My mind flies back to the time when I was in high school. I remember how girls in my class would chatter about the exorbitant sums of money their parents allowed them to spend on a new and fashionable school wardrobe at the beginning of the school year.
Coming from a strict family background, I felt wistful and a bit envious that I was not permitted to do the same, as my orthodox- minded parents felt that school was a place of learning and “not a fashion show”, as my father would often state. I have heard several times that we become more like our parents as we get older, and I am learning more and more every day how this statement is coming true for me.
As I become more aware of the problematic issues of theft, harassment and even in some cases, violent crimes such as murder, that are arising in schools nationwide regarding clothing, I now grudgingly admit that my parents had the right idea all along.
We go to school to learn the skills that are necessary in order to acquire a well paying job and ensure a bright future. Many young adults have lost sight of this notion, and the main concern seems to be what to wear to school the next day and whether it is a brand name like Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren or DKNY.
This type of mindset can be both mentally and physically detrimental to students, as education is becoming a very low priority and school is now becoming a place of social gathering. Under more serious circumstances, the physical well being of a student may be compromised if his or her peer(s) attempts to take a valued item in a violent manner.
Several issues such as school safety, low academic performance, peer pressure and discipline are problems in the school environment which may be curtailed with the implementation of a uniform dress code policy. Parents, educators and students have experienced the following benefits with their school uniform dress code policy.
School Safety:
Parents and educators report less violence, theft and other incidents when students dress alike or at least similarly. Uniforms decrease the opportunity for showing a gang affiliation or hiding weapons, and strangers are easily identified.
Enhanced Academic Performance:
Students who feel safe, secure and free from threats of violence naturally perform better academically. They are often eager to go to school, improving attendance and discipline. Students focus on their schoolwork rather than what they are wearing.
Less Peer Pressure:
By removing the status that clothing labels give to some students and parents, a uniform becomes a great equalizer. Uniforms are an easy, affordable way to dress, helping to eliminate economic differentiation.
School Spirit:
An attractive uniform or dress code creates teamwork and pride in one's personal appearance and school!
Promote Creativity & Individuality:
By eliminating the focus of dress, students can find more productive and creative outlets to express their individualism.
School Uniforms Are Cost Effective:
Many families realize an immediate benefit by not having to buy so many expensive fashion outfits for their children. The average cost for a year's worth of classroom school uniforms ranges from $110 to $140.
Many states such as California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia have enacted school uniform regulations. Other cities including Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dayton, Detroit, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Miami, Memphis, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Phoenix, Seattle, St. Louis, and Toledo - have schools with either voluntary or mandatory uniform policies.
An incident occurred during my sophomore year in high school to which I did not give much thought as it did not concern me; however, upon reflection at this point, I wonder if my own high school had mandated a uniform policy, would this situation still have occurred? Many of my classmates came from very wealthy families and had the means to purchase designer brand clothing.
One's popularity was based on how well dressed he or she was and those unfortunate classmates of ours who could not afford to dress in the same way usually became the outcasts- ignored by the popular group or in a worst case scenario, became the target of harassment.
One classmate in particular came from a family who did not have the financial means to support her desire for fashionable clothing, and I often witnessed my other classmates torment her about her clothing and the condition of her teeth (she was in dire need of braces). Then one day the teasing became incessant when everyone learned that this girl was caught shoplifting.
Unfortunately for her, another classmate of ours happened to be in the same store and witnessed the incident, and of course as any normal, red- blooded teenager would do, she immediately told her friends and by the next day, the story had spread like wildfire. As I stated earlier, at the time this happened, I didn't pay much attention to the incident, but now that I look back on it, I wonder how desperate the girl must have been to resort to shoplifting, as prior to this, she had been a model individual and student.
