Benefits of Compulsory School Uniform

“It is absurd to believe that soldiers who cannot be made to wear the proper uniform can be induced to move forward in battle.” George S. Patton, a senior officer of the United States Army in World War II, used this in defence of military uniform but it is easily applicable to school uniform because it has the same ideas of leadership and willingness to accept direction. There are lots of different types of uniform and some people like wearing it and some don’t. Most, if not all, schools in Britain have a school uniform policy and it is a widely discussed topic that is argued for and against by pupils, parents and teachers alike.

A big concern in schools nowadays is bullying. Pupils are made to feel smaller by others through physical, social, verbal abuse and more recently cyber bullying. One of the causes of bullying is the issue of what kind of clothes you're wearing or more what kind of clothes you’re not wearing. If someone’s clothes make them look wealthy, then most people feel like they have some kind of power over others and have a higher social status. Students that don’t dress the same or don’t have the money to keep up with the ‘latest fashion’ can be bullied and left out. So if uniforms are worn, then this will allow children to be on more equal terms in the playground, with less judgement about clothing choices, brands of clothing, or physical appearance. For students that have self-esteem issues, uniforms can give them a sense of comfort as they don’t have to worry about what they’re putting on to go to school since everyone else is wearing the same. With school uniforms you're all the same no matter your background, wealth or what you believe in.

Wearing a uniform helps with the culture of the school and also creates a sense of pride and belonging for its wearers. If all the children are wearing the same uniform, they all belong to the same school, which helps to build a community spirit and creates a better atmosphere among the children. Schools should be mindful to include their community and school stakeholders in the decision to go to uniforms. A lot of students who wear uniforms claim that they feel more proud of their school. Bryn Thomas, Headteacher of Wolverly Church of England Secondary School, said that “high uniform standards are indicative of the high standards we have at our school.” He went on to say that his school uniform “is part of our school identity, uniting our students and we hope that they take pride in wearing it.” This shows that schools and teachers think it is important that their students feel good while wearing their uniform. Students can gain a feeling of being more connected to their school and fellow pupils.

A good working environment is key for learning and not having school uniforms can cause students to become distracted and unfocussed. School uniforms make it easier for students to focus in class and without them, it can make students more interested in what everyone else is wearing than what task they’re supposed to be doing. This means that their work rate slows down meaning work is left unfinished and people are left behind in class. By knowing that people are looking around in class to see what you are wearing, you are then made to feel like you have to look your vest which can then lead to competition between students.

Security is also an increased problem if there isn’t a school uniform policy. If everyone is wearing something different then it can be a challenge to make sure students are safe from intruders. It can also be used as security in the sense that if a pupil decides to bunk off school for the day then it is obvious to which school they come from and it can be reported back to this school for this pupil to face the repercussion. When a class is on a school trip they are easily identifiable to the public if a student goes missing or damages something therefore if the student wasn’t wearing a uniform it would be a lot harder to find them.

One of the main arguments against school uniform is that students aren’t able to express themselves and their personality through their choice of clothing. It is aid that school uniforms cause students to feel a lack of self-expression and that without school uniforms children have the ability to be more creative and find out who they are, but personality is more than just what you put on in a morning. Personality is defined by the ay a person walks, feels, moves and thinks. Wearing a school uniform doesn’t define a child’s personality nor does it erase it. Another big argument is that school uniforms are too expensive and not having the extra expense of school uniforms would relieve stress from families who can’t afford the correct clothes for their children. Nowadays, with supermarkets like Sainsbury’s, ASDA and Tesco surely this isn’t a problem anymore. In Sainsbury's, you can get a 3 pack of shirts or all ages from 3-16 for £4 and also a 2 pack of trousers for ages 3-12 for £7. These are reasonable prices and very affordable.

In conclusion, I think that wearing school uniform is a good thing as it helps with confidence, decreases the chance of bullying, brings students together with the feeling of being a part of something, increases work ability and helps with security in and out of school. The argument of school uniform being expensive and unaffordable is not a problem and there are different ways to express your individuality then just your clothes. Students will not lose their personalities by wearing a uniform but merely learn new ways to express themselves.