Implications of School Uniforms on Student Achievement and Self-Esteem Over the past decade school reform policy has taken a step towards pushing sameness in school settings. This is evidenced by the adoption of the common core standards, replicating charter school models, and the recent increase in the utilization of school uniforms. There appears to be an assumption that if students are taught the same standards, experience the same school culture, wear the same clothes, their schooling experience will harvest a higher level of academic achievement. According to the 2015 United States News study, only one out of the top ten ranked high schools in the nation mandate school uniforms. Embedded in the same study were the results of the top ten high schools in Illinois, none of which require students to wear uniforms. The highest performing students in the nation and the state of Illinois are not wearing uniforms to school on a daily basis. This trend is something that needs to be further explored because the populations that disproportionately wear school uniforms are schools that have a significantly high poverty rate. In fact, 47% of high-poverty public schools reported requiring school uniforms, compared to 6% of low poverty public schools (U.S. Department of Education, 2014). Due to this, there is a need for research that studies the impact school uniforms have on student achievement as this is a impending threat to educational equity. Purpose of the Study This research paper seeks to analyze the affect that wearing school uniforms has on the academic performance and self-esteem of students in their junior year of high school. By performing a study that has both quantitative and qualitative components, we can gain a rich und... ... middle of paper ... ...ent achievement. The goal of any schooling system is to ensure that students have the opportunity to achieve at their highest possible level; uniforms could hinder or perpetuate this reality. Potential Limitations There are few limitations to this study that need to be acknowledged. It might be particularly challenging to find as many students to participate in the study as necessary since their participation is dependent on parental consent since the majority of students will still be minors in their junior year of high school. Additionally, the qualitative part of this study can be somewhat limiting since it is difficult to compare and quantify feelings. Finally, coding the in person interviews can be challenging since there is not a clear hypothesis or answer researchers are searching for. Rather, they are trying to gather sufficient data to form a solid theory.
One aspect of having all students wear the same school-district uniform, is that it helps students focus on learning. In my case, I went to a private junior high school few years ago. Students there are required to wear the uniform every day; everyone dresses like a student. When I wake up every morning, I just grab my uniform and put it on without having any other thoughts about how it will look on me; thus I have more time to spend on learning. Therefore, I was prepared every day, and so were others. Yet, the high school I went to was a public school; it does not have any uniform policies. Comparing to my junior high, students dressed differently every day with different kinds of clothing. Since it does not require un...
One of the most controversial topics revolving around schooling is the weather students should or should not wear uniforms to improve academic and social behavior. Many sources say that school uniforms improve discipline, attendance, lower criminal activity, and increase academic achievement in students; Furthermore, this is due to less distraction and conforming to the idea that uniforms makes you smarter. This false ideology that is expected from school uniforms has not been proven in any way to work and is more of a waste of the tax-payers money than an improvement. There are more outlying factors that contribute to success or failure than just uniforms and pro-advocates do not get this big picture. The most outspoken reasons why to use
Brunsma, David L. and Kerry A. Rockquemore. “Effects of Student Uniforms on Attendance, Behavior Problems, Substance Abuse, and Academic Achievement”. The Journal of Education Research. 92.1 (1998): 53-62. Print.
In society today, school-age children are under tremendous pressure to fit in with their peers and still perform well academically. I believe that school uniforms in pre-K through high school levels is an excellent way to help children succeed not only in school, but to prepare them for college and the “real world.” Three reasons why I believe school uniforms should be used in all schools is first, they are economic, next, they reduce distractions and finally, they help with social equality.
School uniforms have become an essential part of schooling in many parts of the world. According to the article “Uniforms for Learning” it mentions that “In Britain, for example, 98% of parents of primary and secondary school students surveyed in 2007 by the Department of Education said that their schools required them.” While in other countries the idea of school uniforms is being adapted, the United States is slowly trailing behind. Many schools that regulate the dress code of school uniforms say that it helps with the feeling of safety for the students and it creates a learning environment that allows students to focus on their studies. In the United States there has been research and studies that contributes to the analysis that shows the benefits of school uniforms. In one article it stated that “In 1996, only 3% of public schools in the country required students to wear them. By 2000, this figure had risen to 12% and by 2010 to 19%” (“Uniforms”). These results show that every year the United States is slowly adapting to the idea of school uniforms into our education system. Although many researches have positive results, there are still some short-comings (Viardero). With school uniforms, students lose the freedom to express their individuality (“Student”). Studies show both the benefits and no change effects of school uniforms, and this can be inconsistent to say that school uniforms have helped entirely. Even though the studies vary with this issue, teachers and school faculty, who experience the effect of school uniforms, see the positive movement of it (Viadero). Students are still growing, especially in grade school, so the struggles and stress are at a great amount among the students and school uniform can ...
At the beginning of the 20th century almost no parent or faculty had any concerns with how students dressed to attend school. Nowadays, though, this is a giant concern among students, parents, and school board officials. Many arguments have been made over the matter saying uniforms should be required and enforced in schools. But, uniforms should not be required as they ultimately eliminate freedom of expression, promote conformity over individuality, may have a detrimental effect on students self image, emphasize the socioeconomic divisions they are supposed to eliminate, and lastly, school uniforms in public schools undermine the promise of a free education by adding an extra expense for families.
Frequent schools across the country have a dress code, but some do not. There is great controversy as to whether schools should have uniforms. I take the affirmative side to this statement, strongly believing that schools should have uniforms to serve both their staff as well as the student body. School uniforms have proven extremely beneficial to the school and the student body. Requiring students to wear uniforms within school systems is a great idea. Not only do they promote equality, but they also save parents money and keep children safe (K). In addition, they signify rules, punctuality, and obedience. According to Hunt (1945), school uniforms would be a great idea because it gives children a sense of identity. Although a great number of the students want to wear their own clothes, such as baggy jeans, halter tops, and short skirts, which are inappropriate for school, uniforms would be a great stabilizer for students as well as their schools.
School uniforms are a boiling conversation point these days. There are so many well-built points of view about what route parents, students, and superintendents wish to go in. It has been disputed that school uniforms have the potential to make a school safer, that uniforms reduce harassment or self-esteem issues, and that uniforms return the focus to the students' learning. I disagree. I, in fact think that school uniforms do not help make our schools a more secure place, I think that they do not revisit the center of attention to student's education - they just shifted where the attention was previous, and that they won’t help cut down on harassment or self- esteem issues in school.
School uniforms lack effectiveness. They don’t help fix any problems. Many believe that school uniforms take away the students distraction towards clothes and appearance and enhance academic performance. However, it does not take a genius to realize that wearing a uniform does not automatically make a student more attentive or hard-working. There may be several other reasons as to why a student lacks focus or is distracted. Those reasons may include problems at home, with other students or even with teachers. Schools should do everything they can to help students with those proble...
Uniforms are to help students to focus and do better in school and outside of school. School outfits are one of several factors that influence learning. It allows students to look more formal in their personality and not how they dress. Students are allowed to determine what is expected at school and the freedom they have outside of school. It also helps learners to be more disciplined in their education and keep them from distractions such as clothe design competition.
Students are distracted by the variety of clothing they choose to wear it takes away from them gaining inner knowledge. Students choose to wear fancy, strange, or bright colorful clothes. Students become more interested in paying attention to what other students are wearing and what they have instead of focusing on the subject they are being taught in class. Students should be focusing on gaining new knowledge and skills. Wearing uniforms would teach students how to focus on their personalities, inner beauty, rather than their
School uniforms are just as comfortable as student’s that dress in the baggy and tight fitted clothing. Students can wear nice relaxed pants, and a polo shirt is a basic comfortable outfit for these uniforms. Also, school uniforms show a strong sense of discipline from student’s that attend those schools. School uniforms are often portrayed as looking professional. For instance, when students graduate High School, most of them will work in a job that has uniforms; therefore, they cannot complain of their uniforms are uncomfortable and
Worrying more about others, rather than themselves, students pay more attention to the appearance of their peers instead of their academics. To begin, if school uniforms became apart of the school policy, students’ academics would improve phenomenally. Hanley noted that “The reason for the policy [was] to further improve ascending test scores and provide a safe, comfortable learning environment” (A1+). Clearly, school administrators wanted to improve test scores, and they figured if students dressed the same, then they would have no other choice but to focus on their school work. If the students can concentrate on their school work, then they will have high self- esteem. Furthermore, Valdez believes that school uniforms, positively, will change student academics: “… [they] decrease self consciousness and increase self esteem...” (14). Reasonable and realistic, students who feel better about themselves will succeed in school rather than those who have poor self-esteem. Not only do school uniforms encourage students to have a better attitude about themselves, but they also change the environment in which students learn....
Students become upset when judged by how they dress, so why not make things simpler and provide uniforms? Worrying about how they dress is a huge distraction during school for students. Making the importance of their appearance brings stress to one’s body, and that is not the right way to go for a student who is trying to succeed in school. There is a slightly high percentage of how many schools require uniforms, and it brings a sense unity within the students. We should take charge in this situation and make school a safer environment for students. You can never argue with the fact that schools need to advise their students that it is a safe place, and providing uniforms is an excellent way to start. Take the challenge, the uniform challenge.
All individuals struggle with discovering who they are and who they may want to be in the future. School environment, either negatively or positively, impacts the result of this greatly. Uniforms in the learning environment have become a highly debated subject all across the country. Although some individuals believe school uniforms have a positive affect, those people should understand the negatives because uniforms promote appearance over character, lower student’s self-esteem, and conflict with the right of expression.