School Uniform Benefits

The first documented use of School uniforms was in England in 1222. Ever since then uniforms have been growing in popularity. In the United States, a movement toward using uniforms in state schools began when Bill Clinton addressed it in the 1996 State of the Union, Today, 16.5% of public schools in the US require students to wear uniforms, and 54% enforce a strict dress code (Peter Caruso). Although school uniforms take away the ability of self expression, students should be required to wear school uniforms because of the many positive benefits, they entitle
Students who struggle focusing or have bad behavior, most likely have poor grades. Luckily, school uniforms enforce discipline in students and can improve academic performance in school.

Boys and girls may spend more time trying to impress each other rather than focusing on learning (Anastasia, Laura). Furthermore, The National Association of Secondary School Principals stated that "When all students are wearing the same outfit, they are less concerned about how they look and how they fit in with their peers; thus, they can concentrate on their schoolwork.” Therefore, if students concentrate on their schoolwork, they will receive good grades. In addition, school uniforms can promote good behavior in students, thus minimizing disciplinary issues. According to the school handbook of Normal Community High School, the dress code states, “A manner of dress or physical appearance which results in a disruption of the educational process, or which contributes to unhealthy or unsafe conditions, will not be permitted”(119). As a student myself at this school, I observe that some student’s outfits are too revealing or have an insulting message. However,

Uniforms remove competition between students of higher and lower socioeconomic groups, making them equal. Students who can’t afford expensive or designer clothing are often an easy target to bully. There are some students who don’t give too much importance on their dressing and are careless towards what they should and shouldn’t wear at school. Schools with uniforms say that their students have better self-esteem because without the name brand clothing on display, the students are placed on an equal level. Students who are poor do not feel and are not treated as inferior because they do not own expensive clothes. In a 2013 survey by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and uniform manufacturer Lands' End, state 86% of school leaders said uniforms make "a significant, positive impact on peer pressure," and 64% said uniforms reduce bullying. In addition, Uniforms help to build a sense of community by creating an environment of belonging. Students are essentially united when they are all wearing the same uniform for the same school. This positively affects the student's attitude toward the school, seeing it as a community, rather than an institution. A 2002 study of over 1,000 Texas middle school students found that students in uniform "reported significantly more positive perceptions of belonging in