All Public Schools Should Implement a School Uniform Policy

All Public Schools Should Implement a School Uniform Policy

Danola Spaulding

AIU Online

Abstract

This paper will discuss the adoption of implementing a school uniform policy in all public schools, and the many advantages and effects attributed to such decision.

All Public Schools Should Implement a School Uniform Policy

Imagine getting a call from the police. There has been a shooting at your child’s school. You are frozen; life is slowly seeping out of your body. Then you start to tremble uncontrollably. Somehow you manage to get yourself to the car, you turn on the ignition, and your mind is racing. What is your next move? You start to pray, silently, at first, and then louder and louder. Teary eyed you make it to the school. There you see the crazy scene that you never imagine yourself being a part of; students are being rushed out, chaotically they are looking for the loving and safe arms of their parents. Finally, miraculously you see your child; you envelop your baby in your embrace, and hold on for dear life. Later, when your little one is finally asleep, you turn on the television, and they are reporting that the shooting at the school was over a trendy, fashionable, pricey designer label jacket. A bullied student shot another student who was bullying him incessantly over his lack of fashion-forward, name-brand clothes. The shooter could no longer cope with the daily humiliation and teasing. In hindsight the school did propose a school uniform policy, which was quickly shut down. This has become daily news, but what if, what if all this could have been avoided?  “A safe and disciplined learning environment is the first requirement of a good school” ("Manual on School Uniforms., 1996," para 1). Many educators, administrators and parents are aware of the deteriorating state of public schools. Swift changes are necessary to return the educational system to standard levels. Schools should once again become the safe havens for the educational developments of students. Schools should maintain the values of a healthy, safe learning environment for students; it should be a place where students can grow academically and fundamentally. All public schools should implement a school uniform policy to reduce the socioeconomics gap, to reduce cost for families and to improve student’s professional look.

Implementing a school uniform policy will help with the reduction of the socioeconomics gap.  All students will have a fair chance without the bias of family income. The policy of school uniforms will provide an atmosphere of equality. Distinctions made solely on economic status will be reduced with the uniform policy. Fashion has a major influence on how students dress. There is heavy competition and pressure at school to wear the trendiest, fashionable, designer label garments. Students are so immersed in keeping up with the latest fashion trends that it creates rifts and social divisions; at times even causes distractions. Not everyone can afford the hot new designer jeans or jackets, thus creating a social status gap. As schools turned to mandated uniforms, there will be fewer incidents of humiliation, being picked and bullied for the choice of clothes by students. Uniforms will help diminish the social barriers at school. Everyone will look the same and will be able to fit without the fear of being mocked about the lack of costly, designer label clothes. President Bill Clinton (1996) stated: “If it means teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms." This statement from his State of the Union Address provided energy to the school uniform policy. School uniform is an efficient strategy to minimize the risk of violence, discrimination, harassment and being singled out for a student’s choice of attire. It is about time that social status and or disparities are eliminated in school. Mandated uniforms will help shift the disruptive behaviors of fashion competition to a more equate economic status level.

Adopting a school uniform policy will help reduce cost for families, especially for families on a budget. It can be quite expensive for families to dress their children.  The pressure for low-income families to help their children keep up with the current fashion trends will be minimized. Most students have a lot of opinions on their wardrobe at the start of the school year. Parents will be able to save money by not investing in the very expensive designer labels. Uniforms are also designed to be durable, which could benefit a large family by passing down the uniforms to younger siblings or relatives. Some schools, churches and community vendors are also helping families in need by providing a recycling system of uniforms. Uniforms cost significantly less than the unregulated attire. Fashion trends are forever changing, and sometimes within the school year. The constant demand to keep up with fashion, to replenish the wardrobe and the economic stress could prove taxing to a family. Therefore, the durability and reusability of school uniforms purchased at the beginning of the year is a financial remedy on budget conscious parents, for they do not go out of style. To give momentum to the cost effectiveness of school uniform policy, a research was performed, resulting in the average cost of school uniforms being $249.00, far less than the price of one designer brand jeans. (Statistic Brain, 2014)