Five Reasons Why All Schools Should Have Uniforms
Three years ago our family moved to a new school district. I was considering home schooling my children because I wasn’t entirely enamored with our new school district. There was however, a free public/charter school that was within walking distance for our family, but the fact that the children were required to wear uniforms at this school was a big negative at the time to me. I felt like uniforms hampered personal style for the child and would just be a big bummer. After touring the school, my children and my husband and I were all impressed. The school matched so many of the important elements we were looking for and so we went ahead and enrolled our 2 oldest at the time and now we are embarking on our 4th year and third enrolled child at this school.
I can tell you that my attitude towards uniforms has drastically and dramatically changed from my previous opinion. I have become a huge uniform supporter and feel as if this should become a fairly standard protocol in schools everywhere.
Uniforms Level The Playing Field
Prior to wearing uniforms we were at some really great public schools, but at a very early age, the “fashion wars” as I call them came into effect. I remember volunteering once at my children’s school and having a first grader crying to me that a few girls were making fun of the shirt she was wearing and saying it was a fake “Justice” piece. Listening to her was heartbreaking. I believe this same thing happens every day at schools all around the world that do not require uniforms. Uniforms help to seriously undercut this problem and level the playing field at school so that the focus is on learning and not on what a child is wearing.
Uniforms Save Families Money
With 3 school aged children, our clothing budget has dramatically, and happily might I add, been reduced with the introduction of uniform only school days. Rather than having to try and be constantly adjusting their wardrobes throughout the year to match seasons and styles, I can instead focus on buying quality staples that can be transitioned for use throughout the entire year.
The money we have saved can then go towards fun activities for our family, taking the focus off of materialism and away from the current school trend of how fashionable a child looks as being an important factor.
Plus once a year our school does a uniform swap, where you can go and swap your still in great shape items that just don’t fit your child, for items that do fit them. Thus saving families even more!
Uniforms Set A Standard For Learning
There is a reason that successful small and large businesses have established dress codes. It sets a precedent for professionalism and standards. I want my children to take this type of attitude towards their learning and wearing a uniform helps children to dress for success and take more seriously their studies.
Uniforms Reduce Distractions
What people wear can be a huge distraction to learning. I know, I know most schools have clothing “guidelines”, but it does seem that sometimes those guidelines get pushed to the limit with how tight or low a student can go with their clothing before getting into trouble. Uniforms also reduce the messaging that can be very evident in a classroom. I remember talking to a teacher friend once who said that having to monitor the tee- shirt messages that students wore was an exhausting part of her job! She didn’t want to be the tee- shirt police, but that had become part of her job.
Lastly, uniforms tend to be pretty comfy, with comfortable and breathable shirts, pants and skirts. This allows children to focus on the business of learning rather than on that itchy tag on the inside of their shirt….
Uniforms Create A Sense Of Belonging
Uniforms provide the opportunity to be included rather than excluded for what a child is wearing. Clothing is an easy way to point out the discrepancies between students and as I stated at the beginning of this post, wearing a uniform levels the playing field for all students, regardless of economic factors. Bringing the emphasis back on learning.
I know that there are those of you reading this who may disagree with my viewpoint, but I believe that is why choice in education is so vitally important. I hope though that after reading this it might help you see some of the benefits of uniforms in school.
Stay Happy! Stay Informed!
Love,
Jen
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