A school uniform refers to a particular uniform worn by students who are studying in educational institutions including schools and colleges. School uniform has been recognized as good for students and schools. Uniform holds a significant place in any school system. It is commonly worn by students of primary and secondary schools across the world.
Many educationist and school leaders are a strong supporter of uniforms in all public and private school systems. The practice of wearing school uniform has been continuing for many centuries. It has become the part and parcel in schools curricula. Almost all school have adopted uniform as part of their school’s regulations.
Uniform is the identity of students. However, many students did not like school uniforms and consider it modern slavery imposed by school authorities. There is constant debate is going on whether school uniform is necessary or not. Nevertheless, there are advantages as well as disadvantages of wearing a uniform.
Table of Contents
Pros of School Uniform
Uniform Creates Equality
School uniforms promote equality among students. Either rich or poor wear the same uniform. It creates equality among rich and poor. In addition, school uniform shows the single identity of the school. When the student wears a school uniform, they go to school with the study mind-set. Thus, students give more attention to their studies instead of clothes. It decreases competition among students related to wearing fashionable outfits.
Uniform is the Status of Pride and Self-belonging
Students who wear school attire feels attachment with their schools. Students take pride in wearing a school uniform in different events held at the national or international level. It gives them a sense of belongingness towards school.
Uniform is a symbol of showing which school the students are attending. Students who are studying in highly reputable local schools feel pride in showing school uniform to local peoples so that they can know which school they are studying in.
They Boost the Morale of Students
A uniform boosts the morale of students’. All students dress up in the same clothes and feel proud of being part of their school. Moreover, it not only boosts the morale of students but also promotes a sense of togetherness, pride and elevate school spirit.
Uniforms Save Time and Money of Parents
School uniform saves a lot of money and energy of parents because they can buy school uniform for once and it can be worn for two or three years. This means parents need not buy new clothes for their children in every semester. In this way, parents have not met the demands of their picky children for shopping for fashionable and branded clothes. This way they save their time and money.
Uniforms End Social Segregation among Students
One of the most advantages of school uniforms is that it eradicates social segregation among students. A person is judged by his appearance. So, your clothes reflect the social status of you. The rich people use branded clothes of many companies which shows how rich they are. But thanks to uniform who ended social discrimination because all students have to wear the same dress in school premises.
Uniforms are the Recognition of Students
Uniform is the identity of students. It shows their relation to a particular school. It pinpoints students rom the rest of the students who might have affiliation in school gangs. Moreover, students can express themselves within schools through other ways such as drawings, paintings, sports, academics or extra-curricular activities.
They are Standard Dress Code in Schools
Many schools have different policies regarding school uniform as per the social and cultural context. However, all school chalk out the policies that promote equality among students. So, schools have made uniform as standard dress code for all students which they must follow in true spirit.
Uniforms Prevent Bullying
School uniform ends the social, economic and class-based discrimination that humiliate students. Students dressing has been recognized as a common form of bullying. Students are bullied in schools because they dress differently from those who wear branded rocky clothes.
Cons of School Uniform
Uniforms Take Away the Freedom of Expression
Most of the parents want their children to be expressive at an early age. However, students are not allowed to dress the way they want which discourages the individuality of students. This way, students might become oppressed and discouraged which could develop the negative personality of students.
Uniform Might Cause More Stress Between Parents and Students
School uniform may add extra burden on parents in the form of money and stress. Usually, students go to school for 5 or 6 days a week. So, a student cannot wear the same clothes for many days.
Therefore, they need 2 or 3 uniform sets which are additional cost bore by parents. Also, when children come back from schools their uniforms need to be washed. This can be a troublesome and time-taking activity and students could have utilized their time on learning other stuff or rest.
Students Cannot Be Forced to Wear Uniform
The grown-up students might oppose the school uniforms because they did not want to be forced to wear uniforms. School should consider the will of students for wearing uniforms otherwise going against the will of students might cause resentment among students for parent’s teachers and schools.
Uniform Can Cause Bulling Outside of Schools
Some students take school rivalry and pride seriously and negatively. They can identify the students of rivalry school through uniform and bullying them outside of schools. In such a situation, school uniforms have a disadvantage and create hatred among tender minds.
Uniforms Can Undermine Free Education
Since public schools are providing free education but the cost of uniforms are on the shoulders of parents. This undermines the concept of free education. Therefore, governments should provide uniforms to poor students who cannot afford it.
Uniforms Can Hamper the Decision-making Skills of Students
Nowadays school are facing a lot of issues including poor performance and attendance of students, school violence and bullying. Not allowing students what they want to wear causes lack of making right choices. In such cases, students ability to make choices or opinions and can arise problems in the transition of children to adulthood.
Conclusion
To sum up, school uniforms have both pros and cons and the debate is still going on in favour and against uniform across the world. The above discussion has highlighted the important reasons for both sides of keeping uniform or abolishing it.
