BY ARIELLE KRAUS
Wearing a school uniform is often a requirement that students are not in favor of because the thought of dressing in khakis and a polo shirt is not ideal to most. However, uniforms are not as terrible as they seem.
Uniforms are very common in private schools and have been utilized for many centuries due to their formal look. According to the New York Times, this trend did not become common in public schools until about 1994 when a California school district required them for both elementary and middle schools.
As a high school student, many individuals strive to fit in, buying the most expensive or popular clothing to blend in with the ever-changing crowd. Wearing designer clothes is very costly and many can not afford to do so. By not being able to afford the clothes that are currently ‘trending,’ some students feel isolated. Uniforms would prevent this because they are a cost-effective solution that allows students from all backgrounds to feel included.
“Uniforms will promote school identity, and are much more cost effective,” sophomore Adam Hartmann said. “It would decrease distractions from the competition of outfits, allowing everyone to look the same.”
By not being able to afford the clothes that are currently ‘trending,’ some students feel isolated.
School safety has become extremely crucial in schools over the past decade. If an individual does not belong on campus, they will easily be spotted in a crowd of students wearing uniforms. It is important for school officials, staff members and students to be able to easily differentiate between those who belong and do not belong on campus. Uniforms are an additional way to keep intruders out of schools.
In the morning, many students spend a significant amount of time selecting their outfit for the day. Although this decision may seem simple, it is very stressful for some because dressing to impress and selecting the perfect choice can be very difficult. If uniforms were required, students would not spend as much time on their clothes each morning and could focus on more important things such as eating breakfast and not being late to school.
“As much as I love wearing my own, cute outfits, I think uniforms would be superior,” freshman Leah Hack said. “They would lessen my daily mental breakdowns on what to wear every morning.”
“[Uniforms] would lessen my daily mental breakdowns on what to wear every morning.”
Uniforms are often thought to discourage self-expression. As students try to discover who they are, they like to express themselves at school in a variety of ways. One manner of doing so is through their clothing.
Nevertheless, students can show their individuality through other ways such as their socks, shoes or hair accessories, as well as through their achievements, actions, interests and personality. Clothes do not define a person, their actions do. Uniforms would not hinder self-expression.
Bullying is prevalent in schools and students may be targeted because of the way they dress. Some individuals do not have control over what they can afford and may dress differently than others. Wearing uniforms can resolve this conflict because all students will be dressed in the same attire. Students can feel safer and more included when everyone is wearing the same style of clothing.
Bullying is prevalent in schools and students may be targeted because of the way they dress.
“Having kids wear uniforms will reduce bullying because kids won’t pick on each other for how they’re dressed,” educational psychologist and Today contributor Michele Borba said. “[Uniforms create] emotional safety, which is pivotal to learning.”
The pressure students face to dress like their peers can cause them to be ridiculed. Clothing should not interfere with one’s education. By encouraging schools to require uniforms, students can take that burden off of their shoulders.
Uniforms are a necessity for schools because they help prevent bullying, allow all students to feel included and assist in maintaining a safe learning environment. For the safety and well-being of the students, uniforms should be enforced.
Photo by Alexa Jaspan
