School uniforms and their educational impact

School Uniforms

The debate on whether or not elementary and high-school students should wear school uniforms is not a new one. Parents, teachers and other school officials, students, and the like have argued back and forth about this issue in various arenas from classrooms to courtrooms. Those that are against school uniforms would argue that school officials are impinging on the students' freedom of expression, stifling their individuality, and even imposing unnecessary means of control (Anderson 3). Uniforms, to this camp, are but shallow solutions and cover-ups to deeper problems.

However, students are at such an impressionable age, especially the students that are still in high-school. During this period in their development and transition to adulthood, most students are still searching for their self-identity while at the same time, still trying to find connections with their peers. As such, some students may not make the most sensible choices on what clothes they should wear. Students may be caught wearing clothes inappropriate to a learning environment, such as t-shirts with messages or images that advertise drugs, cigarettes, alcohol (Lunsden and Miller 1) and even profanity or violent language or images (Kizis 19). Other students may be clad in gang-related outfits while others still may be dressed in clothing that is sexual and provocative (Ibid).

Thus, this begs the question of how much freedom of expression should students be allowed while in an institute of education? Those in favor of uniforms argue that requiring uniforms does not encroach upon a student's freedom. Uniforms, on the contrary, make for a more level playing field in the classroom in order for students to focus less on outward appearances and more on learning, character building (Johnson 1) and ultimately better self-expression. Teachers, on the other hand, can waste less time disciplining their students and more time on teaching them. Even parents can stand to benefit from uniforms as they will not only spend less on clothes but free from the everyday bickering over what their children will may choose to wear to school, they can focus on more meaningful conversations with them (Anderson 8).

Further, uniforms may even help in promoting better self-esteem and confidence as the socioeconomic class distinctions are minimized, as those who do not own trendy or designer clothes are less prone to exclusion (Lunsden and Miller 1). More so, by having students dress the same, it gives them the message that they are all 'the same' and they are all on the same team. As such, this promotes acceptance, harmony and unity among students (Anderson 8).

Other than putting students on more common ground, uniforms have also been credited with "improved discipline, and classroom behavior, increased school attendance, better school performance, lower clothing costs, promotion of group stratification, and lower rates of violence and crime" (Konheim-Kalkstein 25). Albeit there is not direct link between improvement in students' behavior and academic performance and the use of uniforms, there had been many anecdotes to support this claim. Having students wear uniforms conjures perceptions of order, safety and security as uniforms are viewed as "concrete and visible means of restoring order to the classroom" (Anderson 3).

Uniforms may also lessen incidences of violence and crime against students, as many acts of violence are caused by the association of a certain color or cap with a particular gang (qtd in Anderson 7). Other than gang-related violence, requirement of uniforms may also lower rates of violence against students who are considered "outsiders" or "freaks" who dress "strangely," and are clad in all black and wear black shadow or black lipstick, or even those students that are unfortunate enough just to be wearing "the wrong jacket" (Anderson 7-8). Moreover, because everyone is wearing the same uniform, there could be lesser cases of robbery among students as there are some who envy the expensive possessions of their peers and lack finances to purchase them (Anderson 8).

"Uniforms have been the greatest equalizer for our students and have been wonderful both in terms of unity and discipline within the school and cost effectiveness for the parents" -- shares Connie Jo Gamble, principal, Loxley Elementary, Loxely, Alabama (qtd in Anderson 8).