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Essay / Dressing for Success: Implementing a School Uniform Policy
More than 55% of high school students, both male and female, spend more than 35 minutes getting ready for school in the morning. Although people view fashion as a fun way to express themselves, a majority do not realize the stressful side of fashion, such as not meeting social "norms", not having enough money to buy fashionable shoes and the fact that many people are trying to accept and love their bodies. All these problems can be avoided by implementing a simple and uniform policy. Uniform policies have five main effects on students and their families, namely academic effects, behavioral effects, bullying effects, emotional effects, and financial effects. Although many argue that uniform policies limit students' freedom of expression, the truth is that uniforms create a sense of security and a strong bond and culture between all students and teachers in the spirit of equality and d 'uniformity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Four public schools, across the country, went from a non-existent dress code to a strictly uniform policy, all four schools resulted in a 3.5% increase in student attendance. Rising attendance goes hand in hand with academics. If students are in school, they are more likely to have significantly better grades than students who skip consecutive classes. Uniform policies are known to improve teacher retention. The reason for this change in the relationship between the student and the teacher is due to the fact that the students feel equal to the adult. They are both dressed in uniform and the students feel like they are on the same playing field as the teacher when having a one-on-one conversation. When a teacher and student have a better relationship, they tend to learn better and care more about the class. Although there are no concrete statistics proving that uniforms actually affect academics, uniforms definitely determine and affect expectations throughout the school. They are also claimed to contribute to a positive learning atmosphere, which results in better academic results. Uniform policies can create an environment in which discipline is emphasized and expected. High school students range in age from fourteen to nineteen, so maturity levels vary. When a uniform policy is enforced in high school, it promotes order within the school. Although the maturity level is lower at some grades than others, uniformed schools tend to have better behavioral statistics than public schools. Adherence to school uniforms results in a reduction in gang activity. Since students are not allowed to wear gang colors during school, this lessens the presence of any gang affiliation. With little to no gangs in the school, the increase in behavior skyrockets. In a 1994 speech, former United States President Bill Clinton praised the idea of uniforms as a way to ensure safety and establish discipline in public schools. More than six different high schools used a uniform policy to test President Clinton's statements. Two years after the mandatory uniform policy was established, results showed that problems with violence and discipline decreased significantly. “Cases of assault and batteryfell 34 percent. Physical fights between students decreased by 51 percent and there were 32 percent fewer suspensions” (Portner). There is no doubt that uniforms affect student behavior. Uniforms promote safety throughout the school. It also requires order and equality, which translates into discipline. For adolescents, self-expression is a key part of establishing an identity. Enforcing a uniform policy will limit students' freedom to express their differences through clothing, but it will push and encourage them to express themselves in other ways. “Because children cannot show their individuality through clothing, they will try to express themselves through other methods such as the arts, academics, sports, or extracurricular activities” (Connectusfund.org). While losing the ability to express yourself at an age when people are learning to find their style and love themselves isn't ideal, it is surprisingly helpful for students to prioritize other things. Teenagers are going through an interesting time in high school, trying to find themselves, so being able to wear a uniform and fit in like the rest of the class helps a large group of people who felt awkward walking down the halls and felt constantly judged for their behavior. unique clothes they wore. Distractions are everywhere in high school. Whether it's relationships, friendships, drama, there's no need to waste energy on anything other than studying at school, but it happens to the best of us sometimes. Imagine that students wake up and do not waste their energy on their physical appearance and do not devote that time to their studies. If students prioritized their academics ahead of their physical appearance due to a uniform policy, it would "contribute to a learning atmosphere in which students are not distracted by their appearance or victimized based on how they get dressed” (Applebury). Every student is diverse, whether it's their ethnicity, economic class, or sexuality, no two students are ever exactly the same; Everyone is different. When the first bell rings, alarming all students and teachers and prompting them to rush into a small room, everyone should have a sense of belonging and be taught as equals. Administrators view uniform policies as creating a sense of community and a school culture that promotes serious learning. According to Success Academy spokesperson Anne Michaud, she says kids will avoid the drama of judging other students on what they wear if they wear uniforms. “Uniforms are an equalizer.” (Applebury). Although many think that uniforms tend to be expensive, in the long run they save money. The money families save on uniforms can be spent on more important needs rather than the latest fashion trends. “The community sense of support for uniforms is particularly beneficial to their racially and ethnically diverse schools, and the uniforms are practical and cost-effective, since parents do not have to worry about keeping their children dressed in the latest fashions” (Bain ). When schools are located in an area with poorer students and families, they do not have the money to provide a higher level of education and the ability to meet the needs of their students. Uniforms generate money so schools can achieve these goals. With the money that schools raise, they can.