School Uniforms: Practical for Students and Parents

Many public and private schools around the country have adopted a school uniform policy. Some parents and their children complain about uniforms, but most have come to welcome school uniforms as a positive step towards better learning and less emphasis on social status. There are several benefits to school uniforms:

1. School clothes shopping are simplified. There are many stores that now sell school uniform pants, jumpers, and shirts; or you can order school uniforms online. Uniforms make it easy for parents to shop for school clothing, and it is also less expensive as you only really need five sets of clothing. Some people argue that uniforms are expensive, but if you wait for clearance sales, it is possible to pick up uniform tops and bottoms for $5.00-$10.00. You can even find them at thrift stores or yard sales. Some private schools have "uniform exchanges", where parents can exchange their students' outgrown uniforms amongst each other.

2. It takes the emphasis off of clothing "brands". In schools were there is a strict uniform policy, parents do not need to worry about their children feeling bad if they are not wearing Abercrombie and Fitch to school. I have talked to many parents who wish their schools would switch to uniforms because of the peer pressure to buy a certain type of jeans or sneakers for their child.

3. Uniforms provide a neat and appropriate look for school. Our local public school does not require uniforms, and it is shocking what the children at the bus stop will be wearing. I have seen boys standing at the bus stop with half their underwear showing, and girls with extremely low-cut tops and short shorts. A friend of mine taught in a school district where the high school girls had started to wear pajama bottoms and lingerie tops to class-and they were allowed to stay at school like this! School uniforms prevent such inappropriate and distracting apparel from being worn to class.

4. Parents do not have to fight with their children over what they are wearing to school. The choice is simple for both parties. It even saves time on school nights, because the child knows exactly what he/she will be wearing the next day.

One of the biggest arguments against school uniforms is that it will "hamper the child's individuality". The child has plenty of occasions outside of the classroom to wear whatever he/she chooses. Having to wear a uniform for 6-7 hours during each weekday is not unreasonable.

Many jobs require a uniform including factory jobs, government jobs, and medical careers. Surely, now is as good a time as any for children to learn to adhere to a certain standard of attire. School is about learning, not viewing the latest fashions.