| We have worked with schools across the United | | | | Values: |
| States, and believe us, you are not the only person | | | | School uniforms stress that individuality and |
| asking this question! The answers that we have | | | | self-expression are not determined by designer |
| heard from our customers are as varied as our | | | | clothing or the latest fashion fad. |
| customers are. The debate over school uniforms is | | | | Low Cost: |
| complicated, so we've included highlights from both | | | | School uniforms are a bargain. They are becoming far |
| sides for you to consider: | | | | less expensive than many other clothes. Schools |
| Professional: | | | | argue that school uniforms are economical, especially |
| Some say that a child in a school uniform is more | | | | compared to designer clothing, and parents agree |
| likely to take school seriously. Putting on the school | | | | given school uniform durability. They say school |
| uniform signals he or she is going to school just like | | | | uniforms last longer because they are made for |
| dad dresses up to go to work. Schools report that | | | | repeated wash and wear. Many schools capitalize on |
| when students dress in "work clothes" rather than | | | | this by starting used school uniform stores or swap |
| "play clothes" they take a more serious approach to | | | | meets. Parents can get used school uniforms at |
| their studies. | | | | discount prices, or just use them as hand-me-downs |
| Promotes Good Discipline: | | | | between siblings. |
| Many think that school uniforms help maintain school | | | | School Spirit: |
| discipline, decreasing the amount of discipline | | | | Some feel wearing a school uniform helps build school |
| problems. The argument is that children today are | | | | spirit. It instills a feeling of belonging. As the Beach |
| lacking in self-discipline because parents refuse to | | | | Boys said, "Be true to your school." Schools report an |
| discipline them. This makes it more difficult on the | | | | increase in school pride. |
| teacher who has to deal with classes of 25-30 | | | | Individuality: |
| students at a time. | | | | Supressing individuality is the most commonly cited |
| Reduces Fighting and Violence: | | | | objection to school uniforms. Educators argue that an |
| Schools report that school uniforms decrease fighting | | | | academic program encouraging students to pursue |
| and violence that arrise out of arguments over | | | | individual thought is much more important than what |
| fashionable clothes. Children invariably tease those | | | | they wear. They inhibit creativity and self-expression, |
| who do not have trendy clothes. Those who can't | | | | forcing students to conform. |
| afford name brand clothes are often sensitive about | | | | Causes Discipline Problems: |
| their clothing. Schools struggling with gang problems | | | | Some students reject any rules. Forcing them to |
| report that school uniforms help ease tensions. | | | | wear school uniforms only aggravates their rebelious |
| Distractions: | | | | spirit. They alter their school uniform by tightening, |
| Many parents believe that students wearing school | | | | widening, shortening, or lengthening them, and |
| uniforms look nicer and that a school uniform policy | | | | teachers are given the impossible task of policing the |
| ensures that children will come to school in | | | | students on a daily basis. |
| appropriate clothing, avoiding distractions such as fads | | | | Little or No Relationship to Academics: |
| considered to be outlandish or overly revealing. Some | | | | Opponents insist that their is no credible evidence |
| students have turned school into an unending fashion | | | | that school uniforms improve school discipline or |
| show. This disctracts from learning, as some kids | | | | promote higher academic acheivement. The principal |
| spend more time focused on thier clothes than on | | | | argument is that some great students are terrible |
| homework. | | | | dressers. Dress does not necessarily improve learning. |