP that I cited several times) appear very biased toward school uniforms. And some academic studies found conflicting information, particularly around whether uniforms increased grades.

In other words, it seems like a lot of these arguments are philosophical and hypothetical. People can land on either side of the mandatory school uniforms debate depending on their own values, opinions, and backgrounds.

Another thing I found really interesting personally was that my friends who didn’t wear uniforms as kids looked at uniforms negatively – they saw them as tools for suppression of creative expression and even referred to them as looking a little communist! By contrast, my friends who wore uniforms as kids were much more positive toward them.

For me, this shows just how much our backgrounds and experiences have conditioned us to sit on one side of the debate or the other. So, I’d encourage you to genuinely think about the other perspective and see if you can come to the debate with as neutral and open a mindset as possible (if that’s possible at all!).

Scholarly Sources and Studies Cited

Baumann, C. & Krskova, H. (2016). School discipline, school uniforms and academic performance. International Journal of Educational Management , 30 (6), pp. 1003-1029. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-09-2015-0118

Firmin, M., Smith, S. & Perry, L. (2006). School Uniforms: A Qualitative Analysis of Aims and Accomplishments at Two Christian Schools, Journal of Research on Christian Education, 15(2), 143-168. https://doi.org/10.1080/10656210609485000

Gregory, S. L. (2013). Perceptions of High School Students of the Impact of a School Uniform Policy . PhD Dissertation. University of Arkansas. https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/592

Han, S. (2010). A mandatory uniform policy in urban schools: Findings from the school survey on crime and safety: 2003-04.  International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership ,  5 (8). https://doi.org/10.22230/ijepl.2010v5n8a253

Mahling, W. (1996). Scondhand Codes: An Analysis of the Constitutionality of Dress Code in the Public Schools. Minnesota Law Review,  80 (1): 715. https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/mlr/2492

Morris, E. (2005). ‘Tuck in That Shirt!’ Race, Class, Gender, and Discipline in an Urban School. Sociological Perspectives. 48(1): 25-48. https://doi.org/10.1525%2Fsop.2005.48.1.25

Nathan, N., McCarthy, N., Hope, K. et al. (2021). The impact of school uniforms on primary school student’s physical activity at school: outcomes of a cluster randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity , 18 (17). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01084-0

National Association of Elementary School Principals. (2013). The Right Fit: Principals on School Uniforms. Communicator , 36 (12). https://www.naesp.org/resource/the-right-fit-principals-on-school-uniforms/

Sanchez, J. E., Yoxsimer, A., & Hill, G. C. (2012). Uniforms in the Middle School: Student Opinions, Discipline Data, and School Police Data. Journal of School Violence , 11 (4), 345-356. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2012.706873

Velder, J. (2012). An Analysis of the Implementation and Impact of School Uniforms on Graduation and Discipline Rates in a Unified School . PhD Dissertation. Northwest Missouri State University). https://www.nwmissouri.edu/library/ResearchPapers/2012/Velder,%20Jessica.pdf

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School Uniform Debate

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Published: Mar 13, 2024

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Proponents of school uniforms, opponents of school uniforms, impact on academic performance.

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School Uniform Should Be Abolished (Essay Sample)

Table of Contents

Introduction

A uniform best represent the brand of the academic institution because it is where students will wear the color and the design that best symbolizes any institution. If a school policy wants their students to obey the rules and regulations, wearing of uniform will reflect how students obey and respect their institution as part of their learning routine. Uniforms are not only applied at school, but at several institutions as well. Employees have their set of uniform, which provides an essential structure to ensure that the quality of their responsibility is always expected and met. In this case, school uniform enables the society to value the significance of a brand to their country because it seeks to collaborate their needs and conduct to fulfill the interests of the public.

School uniform should be abolished because it can lead to several risks against the safety of the students while going to their respective classrooms. This is because there are recommended fabrics by the school that can generate allergic reactions to students who developed allergies due to a congenital anomaly. Another risk is when the school is located in a community wherein there is an outbreak of a highly contagious disease such as dengue fever, which could a fatal disease whenever it affects a young child. School children between ages 6 and 15 are highly vulnerable to dengue fever because their body is not that mature enough to fight any pathogenic microorganisms that affect their health. This is because boys and girls wear uniforms that expose their feet, which allow low-flying mosquitoes to take their chances of biting their legs and exposing the virus inside their body.

The fabric of school uniform is thin enough to expose the children to several illnesses. Some children have a low immune response to an extreme environment, allowing their bodies to be always vulnerable to infection. An example is when the student is exposed to snow while wearing their uniform, which can easily catch a cold after the exposure. There is an extreme weather event that makes it difficult for the students to wear their uniform because whenever it rains heavily, students usually catch a fever. In this case, the school fails to secure the safety and security of the students, especially if they became wet from the heavy downpours. Girls who are required to wear skirts that are above their knees usually attract sex offenders that can risk their safety such as when they are vulnerable walking alone.

Some schools already ban wearing uniforms for their students because they believe that it is one of the best ways to ensure that students will not be exposed to any criminal elements of the law. This is similar with the college students who are no longer required to wear their uniforms whenever they attend classes on a regular basis. In the modern era, there are more schools who are also considering on banning school uniforms to the students. This is because modernized schools are now associating the move to further promote liberalism to the society without limiting the rights of every student inside the campus. For this reason, students can learn comfortably because they do not need to follow strict orders from the school administration that promote their dedication to focus on their subjects when attending classes (Finkelman & Kenner, 2010).

• Finkelman, Anita Ward & Kenner, Carole (2010). Professional Nursing Concepts: Competencies for Quality Leadership. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Uniform Policy Should Be Abolished in Asian High Schools Essay

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Introduction

Why the uniform policy should be abolished, arguments in support of uniform policy and refutations.

Bibliography

It is universally accepted that schools are the most appropriate venues from where knowledge and skills can be imparted to students. Policy makers and educators all over the world try to come up with the best form of education for the school-aged citizens. In the Asian high schools, educators make use of policies that are aimed at promoting the best outcome from students. One of the policies widely applied by high schools in South Korea, China, and Japan is mandatory school uniforms.

Proponents of this policy argue that it leads to the best educational outcomes by students. However, this view is not unanimous and opponents of the policy asset that students should have the freedom to wear regular clothes. This paper will set out to argue that the school uniform policy in Asian high schools should be abolished since the policy prevents students from having individuality. The paper will demonstrate that the uniform policy is unjustifiable since in one of its core aspiration, which is to enhance discipline among students.

By being forced to dress in a certain way, school uniforms limit a student’s individuality. The school uniform promotes conformity as all senses of individuality in the student are blurred when they are forced to wear similar outfits.

Han declares that the uniform policy ends up covering the differences that exist in the school setting. The school uniform policy ignores the reality that we live in a diverse world where people have different tastes and preferences. This diversity is informed by the cultural background and individual experiences of the individual.

When students are allowed to wear unique clothes, they have the avenue to express their unique individuality and celebrate the differences that exist amongst themselves. One argument made by proponents of school uniforms is that it equalizes students and ensures that there is no distinction among students. By wearing uniforms, there is no opportunity for class or social distinction since wealthier students and poorer students are all forced to dress in the same way.

However, the fact is that differences exist among individuals in society. Instead of looking for ways to suppress these differences, schools should promote good relationships among students of varying cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Some researchers argue that by suppressing the individuality of the student, the uniform policy prevents the society from addressing issues such as inequality and stereotyping.

The conformity promoted by the uniform policy has a negative impact on student creativity. When students are allowed to wear their normal home clothes, they have an opportunity to demonstrate their creativity. Schools that do not have a mandatory uniform policy also convey a spirit of innovation and originality.

In such an environment, students are inspired to exercise their creativity. Creativity is necessary for the future prosperity of the society since it leads to new inventions and innovations. As institutions that nurture skills and promote the development of talents in students, schools are supposed to promote creativity.

By encouraging uniformity, the school uniform policy extinguishes the flame of creativity in students making them less productive members of the society. School uniforms also decrease the independence of students since educators encourage individuals to act in a similar fashion. Nemoto declares that uniforms have a negative effect on the development of student’s independent spirit. The uniform policy therefore discourages a culture of innovation among the students.

The school uniform policy violates the rights of the student since they are denied their freedom of choice and expression. Even through students are not fully self-reliant citizens, they are entitled to some basic rights in society. One of these rights is the freedom of expression, which articulates the right of the student to express himself to the public as long as it is in an appropriate manner.

Studies indicate that most students, especially from urban areas, have a poor perception of school uniforms. However, they are still obligated to wear the uniforms since it is mandatory school policy. The uniform policy is therefore perceived by many as an infringement on their freedoms. In most cases, students in Asian high schools are unable to demonstrate against the perceived injustice against them.

As such, school uniforms promote compliancy even when those in authority are trampling upon the rights of the individual. Opponents of the school uniform policy assert that it leads to the formation of students who are unlikely to value the ideals of freedom of expression. In the Asian countries, students are displeased with the imposition of the uniform policy.

However, they have to wear their uniforms and there is little public opposition to the policy. Greater priority is placed on respect and obedience to the authorities. Amita suggests that school uniforms encourage a subservient attitude by the student. This attitude is carried forward into the society where students will continue to demonstrate great obedience to the authorities even when they feel that their rights are being infringed upon

Advocates of the school uniform policy in Asian high schools argue that uniforms eliminate competition among students as each student has the same outfit.

They further contend that wearing a school uniform decreases non-academic distractions since students will not waste time wearing flashing clothes to impress their peers. These assertions are supported by research findings by Firmin and Smith, which demonstrate that competition exists among high school students and many students wear particular clothes for the express reason of showing off to their friends.

Teachers and parents are of the opinion that uniforms can eliminate teasing and competition among peers. While mitigating competition and teasing in high schools is a noble endeavor, uniforms may not be the solution to this problem. Studies demonstrate that uniforms are unlikely to alter negative interactions among students at school. Even when in uniform, students still engage in deleterious acts such as teasing and bullying.

Competition is still rife with students looking for new avenues to show off to their peers. In Japan, some students decorate their clothes or wear bright accessories to differentiate themselves from others. The competition elimination role that school uniforms supposedly play is therefore not realized in the Asian high schools.

School uniform policy supporters believe that school uniforms encourage good behavior and conformity by students. In most cases, teachers promote the enforcement of uniform policy since they believe that if students are allowed to show individuality or originality in appearance, they are more likely to be rebellious against teachers or school rules.

The psychological development of high school students increases the likelihood that they will engage in rebellious behavior. Research indicates that there are instances where mandatory a school uniform policy leads to the reduction in problem behaviors among the students.

However, the relationship between implementing a mandatory school uniform policy and bad behavior mitigation is not always straightforward. Most studies that show an inverse relationship between school uniforms and the number of students’ problem behaviors fail to consider the numerous school safety initiatives that have an impact on student behavior. If these external factors are considered, it will be observed that school uniforms do not lead to a reduction in the frequency of students’ problem behaviors.

Educators are tempted to use the uniform policy as an easy way to control students’ problem behavior and create a safe school environment. However, research indicates that the uniform policy by itself does not fulfill these roles. In addition to this, there is evidence suggesting that imposing school uniforms on students might actually exacerbate the situation of problematic behavior.

In some Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan where teachers enforce the uniform policy strictly, incidents of rebellion are higher. Some students engage in bad behavior as a protest and deliberately break school rules or commit other misdeeds. Research by Rockquemore and Brunsma actually demonstrates that students who wore uniforms “had worse behavior problems than all other students.”

Supporters of school uniforms in Asian schools declare that uniforms prevent delinquent behavior by students outside the school setting. These advocates reveal that by forcing students to wear students, they are easily identifiable in the public and they are unlikely to engage in delinquent acts. Empirical tests confirm that uniforms may be effective in decreasing delinquent behavior such as vandalism, theft, and burglary since the person is easily identifiable as a student.

However, this preventative role only applies to students who are not motivated to engage in antisocial behavior in the first place. Research indicates that students who are motivated to engage will still find ways to carry out offenses even if they are forced to wear uniforms. Students can carry a change of clothing in a bag and therefore be free of their uniforms before getting home.

They can then engage in delinquent behavior without anyone noticing that they are students. Research by Rockquemore and Brunsma indicated that uniforms had no effects of the behavior of students and they did not promote positive behavior. Instead, any positive behavior was the result of social relations and values held by the students.

Advocate of school uniforms policy in high schools state that school uniforms improve the academic outcomes of students. This claim gives great weight to imposition of school uniforms among Asian schools since every stakeholder in the educational sector wants to see students achieve the best educational results. Some research findings on the impact of school uniforms on test scores suggest that there is a positive correlation between the two.

According to a research conducted by Bodine, students from schools were a uniform policy was implemented demonstrated better academic performance than students from schools where no uniforms were used. The idea that school uniforms increase academic performance has been refuted by further research. Kerry and Brunsma contend that the claims that uniforms increase student achievement are not supported by research findings.

Furthermore, research findings demonstrate that academic outcomes of students are determined by multiple factors including; student capability, teacher competence, school administrative policies, and student socio-economic status. It would therefore be very misguided to attribute good performance to the school uniform policy. Any attempt by educators in Asian high schools to utilize school uniforms to deliver high academic performance is bound to fail.

The high school uniform policy is widely promoted by educators and policy makers in Asian countries. This overwhelming support for a uniform policy is prompted by perceived positive outcomes attributed to implementing such a policy.

The expansive implementation of the school uniform policy in high schools in Japan, South Korea, and China is not based on evidence from empirical studies on the positive outcomes from this policy. Research findings overwhelming show that there are limited positive results achieved by implementing the uniform policy in high schools. Students who wear uniforms do not demonstrate stronger pro-school attitudes or better behavior than their peers who do not wear uniforms.

This paper set out to argue that the school uniform policy should be abolished in Asian high schools. It began by highlighting that the uniform policy is enforced out of the perceived advantages to be gained by having students in uniform outfit. The paper has demonstrated that the uniform policy leads to negative outcomes by preventing individuality and creativity among students.

The policy also infringe on the freedom of expression that should be enjoyed by the students. The best society is one where citizens enjoy certain freedoms and are able to confront the authority when their freedoms are violated. From the arguments presented in this paper, it is clear that the uniform policy does not promote the development of such a society.

From the evidence presented in this paper, it is clear that the positive perception toward school uniforms is based on faulty assumptions. In reality, school uniforms do not have positive effects on the learning outcomes and behavior of students, or school climate in Asian high schools. The uniform policy should therefore be abolished in Asian high schools in order to avoid the numerous demerits attributed to them and therefore guarantee a better future for the students.

Bodine, Anne. “School Uniforms, Academic Achievement, and Uses of Research.” Journal of Educational Research 97, no.2 (2003): 67-71.

Brunsma, David. The School Uniform Movement and What It Tells Us About American Education: A Symbolic Crusade . NY: R&L Education, 2004.

Brunsma, David and Rockquemore Kerry. “Statistics, Sound Bites, and School Uniforms: A Reply to Bodine.” Journal of Educational Research 97, no.2 (2003): 72-77.

Firmin, Michael and Smith Suzanne. “School Uniforms: A Qualitative Analysis of Aims and Accomplishments at Two Christian Schools.” Journal of Research on Christian Education 15, no.2 (2006): 143-168.

Gentile, Elisabetta and Imberman Scott. “Dressed for Success? The Effect of School Uniforms on Student Achievement and Behavior.” Journal of Educational Research 103, no.1 (2010): 17-31.

Gupta, Amita. Going to school in South Asia . Boston: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007.

Han, Seunghee. “A Mandatory Uniform Policy in Urban Schools: Findings from the School Survey on Crime and Safety: 2003-04.” International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership 5, no. 8 (2010): 1-13.

Ishtiaq, Ahmed. The Politics of Religion in South and Southeast Asia . NY: Taylor & Francis, 2011.

Nault, Derrick. “The State and Uniform Policy.” Asia Journal of Global Studies 3, no. 1 (2003): 40-49.

Nemoto, Yasuhiro. The Japanese Education System . NY: Universal-Publishers, 1999.

Rockquemore, Kerry and Brunsma David. “Effects of student uniforms on attendance, behavior problems, substance use, and academic achievement.” The Journal of Educational Research 92, no. 1 (1998): 53-62.

Seth, Micheal. Education fever: society, politics, and the pursuit of schooling in South Korea. Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press, 2002.

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School Uniform should not be banned Argumentative Essay

Many people haven’t thought of all the great things school uniforms have to offer. Many students do not favour the idea of school uniforms, but I strongly disagree. I think uniforms are essential for every school needs them. I think this because school uniforms help student academically perform better, prevents bullying and school uniforms make school a safer place School uniform would help students to academically perform better, as it removes distraction. Many educators and sociology experts believe that students who wear school uniforms perform better academically at school. Students are often so focused on their wardrobe that it distracts them from learning. Some experts believe that a uniform policy will remove this distraction and improve student attention. They believe uniforms sets a more serious ambiance within the school environment that is suitable to learning and can improve student performance. They also believe that school uniforms improve student attendance. Many parents report that their children spend a great deal of time planning and choosing their daily clothing, and that uniforms allow students to use this time to sleep or study. While some students dislike the idea of school uniforms, because it limits how they can express themselves, it can prevent them from wearing inappropriate clothes. School uniforms prevent bullying.

Not everyone is wealthy, and stylish clothes these days can be very expensive and people simply can’t afford them, students could be bullied because of how they dress. If everyone were to wear the same thing, everyone would be equal and school uniforms can be a cheap way to promote unity among fellow students. Wearing the same uniform encourages students to behave friendly, helps to develop good social skills and a sense of belonging. When students wear the same uniform, they feel more connected with each other and learn to pay more attention the person’s identity, not the persons clothing. School uniforms were designed to promote safety in schools. School uniforms make it easier for teachers to identify which student belongs at the school. If there was no school uniform dangerous people can just walk onto campus and teachers won’t even notice. I wouldn’t feel safe at school if this was to happen.

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At St Albans Secondary College we always go on excursions, whether it’s in the city or just in St Albans, teachers could identify who is with their school and who isn’t, so if a student gets lost teachers can identify them by what they are wearing. Many people would argue that school uniforms are too expensive. At any public school in the district, a boys full uniform consisting of a shirt, a pair of pants, a jumper and a pair of black shoes could total up to approximately $200, but this is a small price to pay for something a student could wear for their entire high school career. At all schools the uniforms are made with high quality materials and fabrics and do usually last for a long time. These days most students from government school would receive EMA which pays for their uniform. And if there were no uniforms a student would need more than one outfit to come to school and that could cost much more than a standard school uniform. Wearing school uniform gives the students a variety of benefits, the most prominent being because school uniforms help student academically perform better prevents bullying and for safety reasons. The abolishment of school uniforms will not help. When I wear my school uniform I feel a sense of belonging, I hold my head up high feeling proud to be wearing my school logo. Therefore, the school uniform policy should not be abolished as it plays a very important role in the life of a modern day student.

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Argumentative essay on school uniforms: advice for both sides.

There are problems, when the correct side doesn`t seem to exist. Those issues are the most appropriate to be written about in argumentative essays. Thus, you can support your point of view writing an argumentative essay on school uniforms. Having taken any side you will be able to use convincing arguments.

The School Uniform Issue

Before you actually start telling your point of view and providing arguments, explain the situation to your reader. It is also necessary to tell different points of view on the issue in general. Thus, in your introduction you should tell that there is a discussion about wearing uniforms. Some people think that students must wear it, and other have an opposite opinion. It is necessary to finish your introduction with a well-written thesis statement, showing your approach and main arguments.

Arguments for School Uniforms

If you think, that it is necessary for students to wear uniform, here are some arguments for you to use while writing.

Argument #1: Safety

When all of the students are dressed the same way, it is easily to recognize a stranger. This decreases the crime rate and contributes to students feeling safer at schools.

Argument #2: Proper Accents

School is not a podium and its main aim is to teach students, not to give them a possibility to show off. If students are dressed the same way, they understand better the purpose of coming to school and their attention won`t be distracted to some side things.

Argument #3: Equality

Wearing the same uniform solves the issue of social inequality between students. There won`t be students, who dress more fashionable, or whose clothing is more expensive. This will reduce the pressure to the students from less successful families.

Argument #3: Spirit of Unity

Uniform introducing contributes to team building. Students feel a part of a big friendly team, which has common aims and pride.

Argument #4: Saving Money

The school uniform helps parents to save money on clothing. They can simply purchase 2 sets instead for school instead of paying hundreds to provide their children with lots of outfits to wear.

Arguments against School Uniforms

Most students do not like wearing school uniforms, so they tend to take this side more often.

Argument #1: Limit of Expression

The first and the main argument is that school uniforms limit possibilities for students to express their personalities. This contradicts the opportunity to free self-expression supported by law.

Argument #2: Social Issues

This is a common thing, that there are better and worse schools. Therefore, students from different ones will be easily recognized in society, and members of worse schools will be pressed.

Argument #3: Contradiction to Free Education

The education is free of charge according to law. However, the introducing of the school uniforms will make parents buy at least two sets of school uniform. If a student is changing schools, this will be an issue.

Argument #4: Personality Growing Up

Adults can make their own choice on what to wear. Thus, as students are told what to wear in school, this may prevent their psychological growing up.

Points to Include to an Argumentative Essay on School Uniforms

To improve your essay on school uniforms:

• Include numbers and other statistical data. Numbers help to support your opinion more efficiently.
• Separate different arguments into separate paragraphs. This will contribute to clarity of your point.
• Contact a professional writer for assistance. He will help you to organize your thought into a better coherent and convincing text.

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School uniforms should be abolished in all schools. Discuss to what extend you agree or disagree with these statement.

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Fully explain your ideas

To get an excellent score in the IELTS Task 2 writing section, one of the easiest and most effective tips is structuring your writing in the most solid format. A great argument essay structure may be divided to four paragraphs, in which comprises of four sentences (excluding the conclusion paragraph, which comprises of three sentences).

For we to consider an essay structure a great one, it should be looking like this:

• Paragraph 1 - Introduction
• Sentence 1 - Background statement
• Sentence 2 - Detailed background statement
• Sentence 3 - Thesis
• Sentence 4 - Outline sentence
• Paragraph 2 - First supporting paragraph
• Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
• Sentence 2 - Example
• Sentence 3 - Discussion
• Sentence 4 - Conclusion
• Paragraph 3 - Second supporting paragraph
• Paragraph 4 - Conclusion
• Sentence 1 - Summary
• Sentence 2 - Restatement of thesis
• Sentence 3 - Prediction or recommendation

Our recommended essay structure above comprises of fifteen (15) sentences, which will make your essay approximately 250 to 275 words.

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Art classes, such as painting and drawing are as important to a child's development as other subjects, so it should be compulsory in highschools. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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School Uniforms Should Be Abolished

School uniforms should be abolished because they are impractical for modern-day society. For many years, school uniforms have been worn by students in schools throughout the world. The problem of wearing school uniforms is that most school parents waste a lot of money purchasing them. Children of school age tend to grow very fast; this results in having to constantly replace uniforms. Additionally, the fabric used to make the uniforms can become quite uncomfortable and affect classroom concentration.

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School uniforms are not used as often as casual clothes in times like weekends, holidays and formal situations. One of the major causes of money wasting is from the purchasing of school uniforms. Uniforms cost a lot because the majority of parents have to buy a set of winter, summer and sport uniforms for their children. They also waste money when children grow older, thus making them have to buy new sets of uniforms every so often. In some cases, when a few children do not have any uniforms the right size for them, they have to get one especially made for them which makes the cost even higher.

Uniforms can also be a problem when private schools purchase uniforms for their students; as a result the school may raise its fees for parents. A dilemma with uniforms is that often schools are unaware on how uncomfortable they are for students and its impact on the student’s health. School uniforms are pretty uncomfortable when the weather or the seasons change, causing the student to be either too hot or too cold, therefore a handful of students will lose concentration in class. Also school uniforms harm the body when they are too cold or far too hot which results in sicknesses and absences.

When a small proportion of students start to dislike their uniforms, they may abuse or destroy their own uniforms. One of the major problems of school uniforms is the lack of use of them. School uniforms are dissipating given that casual clothes are used more often as school uniforms. Almost everyone wouldn’t wear uniforms on the streets, weekends, holidays or on formal times. Instead, a high percentage of people would wear casual clothes for these times. Subsequently, uniforms aren’t as useful as casual clothes, meaning uniforms should be abolished.

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• 110 Baker St. Moscow, ID 83843
• 208.882.1226

A Classical & Christ-Centered Education

Uniform Policy for 2024-25

• Uniform (words)
• Uniform (pictures)
• Secondary Uniform Notes From Mrs. Miller
• Ties:  Elementary ties for boys are available here (be sure to select the classic navy and gold stripe) , crossover ties for elementary girls are found  here and secondary ties/scarves are available in the front office.
• Quarter Zips :  These quarter zips are uniform-approved for all grades.  LINK .

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School uniform at EIS Moscow is compulsory

School uniform at EIS Moscow is compulsory for all students and can be purchased from the school shop, which is open during normal school hours.

A school uniform encourages a sense of unity and common purpose; a particularly important consideration as we endeavour to welcome students from a wide variety of countries and provide them with a true sense of belonging.

Uniform Requirements

• White not green polo shirt and grey or black trousers
• School Green V necked jumper
• Green polo shirt and sweatshirt top
• Black tracksuit bottoms (for PE only)
• Separate sports trainers for indoor and outdoor PE
• Sensible outdoor shoes and sensible black indoor shoes (not sports shoes or trainers)
• Girls should have their hair tied back with plain hair bands
• Girls should wear plain grey or black trousers or skirts ( not patterned or plaid )
• The school draw string sports bag for sports clothes not plastic or other bags
• Girls should not wear hooped or dangling earrings, only stud earrings.
• Girls should not wear nail polish
• Plain white long sleeved white collared shirts to be tucked into trousers. Not patterned shirts.
• Black or grey trousers but not jeans or casual type trousers with studs
• School green V knecked jumpers
• Green school polo shirts (for PE only)
• School green sweat shirt (for PE only)
• School black tracksuit bottoms
• Separate sports trainers for PE and most outdoor activities, football boots only for football
• Sensible school shoes for both indoors and outdoors
• School draw string sports bag not plastic or other bags.
• White long or short-sleeved shirts or blouses
• Black or grey long trousers or skirts, not jeans or trousers with studs
• School green V necked jumper
• School green polo necked shirt for PE only
• School green sweatshirts (for PE only)
• Sensible school indoor and outdoor shoes
• Girls should not wear hooped or dangling earrings

For both boys and girls from Primary through to Secondary

• Boys – plain normal swimming shorts (not beach or Bermuda shorts), towel, swimming goggles and flip flops
• Girls – plain all in one swim suits, swim hat, towel, swimming goggles and flip flops
• Sports bags to carry the swimming kit with plastic bag in which to put the wet swimming costumes

The Sixth Form has a separate dress code which is contained in their handbook, but the PE and swimming kit is the same.

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