For the past few years (and even twenty years ago when I was in school), the topic of fashion for pre-teens and teenagers has been a very controversal one. Peer pressure, economic status, entertainment influence, and competition have been some of the sub-topics that have centered around the discussion of whether or not public schools should enforce a uniformed dress code.
Mine is a simple take on the topic; I think wearing uniforms in the schools are a good thing.
For one, if all the students conform to one standard code of uniform, there will be less competition in terms of who dresses better than who. Children who come from families that are on the lower end of the economic toll would be equal to those more fortunate, and economic status won't factor into what is already a difficult stage in adolence.
Some would argue that children will find one way or another to still compete with each other. If they can't pick on each other about whose clothes are more in style or more expensive, then they will begin to pick on other things (whose "ugly" and whose "cute", etc.). But that's where more parental influence comes into play. You teach your child that everyone is beautiful in his or her own way, and you make sure that they understand that getting along with each other and accepting people for who they are could, in fact, bring more peace in the school systems and therefore in the community.
These days, even the richer families find themselves struggling with higher gas prices, food costs, and the cost of living.
Russell E. Eppinger wrote an article in 2001 titled "SCHOOL UNIFORMS: Does What Students Wear Really Make A Difference?". In it, he discussed the freedoms of public school systems dress codes-very few restraints and the tendacy to go above and beyond the expectatons; body piercings, trench coats (this was mentioned in referece to the Columbine incident), and how in hotter months girls showed more of their body. These were some of the negative reasons as to why uniforms would be a good thing. In fact, the government stepped in and pretty much left it up to the individual schools whether or not they would enforce uniforms in their dress codes.
I recently wrote an article about how the kids were wearing their pants hanging down and exposing their underware. This problem is one that I am very passionate about. I twinge at the sight of guys (and girls) wearing their pants hanging down and exposing boxers or thongs. I've even had the unfortunate experience of seeing adults wearing their cloths in this same manner. Enforcing school uniforms would cut down on this discrase.
Even though a lot of the public schools have enforced the uniform policy, some parents are still very much against it. But I would like to point out that buying uniforms could cut down on the costs of clothing, and in times like these that's a good thing. And not only does this save money, but it also promotes school spirt and takes away from distractions so that the students can concentrate more on education.
I am in no way stating that enforcing and participating in school uniforms will solve all the problems that exist inside of the schools, but it will be one less thing that will factor in. Also, schools could possibly get more funding from outside sponsors if they "look the part".
In schools where the majority of the children are living in poverty, uniforms could take away from a lot of the stress of trying to "compete with the Jones'". Khaki pants and a black top doesn't scream out "My family earns $100,000 per year whereas yours only earns $25,000". What it does is scream out "We are the same and we are here for the same thing, so let's focus on the good things and not the negative ones".
I have a cousin who is totally against schools enforcing uniforms. She's very fashion conscious and is thrilled that her kids have "fly" clothing. Her family is on the lower economic latter, but they find great deals on discout name brand clothes and it seems that what they wear, at times, defines who they are preceived to be. I think this is materialistic, and the problem arizes when she is willig to spend a lot of money on clothing even when there is little or no food in the home. So once again, I have to think that school uniforms will allow for families to spend the money more wisely, and eventually this could assist us in getting out of our financial bottomless pits.
Three pair of black pants, two pair of khaki pants, four to five black polo shirts, and of course socks,t-shirs, and underwear along with two or three pair of nice shoes should tie up a lot of wasted money. And these are clothes that can be passed down to the younger sibblings if their school uses the same uniform colors. If you wash the clothes once a week and really take care of them, they could last the entire school year and save tons and tons on seasonal clothes shopping. And let's be honest...wearing uniforms will teach out children to look professioal, which will help them when they grow up and enter the work force.
There are a lot of positive reasons for supporting uniforms in the schools. A lot more than the ones I've stated.
Here's the Q and A:
1-Do you support uniforms in schools.
2-If so, why?
3-If not, why?
Those are the Questions, now let's hear your answers.
Copyright ©2008 Attica Lundy
