Many schools in the United Sates are at odds over school uniforms. In many cases, when uniforms are imposed students feel that their rights are being taken away (Kelly). That is the main argument against school uniforms. Although there is this disadvantage to school uniforms, there are many advantages. Along with making the student 's life easier, school uniforms would also provide for a more comfortable atmosphere and help students to focus mainly on their educations. In order to make uniforms acceptable, parents and teachers must work together to show the positive effects that uniforms could have on each student 's life.
Many students feel that with uniforms they will not be recognized as individuals. Students often feel that their wardrobes define who they are as people. Even though school uniforms do take away a person 's right to show his or her individuality through clothing, the advantages certainly outweigh the disadvantages in this case. Students would probably be more accepting of the idea of school uniforms if a more casual style of uniform were adopted than a formal traditional style (Kelly).
One of the many advantages would be a more stress-free school week for students. For example, students are usually worried about what they will wear the next day. On average, a student usually spends anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour trying to find something to wear the next day. In this amount of time, the student could have spent thirty minutes studying or gone to bed that much earlier. In addition to saving time, there would be less of an acceptance problem between peers because name brands and styles would no longer matter.
School uniforms would also provide for better student/teacher relationships. With uniforms, all students would be recognized as equals. Therefore, both teachers and students would get the respect they deserve. With uniforms, there would be less of a division between peers, and cliques would not be as obvious in the student body. With these things in mind, it is probable that discipline problems would drastically decrease (School Uniforms). As an added advantage, teachers would be able to focus on the more important things than a student 's dress code violations (Kelly).
Lastly, students would no longer focus on each other 's wardrobes. Most of the time, students worry about everyone but themselves. Oftentimes this results in the less fortunate or more outrageous students being ridiculed. All of this goes back to the student being accepted. As previously stated, all students would be recognized as equals. Students would be more likely to be judged on their accomplishments before anything else, especially style and appearance, could come into play. This would allow students to focus solely on their educations (School Uniforms).
In conclusion, schools with uniforms seem to excel academically. The student body 's perspectives change considerably. They are no longer caught up in the material things; they are forced to concentrate on the matters that really matter. Students could attend school with a clear mind every day and focus on their educations and not each other. In the end, uniforms would be a helpful tool to all educational facilities.
Works Cited
Kelly, Melissa. "Safety in Schools and Uniforms." School Uniforms. 03 Nov 2004.
"School Uniforms: Where they are and why they Work." 26 Feb 1996. Manual on School Uniforms. United States Government. 04 Nov 2004.
Cited: Kelly, Melissa. "Safety in Schools and Uniforms." School Uniforms. 03 Nov 2004. "School Uniforms: Where they are and why they Work." 26 Feb 1996. Manual on School Uniforms. United States Government. 04 Nov 2004.
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