Is school uniform a good idea? What is it good for? These questions are asked time and time again by pupils. In this essay I plan to explore the issue and discuss whether or not it’s a good or bad idea.
Teenagers often complain and criticize about how uncomfortable school uniforms are and how they do not live up to their fashion standards. On the other hand teachers argue that school uniform keeps students looking smart and that the uniform helps identify any unknown person from entering the school, Furthermore students argue that everyone looks the same and that the uniform is tedious and boring.
A reason why school uniform is a good idea is it saves your clothes: but you’d like to show off your dear clothes. In my outlook I rather waste a £2.50 Primark top than a £178 Prada shirt, but obviously some pupils feel they would be bullied for not wearing dear clothes this is because in the society we now live in has a high demand on having the “perfect” fashion look.
On school outings teachers say that it’s easier to identify pupils if they are wearing school uniform, but this takes away pupils creativeness, and they are unable to convey their own style and wear what they feel comfortable in. Although some pupils will try and change their uniform to make them look more unique but teacher quickly catch on to this and demand that we were what they call the “appropriate uniform”. Teens like to be different and have their own style but by schools demanding that everyone obeys the dress code pupils all look the same.
An argument for school uniform is that if pupils were a to wear what they like the less fortunate pupils would stand out and they would be bullied because they cannot afford the newest clothes, this would cause the bullying rate to go up and lower pupils self esteem and make them feel as if they cannot be themselves in society. But I do think that if pupil were allowed to wear non-uniform the worry to have the latest fashion would in stages, fade away because everyone would get used to wearing normal clothes, and then it wouldn’t be such a big thing not to wear uniform.
Schools indubitably love uniforms; in contrast to this view pupils absolutely hate them! School think uniform looks smart likewise so do most parents. In addition pupils sometimes do not follow the schools dress code and this makes teachers irate, and sometimes this leads up to pupils getting sent home.
In recent years some schools have relaxed and accepted some different styles on the other hand some schools have strict rules that include girls only to wear skirts. I feel that making this demand some girls are being discriminated against because they might not want to wear a skirts because of their religion or they have a medical issue (skin problem).
A reason for school uniform is that it makes the school look smart and represents the community. The usual uniform complies of a shirt, tie and trousers and also a sweatshirt for some people this is very uncomfortable: but this is a major improvement since the 1930’s when the uniform was restricted to a plain blazer and a shirt touched your ankles, and for p.e pupils were reduced to wearing underwear and basic sand shoes.
Another good advantage of school uniform is that the big shop competitors like Asda and Tesco etc. Are competing with each other to provide good value uniforms for a better price this is also putting on pressure for the top range shops to reduce their prices to keep up with the cheaper ones.
One disadvantage of school uniform is sometimes after the period of going back to school, the shops discontinue stocking the uniform and it makes it hard for the parents to buy a bigger size that there child has grown too, therefore a lot of pupils come into school not wearing uniform because it doesn’t fit them anymore.
Sources say that a pupil in school uniform is more likely to take school seriously. Putting on school uniform signals that he/she wants to learn and that they are complying of the rules which you must undertake when you go to work. However some pupils don’t want to follow rules, forcing them to wear a uniform this is only makes them more determined to be rebellious and wear what they want. Last year there were a total of 78% of pupils that did not wear their uniform some stage in the year this is not including non-uniform days. By hearing that statistic it is very clear that pupils have a strong dislike to uniforms.
In conclusion I think school uniform is a bad idea because it has no effect of the outcome at the end of the pupils school years however school uniform makes the school appear more pleasant and also makes the pupils look smart.