becoming an adult

Going to school should be about learning and developing skills needed in life, but grade school kids today take going to school as a chance to show off the latest trends at the expense of the less fortunate that are not able to keep up with those trends. History has shown how far kids go with that, a young girl only ten years old took her own life because of constant torment about her clothes and shoes. Children naturally are honest about certain things and that honesty can sometimes become cruelty to other students, and taking away the fuel from the fire can be a good start. School uniforms should be required in American Public Schools because their use would lead to uniformity in kids, less chances of being a victim of bulling, and a lower cost to parents. Wearing uniforms is a way to diminish bullying in grade schools. While some may argue that doing so may take away students freedom to express themselves, we as adults know that sometimes you have you take away things from children as a consequence in order to get a desired result. A study in Sparks Middle, Nevada showed that 54 percent of the kids said that they still had their “identity” while wearing uniforms. We have to admit that bullying is mostly based on what one looks like and if we make them all look the same it will bring down the bulling tremendously. Studies done by The Long Island School district Show that something as simple as uniforms in school environment changed the crime rate remarkably and attendance went up to 95 percent. That alone shows that students felt more comfortable to come to school. They felt safer to come and not be tormented about what they were wearing that day, because some student’s parents have a higher income and can keep up with the latest fashion while others can’t and become the subject of ridicule. Jafeth Sanchez, a researcher in Nevada, simply stated after her study with middle students “ If a simply change in attire can positively influence more than 30 percent, or even 25 percent of a school’s student population, then perhaps administrators, teachers, students and community members find it worth the effort.”

As an adult when you go to a job interview or have a meeting at work and things of that sort you tend dress accordingly, in a dress shirt slacks and dress shoes for ladies a dress or dress shirt and skirt. You do this because putting those clothes changes your demeanor you have a since of importance and wouldn’t behave the same way you would if you were in sweat pants and a T-shirt. The same goes for children, when they feel more professional they behave accordingly. School Uniform Statistics show that 95 percent of teachers believe with the uniform policy in place student behavior was promoted. And 81 percent believe that it has eliminated competition among students.

For instance, the popular shoe “JORDANS” has become an unsettling pit in the stomach of society. If you don’t have the latest pair you are consider lame, broke, poor, and unpopular. Not realizing that the average cost of a pair of Jordan shoes is 180 dollars depending on your shoe size. Whereas the average cost of uniforms for the course of one school year is 249 dollars. You find most students these days wear name brand clothes such as Hollister, Abercrombie, and American Eagle. Why do they wear these clothes? To fit in, to not be called “out of date” they are peer pressured into expressing their individuality. As parents we have to weigh out our options, either we do what our kids want us to do or we take the lead as the “parents” and do what’s best for the children and us. We shouldn’t be forced to wait in lines at 5 A.M. and spend tremendous amounts of money on shoes just so other kids don’t pick on your child. Wearing school uniforms takes extra stress away from parents by taking away the demand for expensive individuality.

In conclusion, there are many well documented benefits to wearing school uniforms. Wearing uniforms helps children behave in a professional way while at school. School Uniforms have been proven in studies to reduce bullying. Also uniforms are more cost effective on parents especially those who are not able to afford the latest shoes and clothing. Public schools should require uniforms to benefit both students and society.