When you think of having school spirit, you probably associate it with sports activity. However, what you wear to school also has some bearing. That is why the school uniform is still recognised. Whilst some educators believe that the wearing of a school uniform prohibits expressiveness, others do not believe that such apparel encourages this type of conformity.
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The Positive Aspects
When you look at the positive aspects of wearing a uniform, you will find that this type of clothing is anything but restrictive. For example, when students wear a uniform, they instantly balance out academic and sports activities among their peers. This type of balance reduces the chance of bullying or peer pressure.
For example, when all students are wearing the same uniforms, they do not resort to comparisons – comparisons that can distinguish students by their background and family income. In fact, one survey concluded that purchasing school uniform supplies reduced bullying at the school by almost 65%. When all students are dressed in the same apparel, they feel more of a sense of community. When you generate this type of feeling, students feel more socially accepted.
More School Spirit and Pride
Therefore, this acceptance leads to more school spirit and pride, which underscores unity. This sense of belonging increases respect, trust, and caring among the student populace. The wearing of uniforms also makes it easier for schools to enforce compliance to the dress code. After all, there can be no misunderstanding about what a student can or cannot wear to school.
When a school uniform is regularly worn, it also deters crime. Some gangs show off their insignias and colours in schools, and use this as a means to recruit members. In Australia, prosocial behaviour is reinforced by the wearing of school uniforms.
Resolving Issues
By wearing uniforms, students can better understand the importance of resolving issues by learning more about the following:
- Crime, victims, and their rights
- Cultural prejudices and sensitivities
- Conflict resolution
- Drugs in neighbourhoods
- Meeting individual needs
- The importance of responsibility
- The necessity of setting goals
Uniforms also reinforce anti-violence measures—measures that may include, for instance, mentoring programmes for boys or anti-bullying strategies. The wearing of uniforms also encourages the types of extracurricular activities that ward off crime, gang violence, and vandalism.
By enforcing the wearing of school uniforms, school administrators can implement the following types of programmes and policies:
- In-school controls and safety protocols
- In-school enrichment activities
A More Fulfilling School Life
As you can see, a student’s life is more fulfilling when he or she has a sense of belonging. Uniforms enforce this idea with educators as well. You simply cannot bypass the merits associated with wearing school uniforms.
For example, wearing uniforms improves punctuality amongst students too. By wearing a uniform, a child finds it much easier to get ready for school. There is no need to search for certain pieces of clothing, as the clothing that will be worn has already been pre-determined. Wearing uniforms also saves parents money. Without school uniforms policies in place, parents may feel pressured to compete with other parents in selecting and buying their children’s clothing.
