School Uniforms: Knowing The Arguments

The compulsory wearing of school uniforms can be a cause for complaint among many prospective students. If this is your child's first year facing such a policy you may find the going especially rough. You can prepare to defend school policy and also to understand and commiserate with your children's complaints by becoming familiar with the arguments on both sides of the school uniform issue and determining in your own mind whether the policy is uniformly useful or uniformly pointless.

Those, including many school administrators, who argue in favor of mandatory uniforms have become convinced that uniforms reduce discipline issues and allow students to focus on school matters. In a school where there is a uniform policy all students basically look the same, no one stands out , no one feels better or worse than anyone else simply on the basis of apparel. No envy is triggered by students who can afford the newest styles or most costly outfits. Silly arguments over sneakers, jeans or tee shirts just don't happen. To the degree that uniforms reduce skirmishes and distractions they can be uniformly useful

Some parents readily jump aboard the pro uniform bandwagon. After all buying uniforms seasonally can save money and reduce complaints at home about how the family budget is stretched. Wearing school uniforms means there is no fashion competition and no pressure to spend more to buy clothes that make a statement..

Some parents also like the idea of not having to monitor their children's clothing to make certain that it is appropriate and non-offensive . Having a standard uniform takes all that responsibility off parents

Many parents who have watched their kids go to school in sneakers, jeans and tees for years don't mind the switch to uniforms because it seems to give their kids a more business like look. For some kids, a uniform can improve their esteem and self worth, especially if their other clothing is not the best. Sending their kids off to school in a neat uniform not only lifts the esteem of children, parents feel better about the job they are doing as well.

There are even kids who accept some of these adult arguments and some who join the pro-uniform argument for their own reasons. Chief among them is the argument that personally they are relieved not to have to be part of the fashion competition that goes on when uniforms are not worn in schools. They can relax and not wonder what others are thinking of them. They can simply go to school and fit in, at least in terms of their clothing. Some kids also find that wearing school uniforms gains them some respect from the outside world. Adults and even other children who see kids in uniforms do stop and take notice and generally have a positive response to kids in uniforms, seeing them as somehow serious students.

While there is substance to the arguments raised in favor of school uniforms there are arguments on the other side that should be considered. Frequently it is argued that by putting all children in the same clothing one takes away a certain freedom of expression that is gained when kids pick out their own clothing. Children who dress themselves have the chance to say in a subtle way something about themselves and their personality. Kids who wear uniforms are simply all the same.

Uniforms may reduce disciplinary issues but according to some students and teachers they also cast an institutional pallor over the school. Bright colors, crazy styles that give kids and their classrooms life become humdrum when everyone is dressed exactly the same. Possibly this sameness can effect the overall creative energy in the room. If so then uniforms become uniformly pointless and counter-productive.

The logic of the uniform argument can be turned around by kids who will tell you that stopping kids from arguing over who has the best or most fashionable clothing or the most stylish foot wear by insisting on uniforms really misses the point. Kids are going to have confrontations with other kids, its what kids do. All uniforms do, the argument goes, is to switch the subject of confrontation to some other level. Administrators and parents, according to this argument, are only fooling themselves.

Lastly, there are kids for whom wearing the school uniform can be a modern tragedy. The truth is there are lots of kids who wear school uniforms that are created in a color that is not becoming to their complexion, hair or eye coloring. Instead of lifting their self esteem school uniforms can, because of their cut and color make students self conscious and unhappy every time they put on what they have to wear to school each day. Being able to pick out your own clothes in colors and styles that suit you may really be something each child has a right to do.

The uniform argument will be back again this fall, as a new school year begins. Discussing the pros and cons with your family can help to make the transition to or from uniforms a little easier on everyone.

Sources:

www.principalspartnership.com
www.optionality.net