Emily Estrella
Central High School
May 15th, 2022
Across history, uniforms have been seen as a form of conformity and control in religion and the army. Now, uniforms are a versatile solution to a myriad of problems occurring at schools. While this is a controversial topic, many schools claim that uniforms improve students’ performance in school, particularly their attendance, disciplinary problems, and graduation rates.
Whether it was a badge in the medieval era used to indicate certain clans or pleated skirts worn to express school pride, uniforms are currently associated with privilege and elitism. In reality, uniforms were created to equal the playing field. The first school uniform known to mankind was made in the U.K. for British schools. Its purpose was to ensure that all students, regardless of their family's financial status, have equal clothing options (Scott, 2014). This idea has now faded, with some arguing that uniforms limit students’ self-expression and creativity and can be a financial burden for families. Nevertheless, uniforms have been on the rise in the U.S., with “more than 40 percent of public schools and preschools in U.S. cities” (Bhattarai, 2019) now requiring uniforms.
Moreover, school uniforms have been found to increase attendance rates. One of the prevalent issues schools face is the decrease in students’ attendance in high school. A recent University of Houston study suggests that school uniforms can positively affect school attendance rates, particularly for females. In a study conducted in “160 public schools in a large urban school district” in the U.S. from 1993 to 2006, researchers found that “once uniforms were mandated, the school district was more likely to retain its female students at all grade levels” (Emery, 2010). According to Emery (2010), the implementation of school uniforms resulted in a decrease of one day in annual school absences among middle and high school girls. Researchers suggest that increasing attendance rates among students is very difficult, making this difference significant.
Additionally, school uniforms have been associated with a decrease in disciplinary issues. According to a study conducted at Youngstown State University, wearing school uniforms can be beneficial in managing discipline and attendance issues (Draa, 2006). Furthermore, after examining “test scores and attendance, graduation, and suspension rates from 1994 to 2002 at 64 high schools in Ohio’s eight largest public school districts” (Draa, 2006), they also found that the “mean expulsion rates dipped by 0.6 expulsion per 100 students in the years during which uniforms were required” (Draa, 2006). These results indicate that wearing uniforms in school creates a more organized learning environment with fewer behavior problems.
Furthermore, it has been shown that the requirement for school uniforms is linked to a substantial increase in graduation rates. According to research on public schools, “the mean graduation rates rose nearly 11 percent at schools that require uniforms, compared to pre-uniform years” (Draa, 2006). Similarly, research shows that uniforms increase discipline, which is a central part of academic excellence. In research published in the International Journal of Educational Management, researchers emphasized the significant role school uniforms play in maintaining school discipline and enhancing academic performance (Baumann, 2022). The findings suggest that while uniforms may not be the sole contributor to academic success, they are a contributing element that can lead to improved graduation rates.
School uniforms were initially created for equality, but now they have become a controversial topic. Despite the debate, more schools have been requiring school uniforms in recent years for improved attendance, discipline, and graduation rates. Some argue that uniforms increase academic performance and create a better learning environment, and others claim that school uniforms are restrictive and expensive. While each student has their own specific needs and that uniforms may not be most suitable for everyone, their potential to enhance students’ academic experience is evident, highlighting their overall beneficial impact.
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References
Baumann, C. (2022, January 8). School discipline, school uniforms and academic performance. Emerald Insight. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
Bhattarai, A. (2019, August 22). School uniforms are on the rise — even for toddlers — and it's changing back-to-school shopping. The Washington Post.
Draa, V. (2006, January 12). Study says school uniforms might help attendance, graduation rates. Cleveland 19 News.
Emery, M. (2010, April 5). UH Study Suggests School Uniforms Reduce Student Absences, Disciplinary Problems. University of Houston. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
Scott, J. (2014, September 5). School uniforms: A history of 'rebellion and conformity'. BBC.