Why should my child wear a school uniform? Does it benefit them in any way?
Uniforms are very beneficial to your child's education. The major three arguments in support of uniforms are that they will provide for more academic focus, boost self-esteem by eliminating the need to fit in, and increase student safety and discipline.
Uniforms are very beneficial to your child's education. The major three arguments in support of uniforms are that they will provide for more academic focus, boost self-esteem by eliminating the need to fit in, and increase student safety and discipline.
How will uniforms affect my child academically?
Uniforms are very academically beneficial! Nowadays, students do not have to look very far for distractions. A major distraction in grade school classrooms is clothing. Instead of listening to their teacher, students spend their time thinking about what they or others are wearing. If they are wearing a uniform, students can refocus their attention towards the academic task at hand. Studies by Professor Ann Bodine prove that there is a "positive correlation" between uniforms and test scores (Bodine). Positive correlations also exist between uniforms and attendance (Bodine). Similar studies confirmed that schools with uniform policies show "improvement in rates of attendance [and] graduation" (Bendel & Draa). Students who wear uniforms attend class more frequently and perform better on tests. In short, uniforms take away distractions, allowing students to focus on their studies.
Uniforms are very academically beneficial! Nowadays, students do not have to look very far for distractions. A major distraction in grade school classrooms is clothing. Instead of listening to their teacher, students spend their time thinking about what they or others are wearing. If they are wearing a uniform, students can refocus their attention towards the academic task at hand. Studies by Professor Ann Bodine prove that there is a "positive correlation" between uniforms and test scores (Bodine). Positive correlations also exist between uniforms and attendance (Bodine). Similar studies confirmed that schools with uniform policies show "improvement in rates of attendance [and] graduation" (Bendel & Draa). Students who wear uniforms attend class more frequently and perform better on tests. In short, uniforms take away distractions, allowing students to focus on their studies.
How will uniforms affect my child socially?
Uniforms provide a homogeneity that helps to eliminate the stifling sense of peer pressure that our children face every day (DaCosta). Students will no longer make comparisons between themselves and others. Uniforms will also allow form more camaraderie amongst students, as socioeconomic lines will be blurred. No student is better than another because of their clothes. Due to this absence of material pressure, students will have the freedom to befriend kids that they have a genuine connection with, without the influence of wardrobe or social class. Everyone has a clean slate. Students wearing uniforms can begin looking introspectively at themselves and others. Writer Marsha Boutelle said it best: "Uniforms allow children the right to distinguish themselves by the deeds they've done, not by the duds they wear" (Boutelle).
Uniforms provide a homogeneity that helps to eliminate the stifling sense of peer pressure that our children face every day (DaCosta). Students will no longer make comparisons between themselves and others. Uniforms will also allow form more camaraderie amongst students, as socioeconomic lines will be blurred. No student is better than another because of their clothes. Due to this absence of material pressure, students will have the freedom to befriend kids that they have a genuine connection with, without the influence of wardrobe or social class. Everyone has a clean slate. Students wearing uniforms can begin looking introspectively at themselves and others. Writer Marsha Boutelle said it best: "Uniforms allow children the right to distinguish themselves by the deeds they've done, not by the duds they wear" (Boutelle).
How will uniforms affect the safety of my child's school?
There have been many positive correlations between uniform policies and school safety. In 1994, the Long Beach Unified School District became the first major urban school district to require uniforms (Wilkins). They recorded their results to see the differences in their students before and after implementing the policy. "After just one year, dramatic decreases in violence and discipline problems...were reported" (Wilkins). Uniforms help campuses achieve higher levels of security, as they eliminate gang associations and theft of valuable clothing items. Uniform policies can aid in "preventing gang activity, such as students wearing gang colors and gang insignia" (King). They will also help limit theft, as identifying possible targets will become more difficult. On top of that, uniforms will "increase the ease with which students can be identified on field trips - and, on campus, the ease with which intruders out of uniform can be detected" (Boutelle). Uniforms are an important step in ridding our schools of violence. Help us take that step!
There have been many positive correlations between uniform policies and school safety. In 1994, the Long Beach Unified School District became the first major urban school district to require uniforms (Wilkins). They recorded their results to see the differences in their students before and after implementing the policy. "After just one year, dramatic decreases in violence and discipline problems...were reported" (Wilkins). Uniforms help campuses achieve higher levels of security, as they eliminate gang associations and theft of valuable clothing items. Uniform policies can aid in "preventing gang activity, such as students wearing gang colors and gang insignia" (King). They will also help limit theft, as identifying possible targets will become more difficult. On top of that, uniforms will "increase the ease with which students can be identified on field trips - and, on campus, the ease with which intruders out of uniform can be detected" (Boutelle). Uniforms are an important step in ridding our schools of violence. Help us take that step!
DISCLAIMER:
Parts of this website are fictional and were created for a class.
Please email my instructor with questions: scheney[at]collin[dot]edu
Word Count: 523
Parts of this website are fictional and were created for a class.
Please email my instructor with questions: scheney[at]collin[dot]edu
Word Count: 523