Preview

The History of School Uniforms Essay Example

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
589 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The History of School Uniforms Essay Example
Ryan Aguilar
Per. 1
You may have thought that school uniforms were only worn by those of private schools or upper elite classes, but in fact it was quite the opposite. Uniforms were given to poor communities and schools, known as charity schools that would help children learn to read and write, in England around the 16th century. The uniforms that students would wear consisted of a blue blazer, cap and short trousers, and a brown satchel bag. The reason uniforms were issued was because it would cost less to just make the material for one style of clothing and mass produce them.
Uniforms became more and more popular around the 19th century, mostly in state elementary schools. This was done because times were very dangerous and it helped create order within the communities and let the students focus more on the curriculum than on what they are wearing. Wearing uniforms was just a part of England’s plan to make their schools better. Along with stricter supervision of the students’ lives and morals, and new teaching methods to make the students do better in school. Schools improved a great deal over time just because of school uniforms and the things that changed because uniforms were now mandatory (Chris Carson).
About one half of Catholic schools around the 1960's all had uniform policies (Carey Webber). Not all Catholic schools agreed on mandatory school uniforms because some felt that it was against the parent’s rights and right to individuality. Others said that it would put all the students at equal terms appearance wise. But this claim was not completely true because some families would still struggle with payments for the uniform and keeping it in good condition, so for the families that struggled, their kids would have worn school uniforms therefore being different in some perspective. In America during the 1980’s, arguments over schools requiring their students to wear school uniforms upset people because it was preventing individuality or

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Aed 200 Final Project

    • 1998 Words
    • 8 Pages

    England was the first nation to require their students to wear uniforms during the 16th century. These uniforms were not for the rich, but instead were used to distinguish the poor children from the other children. “It wasn't until 300 years later that students who attended the better English public schools began wearing uniforms. Once this became the norm, it blossomed into an obsession, as well as a way to effect social and cultural control over the students (ehow.com).”…

    • 1998 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Essay On School Uniforms

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “When you put on a uniform, there are certain inhibitions that you accept”, said Dwight D. Eisenhower. School uniforms first entered the United States of America in 1994 with Long Beach, California adopting the idea (Portner, Jessica). These uniforms vary in what they look like (School Uniforms) and schools with school uniforms have had an increase in safety (Dress Codes) and school academics (School Uniforms and the Courts). School uniforms have many benefits that are helpful for their schools and their students.…

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    None of the schools I have attended had a uniform requirement and many students dressed in ways I found inappropriate. The private school I attended had a strict dress code but public school teachers often overlook the violation of dress code. School uniforms bring a more formal look; giving the school a better reputation and creating a sense of belonging among the students. My style is very diverse and reveals my general interests, whether it be nerdy shirts, girly clothing or vintage outfits from the 40's. Personally, I have always been comfortable in my clothing whether I fit in with others or not. In fact, I always prefer to look different and I have more than enough clothing to express my unique style. I do, however, have friends that always feel under pressure to wear the right clothing and often borrow clothes from me. It is reasons such as these why all schools should require uniforms. School uniforms may be the prominent aspect of our society’s road to success in educating its…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    References: Chittom, L, & Ginsburg, J, (2009), School Uniforms: An Overview, Points of View, p1-1, 1p…

    • 1817 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Willaims, Darlene. "School Uniforms: The Raging Debate." . 2000. Web.. Asserting Parental Rights – it’s Our Duty.…

    • 2927 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    common ground

    • 1233 Words
    • 5 Pages

    All around the world, no matter the location, education stands to be one of the most important elements in a child’s life. Most parents are concerned that their child gets the best education possible, fits in with his or her peers, and to have the best possible experience he or she possibly can. Parents will search schools around the area they live and try to pick the best school that will give their child everything they need. However, when it comes to schools, there is one controversial issue that each school encounters, every year: whether or not the children in their school will be required to wear a uniform. In the article “The Pros and Cons of School Uniforms,” Michelle McDermott explains that 23% of schools in the United States require uniforms. Some parents want their children to go to a school with required uniforms, some parents do not want their kids to wear uniforms, and other parents could not care less on the issue. No matter where each parent stands on the issue, there will always be a few things that all parents will agree on, and that is the fact that they want their children to receive the best education they can.…

    • 1233 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Dress Code in Schools

    • 324 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the 1980s, public schools were often compared unfavorably to Catholic schools. Noting the perceived benefit that uniforms conferred upon Catholic schools, some public schools decided to adopt a school uniform policy.…

    • 324 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dress Code

    • 552 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Uniforms in public school reduce economic and social barriers between students, encourage discipline and affect positive attitude by increasing self-confidence, school pride, and a sense of belonging, and create a safe environment in the schools. In the 1960s United States began adopting school uniforms in public schools but even now it is controversial whether or not they should be implemented throughout the country. The idea of uniforms came from England where their purpose was to encourage docility…

    • 552 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Surveys were sent out to patents as well and 486 parents responded. Bodine randomly selected 30 parents to interview as well as 14 children making sure to include all the ethnic backgrounds. Bodine interviewed 39 participants face to face and nine parents and one student by phone. Additional information was used from local and national press; from interviews with teachers, administrators, students and parents. The results of this study came in two concerns one from the public and the other from the schools representatives. The parents of the students were concerned about the economic disparity to the families of the children having to afford the special clothing for school. They were also concerned about social exclusion to children due to a different dress style. Schools were primarily concerned with the ability of families to afford the clothing required but relished the thought of all the students being on equal ground and easily identifiable. Although both parents and school officials agreed that uniforms may improve the security of the school environment it just doesn’t leave the students free to just be themselves so, there were more adverse opinions than positive opinions on the…

    • 1409 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Uniforms or dress code policy “are seen as a concrete and visible means of restoring order to the classrooms. Uniforms conjure up visions of parochial schools, which are perceived as safe, secure, and orderly learning environments”.…

    • 401 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Uniforms have been worn only in private schools in the past, but discussion of implementing school uniforms into public schools has begun. School uniforms are being looked at as a way to improve the surroundings of learning students and a way to help students to be better achievers.…

    • 878 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Schools always have been regarded as a safe and secure place to protect our children. In recent years image of school changed a lot due to violence and crime occurred in the classroom. However, it is not changed that students still learn, have a half of daily life from school. So schools work hard to organize people well and school uniforms help them to do that easily.…

    • 261 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Best Essays

    Students wear uniforms since they started their study life in kindergarden and elementary school, uniforms are compulsory as well in public high school or even in private high school. The students went through the uniform-phase for at most 14 years out of their life irrespective of nation. Carson, a partner writer in online journal, revealed that England was the first country that started the requirement towards the students to wear uniform, as a mean to distinguish the poor students who attended the charity school from other children. 300 years later, wearing uniform in public school only started to become a norm, as well as a way to differentiate the school-boys and school-girls, it is an effective way to control all the students.…

    • 3285 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    School uniforms have been a staple of private schools for decades. In recent years, public school systems across the nation have been toying with the idea of implementing a mandatory dress code to improve safety, increase attendance, and improve academic performance. Several public school systems have already made this policy effective. Parents and students everywhere have mixed feelings about the matter. Some believe that school uniforms cannot even begin to repair all of the problems that arise today in our country's schools, and others are happily welcoming the change and waiting eagerly to see the difference that uniforms will make in their children's lives. As in most arguments, members of each side are convinced that they are one hundred percent correct and that the other side of the story is not even worth listening to. Web sites devoted to this topic are no exception, and the web sites that are well researched and that represent both sides of the argument are few and far between.…

    • 1641 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Uniforms were first instituted in 16th Century England at the charity schools for poor children. It was not until the 19th Century that the great English public schools began instituting uniforms and even later for them to be widely accepted at state schools--especially state elementary schools. There is a lot of debate whether the acceptance of school uniforms is good or bad. Historically, the concept of school uniforms is familiar to many European schools and private schools within the United States. However, much more attention to the controversy over school uniforms arose when a significant movement began in the 1980's to introduce dress codes within public schools in the United States. . “In 1996, approximately three percent of all schools in the United States had a school uniform policy (Gentile & Imberman, 2009).”…

    • 1524 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays