School Uniforms |
How would you feel if your child's school proposed a mandatory school uniform policy? In some parts of the country and especially throughout the United States, the debate over school uniforms is raging - opponents of uniform polices argue that there is no evidence that uniforms will reduce problems, while supporters feel that a dress code would take the emphasis off fashion and help kids focus more on learning.
At first, I thought school uniforms were a good idea. The pressure for kids to wear brand name labels is a big problem across Canada, and if nothing else, uniforms would place less importance on status, and take stress off kids from lower income families. And if that would reduce teasing, out casting and peer pressure then why don‚t we call for our schools to consider adopting uniform policies?
Well, the debate over school uniforms is not that simple there are convincing arguments and serious ramifications on both sides. My friends that are parents have differing points of view on the uniform issue, but they all agree on one thing, the pressure from peers and the media to wear brand name clothes has gotten out of hand and has turned our children into walking billboards. With back to school promotions placing more emphasis on clothing sales than school supplies, something needs to be done. The problem is that brand name clothes do matter to our kids they fear that their peers will not accept them if they don't wear the latest designer labels. Some parents believe that adopting a uniform policy would alleviate this growing problem among our youth.
A popular argument among supporters is that school uniforms would improve schoolyard safety by decreasing violence, ridicule and theft over clothing. In some extreme cases as reported in the news in other parts of the country and in the United States, there have been cases of brutal attacks and even murders on school grounds over brand name clothing, and expensive footwear. But some parents will argue that uniforms may eliminate brand name clothing in schools, but not the gangs or the violence. On a further note, they argue that observing your child's dressing style gives parents important clues about who they are hanging out with and what types of activities they are involved in. For instance, some popular clicks in Canadian schools such as preps, grunge, skaters, jockeys or athletes each have unique dressing styles and activities that they participate in. A school uniform policy could take away these important indicators from parents.
Critics also complain that forcing our children to conform to mandatory uniforms could stifle young peoples personal style and creativity. Some kids show their individuality or rebellion by expressing themselves through clothes - and it stops there. If we take away the freedom of expression through clothes, those kids may find other more dangerous outlets to express themselves, like experimenting with tobacco or other drugs. And can you imagine having to wear the same outfit day after day? Children who are required to wear uniforms will soon become bored and frustrated with wearing the same clothes again and again.
Another deep concern among opponents is that what if your child doesn‚t find the school uniform attractive, or is overweight and doesn‚t feel comfortable wearing something designed for a smaller person? Or worse yet, what if a child has a medical appliance like a colostomy that the uniform won‚t conceal? Wearing an outfit that doesn‚t suit your child could cause them unnecessary embarrassment or humiliation and detract from their studies. Eventually this may cause rejection of school or lower self-confidence.
But despite this line of reasoning, parents in favour of uniforms feel that wearing a uniform isn‚t that big of a deal, and that kids can wear whatever they want after school hours. They believe that wearing uniforms is a part of life and if their child gets a job at a fast food restaurant they‚ll have to follow the company's dress code. They feel wearing uniforms now will prepare their children for the real world. And as a side benefit, uniforms will allow parents to save money, and spend those savings on fun family activities. They will also debate that just as your beloved high school football team wears their team uniforms with pride, a school uniform will boost your child's school spirit and put them on an even ground with classmates social standing would be based on personal character, not economic status. They believe that uniforms will help young people spend less time worrying about how they look, and more time focusing on school work.
On the flip side, the business community is now recognizing the importance of dressing in casual and comfortable attire while at work. Many large corporations have documented positive work results when their employees are comfortable, relaxed and happy, some parents believe that their children will perform better in school in casual clothes of their choice.
Anne Marie Robichaud is a Mom and staff writer for Canadian Parents Online. If you have comments or suggestions please feel free to contact Anne.
