May 26, 2007

Every now and then, we hear arguments for and against school uniforms. I believe that having a school uniform has many plus points. Firstly, school uniform helps eliminate socio-economic barriers. Students come from diverse backgrounds; however, inside the school, because of the school uniform, every student seems to share the same economic background. Parents’ income does not determine how well their son or daughter dresses the next day at school. Uniform policy helps parents with low income background as it saves them from competition with children of wealthy parents.

Secondly, uniforms help camouflage the cultural and economic differences among the students. Parents would no longer be compelled by the need to buy dresses of latest fashions.

Thirdly, school uniforms promote discipline inside and outside the classroom. This, in turn, creates an enabling learning environment and improves the behaviour and attitude of the students towards schooling. In 1998, a study done by the National Association of Elementary Schools discovered that schools with an active uniform policy had almost 20 per cent better discipline rate and grades than the schools without uniform. The students are able to concentrate more on their studies and thus attain better grades.

And lastly, a neat and tidy uniform adds grace to one’s personality. One looks decent and composed. It thus gives an added strength to one’s self-belief.

The opponents pleading for a ban on school uniform argue that the uniformity muffles individuality and generates monotony. Further, it restrains the students from expressing themselves. According to the studies regarding non verbal communication, choosing what we wear is one of the most important aspects of non verbal communication. However, I would contend that schools do provide avenues such as arts and drama for the students to express themselves. In this way, the students may express themselves without evoking any form of disobedience.

The adversaries may argue that better grades can only be achieved when a student feels comfortable in his studying environment. If the school uniforms are not in compliance with their culture, they may feel embarrassed wearing it during their school days.

However, if we compare the arguments for and against school uniform, we can safely conclude that most of the claims against school uniform are based on very fragile footing and flimsy grounds. I would say that various arguments against having school uniforms are easily overweighed by a single argument in support of the uniforms that they generate discipline amongst students.