Everyone has their own opinion when it comes to whether school uniforms are a good idea or not. It is a topic that has been debated for many years with both sides having valid points to make. However, most schools across the world tend to agree that the pros of students wearing uniform far outweigh the cons in many aspects. Here is a summary of the pros and cons of school uniforms.
Pros
Many educators and experts believe that students who wear school uniforms get better results academically than those who do not. This is because a uniform policy removes the distraction of having to think about what they are wearing and helps improve attention. If you are wearing a uniform it sets a more serious tone to the learning environment making learning easier and student performance is improved.
Experts argue that students who wear a school uniform behave more appropriately within the school environment due to the enforced rules. A stricter atmosphere is generally more conducive to learning. Some experts even believe that students who wear a uniform are less likely to behave in a violent manner within school hours.
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As clothing and fashion are often the root of social conflict within the school environment, a lot of experts believe that a mandatory uniform eliminates this problem meaning that there is less bullying or trouble between students. Many children judge each other based on what they wear and this can cause problems. With a uniform everyone looks the same and less vulnerable
Keeping up with trends and fashion can be a costly business; therefore many experts believe that using a school uniform is a great way of saving money as most as affordable to most families. Uniforms also tend to be quite durable and easy to wash which is a bonus.
Cons
Many experts feel that the biggest drawback for children who are made to wear a uniform is that their self-expression is stifled. They believe that curbing individuality in young children can be detrimental to their development. Experts also believe that forcing each child to fit into a specific mould effectively strips away their individuality, not celebrating diversity as they should be.
Just as many people think that the cost of school uniform is negative as those who see it as a positive factor. Some parents think that a uniform increases the amount of clothing they will have to buy their children as they will still need clothes for the hours that they are out of school.
Some argue that comfort is needed in order to maximise learning and that most school uniforms are not comfortable. Therefore, many believe that uniforms can deter academic success.
This is a debate that is set to continue for many years to come but as most schools around the world already operate a mandatory uniform system it looks like uniforms are here to stay, for a few more years yet anyway.
References:
US Department of Education
National Center For Education Statistics
International Debate Education Association
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