EDUC 2110-Lesson 7:

School Uniforms

Overview Viewpoint:

Lesson 7 of Education 2110 focused on a topic that schools around the nation debate on. The first thing we had to do was read articles about the pros and cons of schools uniforms. These questions to the lessons focus on if school uniforms are helpful. These lessons makes you understand why some schools prefer school uniforms and how many of them actually help them. Some however, disapprove of them. This lesson will give you an understanding on why some might also dislike the idea of uniforms.

 

• Question #1

What is a school uniform? Describe.

A school uniform is an outfit. These outfits are worn in some elementary, middle, and high schools. A lot of times they are worn in private schools. The school uniforms are a part of most schools dress codes. School uniforms usually consist of plain white, navy, and sometimes the school color as their shirts with collars on them. As bottoms you would usually see pants, capris, and skirts. The bottoms are usually khaki, navy, and sometimes black. That also go for the skirts which are sometimes plaid.

 

• Question #2

What are the potential benefits of having school uniforms?

                Too some school uniforms simplify simplicity and obedience. Having school uniforms creates some potential for less school violence and crime. They think that school uniforms creates kind of like a military type of style. Another potential benefit is that it would decrease bullying. Many times students are bullied because of the things that they wear. If they look just like everyone else they can get bullied. Having school uniforms also makes it a lot cheaper for parents. Parents spend lots of money on outfits for their child to wear to school but if they only had an option of one thing like uniforms they would spend less money and have more in their pocket.

 

• Question #3

What are the potential problems with having school uniforms?

                Some problems is that schools are supposed to help students find and express themselves but uniforms may hold them back. Students want freedom to wear what they want to wear. Sometimes for some parents school uniforms is actually costly. In a student and their parents are living in poverty sometimes it’s cheaper for them to buy just any piece of clothing then school uniforms. Some schools even want designs in their uniforms which can cost extra to a parent. Some say that school uniforms lowers school violence but many think that if a crime was to arise it would hard to identify someone because there wearing the same thing as everyone else.

 

• Question #4

How can you get parents and students to buy-in to the idea of school uniforms?

                I could probably get a parent to buy-in to uniforms by saying how easy it is to dress your child in the morning for school. Children like to fuss and fight with their parents on what they want to wear like wearing a tutu or something. I think it gives the child nor the parent an option. School uniforms will also be less of a distraction. Some students like to bare their midriffs and guys start to lose focus in their work and start to pay more attention to the girls. Even if the students wore bright things it could make them lose focus so uniforms puts a stop to that.

 

• Question #5

What does the Supreme Court have to say on this issue?

                The students freedom of expression must be protected. The supreme court has mixed feelings about uniforms making them for and against it. The Supreme Court has said that schools have the right to strictly enforce uniforms. Before that can happen it must go through the board of education first and also a public hearing. School must also give notices ahead of time.

 

• Question #6

Are school uniforms truly effective?

In the past studies school uniforms actually was showing that they were effective. The first school to mandate uniforms in long beach, California back in 1994 has said it was effective. They have said that their attendance record increase to 95% and said that vandalism and crime decreased. Since then many schools mandated there dress code just because of that. Since then many people have questioned if it is truly effective. The difference between back in 1994 and 2015 students are now used to uniforms so crime and vandalism has risen since then.

 

• Question #7

Based on your research, provide at least two interesting statistics, additional advantages or disadvantages, or viewpoints that are NOT described in the articles that accompany this lesson

                Some disadvantages that wasn’t mention in the articles was that it is hard to identify students if a crime was to happen. I think that makes things really hard on the schools. School uniforms can also be pricey depending on student’s finical background. People with financial problems might find it a lot cheaper just buying regular clothing. They also never mentioned how school uniforms makes a school more appealing and put together in my opinion.

 

• Summary

                School uniforms have been making appearances all across the world. Some people find it necessary some people don’t. There will always be a debate about it. I have mix feeling about it. I personally would like to dress however I like and express my style. But to me school uniforms are cheap to me and it saves me money on outfits for Monday-Friday. I have personally been to a middle school and high school that had to wear uniforms. I must say although it stops students from making fun of others for what they wear there is still people bullying in general and just because. I think school uniforms make a school more appealing because sometimes students come to school with the craziest stuff on and not appropriate for school.

 

• Research Question

Does school uniforms help with improve a student’s education?

http://www.ehow.com/about_6390082_uniforms-students-academically.html

 

• Research Analysis

School uniforms mainly focuses on causing less distraction for someone. Most times students are distracted by what someone will wear or even by their hair color. A school uniform or school dress code is supposed to prevent that. The whole purpose is that when students are less distracted it’s easier for someone to pay attention and get their work done. Uniforms are also supposed to educate them on having a real world job. It sometimes prepares them for having like a business job or even an interview some might say.

Dress codes and school uniforms are supposed to make less bullying happen around the campus. Students sometime bully others for what they wear. Uniforms make it so that they students can’t be prejudice towards each other. When bullying happens students start to stop coming to school sometimes. They even might lose focus or cause harm to themselves or others. It makes their education harder for them when they get bullied.

 

• Research Summary

There will always be mixed responses on uniforms. One thing that I can agree on is that is does help with bullying just a little bit. It makes it harder for students to be so judgmental on others. When I was in school I went to a uniformed school and I never heard of someone bullying someone for their outfit. Uniforms are not the prime reason that helps a student improve their education but it is a contribution. It helps with helping the students stay focused on their work then worrying about what they are going to wear or what others are going to wear. If a student gets a education or not depends on the student and what they do. Not on a outfit.