Do you think kids should be required to wear uniforms to school?
By Stringbean
@Stringbean (1273)
United States
February 7, 2007 3:56pm CST
I have read about studies that show kids that attend schools where uniforms are required do better academically and that such schools have less conflict on campus.
Yet, when you ask students if they want to wear uniforms, hardly any of them do and many parents feel that it is an infringement upon civil rights if uniforms are required. What do you think?
3 people like this
10 responses
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
19 Mar 07
I went to a school where we had to wear uniforms, and it didn't do any good at all. Students kept wearing their shirts untucked, and boys forgot their ties. Girls would roll their kilts up to make them shorter, and the entire student body had an extremely sloppy look to it...or people would just forget to wear the uniform alltogether!! It was really annoying.
I never messed up my uniform, but others did. It's virtually impossible to force anyone to do anything.
2 people like this
@Stringbean (1273)
• United States
19 Mar 07
We have a school in our area that wears uniforms but they have 2 or three combinations they can wear. For example, a figured top and a black skirt or pants, matching top with skirt or pants, or blue skirt or pants with white top. There are lots of individual combinations but they know that the other kids have the same clothing at home if they choose to wear it. They also pay a rental fee and turn in their uniforms when they outgrow them so that it isn't so expensive. Haven't noticed any rolling up of skirts so far, but these are younger kids. :) Thanks for your comment.
1 person likes this
@comedyaddict (772)
• Canada
19 Mar 07
After growing up in New Zealand and Canada, and going to school in both I totally disagree with uniforms. From my experience, the schools I went to in Canada were a lot better academically then the ones in NZ. The ones is NZ spent so much of their time policing the uniform policy, the essential skills were not taught.
I think that the studies that show uniforms are better are missing the point. From what I can tell, the only schools I've seen in Canada with uniforms, cost $20,000+ a year to attend. I wonder why the students perform better there? the uniforms or the fact they are from families who know the importance of a great education, and who can afford the best schools in town... It really has nothing to do with the uniforms... :)
1 person likes this
@comedyaddict (772)
• Canada
19 Mar 07
You are right, thats is what one of the studies shows, but again this isn't true.
The school I went too had all types, poor people and rich people attending. You could tell the poor people. They had the hand me downs, the socks and pants with wholes, faded jackets with ink stains, etc, etc. With uniforms costing more then a set of decent looking walmart clothes, uniforms do not make people equal...
1 person likes this
@Stringbean (1273)
• United States
19 Mar 07
Sounds like you went to schools that didn't put a priority on kids. The school we have in our town that requires uniforms has kids out at recess all looking very nicely dressed, although the uniforms are mix and match so they aren't all exactly alike on the same day. I can't imagine that teachers or parents wouldn't intervene if some of the uniforms started to look tattered and torn.
1 person likes this
@Stringbean (1273)
• United States
19 Mar 07
You are right when you say that some schools are not good schools. I don't think having uniforms or not having uniforms decides how good the quality of education is in a particular school.
What it should do, and what the studies show that it does do, is make the students more equal so that those with more money to afford fancy clothing do not look down on those who cannot. I see guys nowdays that are so concerned with whether or not their pants are bagging just the right amount when they walk down the hall that they can't even think about what the teacher just tried to teach them. And girls trying to show a little more leg so the boys will look at them instead of the girl across the aisle.
I would think it would be a relieve to get up each morning and just dress, without spending time trying to figure out what to wear.
1 person likes this
@leopardxtasy (2426)
• United States
7 Feb 07
i think they should because kids nowadays treat school like its a fashion show and they be fighting and killing each other over clothes that the other person is wearing
1 person likes this
@Stringbean (1273)
• United States
7 Feb 07
Isn't that sad. I just can't believe that clothes can become more important than a person's life.
1 person likes this
@Lostinoz (145)
• United States
17 Feb 07
I am very much torn on this topic. On the one hand I can see the point being made about less competition amongst the students when it comes to clothes or attending a private school where uniforms are required and it is in their guidelines.
Government funded public schools. There is a small part of me that rises up and says, "No way." I always think of it as the "next step" part of me. Okay, it is now mandatory for kids to wear uniforms in school, but wait.. Let's make it mandatory that people have to wear uniforms to church (which can also be a fashion review). Or, government decides it is indecent for women to not cover their heads, faces, legs, arms, etc.
This is very much a conflict within myself and I am voicing my honest thoughts on this and am making no judgment regarding other people's opinions. I do respect them. I just wonder where it would stop once we allow government to dictate what our kids wear to school?Could it lead to: Everyone should live in the same type of home in order to avoid anyone feeling discriminated against? Or drive the same type of car? Or attend the same type of church? But it is just school uniforms and this couldn't happen. Right? Hmm.
Do I believe there should be rules and guidelines in place? Of course and I believe we should teach our kids to respect and abide by them. However, if some rules of government had never been questioned and never challenged, where would we be today?
Again, I wish this conversation was face to face so you could actually see the conflict I actually feel. I am truly torn about this subject and hope that this response is not taken as an attack as it most definitely is not. Sometimes written conversations can be misleading because we cannot hear the "tone" being used.
1 person likes this
@Stringbean (1273)
• United States
18 Feb 07
You definitely make some very good points. Maybe each community should have a vote of the parents as to whether their district will require uniforms. Then, if, several years later, another group of parents prefers no uniforms, the rule could be changed. Actually, I think that is the way it is already done in some communities today. Most of the articles I have seen about schools that require uniforms are pretty favorable toward the practice.
1 person likes this
@lonnieN (428)
• United States
25 Feb 07
i am totally against school uniforms. since schools cut out prayer the only way they get exposed to the truth of GOD is by christians wearing t-shirts with GOD related truths. Academics are secondary to eternal salvation.
@Stringbean (1273)
• United States
25 Feb 07
An interesting thought, but the school kids I have seen wearing t-shirts with messages about God are far outnumbered by the ones wearing t-shirts with anti-God messages. Maybe uniforms would solve this problem. There is no law, yet, against a student telling his classmates about Jesus. I think that would be far more effective than any t-shirt could ever be.
1 person likes this
@Charliefan101 (124)
• United States
26 Feb 07
I think it would be a good idea. But it could cause more conflict then necessary -- I mean, what if you just had to have "the coolest earring?"
Sometimes things are better left unstated.
1 person likes this
@Stringbean (1273)
• United States
26 Feb 07
Some schools have tried the uniform rule and kids usually like it better than they think they will. I'm not sure about the "earring" thing. You do have a good point.
1 person likes this
@XxAngelxX (2830)
• Canada
7 Feb 07
I think if there were school uniforms it would cut down on a lot of the bullying that goes on, especially with the girls. They all want to have the "in" clothes that there friends are wearing, but there are some parents who just can't afford it. School can be hard and kids can be so mean at times, not realizing that not everyone is as well off as they are. I definitely think it would cut down on the conflict.
1 person likes this
@Stringbean (1273)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I agree with you. Now, if we could just convince the kids that it would be a good idea.
@Stringbean (1273)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I used to teach in middle school and I would really like to see kids wear uniforms. Girls who can afford nicer things are often really cruel to those who can't.
1 person likes this
@palpalsky (899)
• United States
23 Mar 07
well i think uniform should always be part of the school . its like a equality and simplicity . i think lot of problems can be saved if uniform is made compulsary .
@Stringbean (1273)
• United States
24 Mar 07
I agree with you Palpalsky, but, after reading all the responses to my discussion, I see that most people don't agree.
@Makoy1983 (1084)
• Philippines
28 Mar 07
i think kids should wear uniforms in going to school. but the college students should not have one