12 advantages that explain it…
1. Creates cohesion
When all students wear the same clothes every day at school, it evens the playing field. Any expectations about what to wear are removed and children develop a greater sense of equality.
With the same clothes, children from all backgrounds start from the same point, with no advantages. Conversely, children in non-uniform schools may feel isolated if their parents do not wish to pay for the latest styles of clothing worn by some classmates.
Creating a standard of dress promotes the idea that we are all the same and that we should focus on academic goals.
Children come from different backgrounds and can immediately identify a teammate by the clothes they wear, creating a sense of cohesion, empathy and similarity that is lost when school uniforms are removed.
2. Reduces the potential for bullying
Without school uniforms, the possibility of children teasing each other increases. People use clothes to express themselves and children are no different in this regard.
Unfortunately, when a child expresses himself or herself differently from others, it can create a point of difference between one child and another that can be exploited by false leaders to make fun of and increase their influence over other pupils.
Instead of creating a sense of community and equality with a school uniform, allowing children to wear what they like can create divisions between them.
3. Improve the study ethic
If a child feels that she/he doesn’t fit in, or that she/he doesn’t have the latest and greatest clothes like some of the peers she/he looks up to, it can damages her/his confidence. Lack of confidence can be one of the most significant barriers to academic growth. Introducing a school uniform eliminates this possibility, meaning your child has less to worry about and more reason to be confident in class.
4. Increases safety
There are important safety issues when not adopting a uniform at school. With the school colours on, children can be immediately recognised from a distance as members of that school. In a situation where someone who is not a member of the school is on site, they can easily be identified as not being part of the school by their lack of uniform.
On the other hand, on those days outside the school grounds, such as on day trips, children can easily be seen in the crowd because of their uniform. This can be especially useful when going on school trips at the same time as other schools, where large crowds of children mix with each other.
5. Create fairer dress codes
When a school adopts a uniform, it creates a simple, standardised dress code. In contrast, when children are allowed to wear what they like, countless variations mean that schools must adopt a long list of do’s and don’ts to formulate their dress code. These non-uniform dress codes are often harsher on girls, creating an unfair and unequal community.
By implementing a uniform, schools avoid complicated problems related to modesty, offensive symbols and text, and eliminate the need for teachers to control children’s clothing according to this dress code. These are all problems unrelated to the real educational objectives on which we should focus our attention.
6. Eliminate peer pressure
Children are often under some form of peer pressure, it is part of their life learning and helps them to explore the characteristics of interpersonal relationships. However, some of these pressures can lead to discomfort and even long-term problems. Adopting a school uniform can remove one form of unfair pressure. Without a uniform, children may develop expectations about what they should wear to fit in with a particular group. Children become divided into gangs and the sense of togetherness that a uniform brings is lost.
7. Prepares for the outside world
School uniforms prepare children to handle routines in scenarios that we adults encounter in our lives. Depending on the situation, we are expected to dress with certain etiquette and formal codes. Job interviews are a good example. In adulthood, professional dress is expected in work settings, and this is something your child will have developed inwardly through a school uniform.
8. Fuss-free mornings at home
We all know that Monday to Friday mornings in a family home can be a “war” scenario. Getting ready for work without also having to worry about how your child is doing can be an unattainable goal. If your child does not have a school uniform to wear every morning, he or she will take time to explore, hesitate, weigh and finally decide what to wear. In the end, it may detract from what is really important – your child’s studies.
Uniforms take one more thing off the ‘to do’ list for families every day.
9. Anticipates adult professionalism
Some studies indicate that school uniforms contribute positively to a child’s behaviour at school. Their uniform makes it easier for them to develop an automatic affinity for learning and concentration. Once they put it on, their state of mind shifts into “school” mode, a place where things are learned. A budding sense of professionalism develops within each child, leading to greater focus in the classroom.
10. Reduces distractions
Uniforms are one less distraction during school. By wearing clothes they like, children can focus more on their world of leisure and fun than on their studies. Fashion trends and owning the latest styles become the top priority at an age when a critical sense is not yet developed, and could lead to a slowdown in that pupil’s progress at school.
11. Focus on character
Without a uniform, the wardrobe they wear from Monday to Friday may end up defining your child rather than the content of their character. Children should prioritise the development of their personality, have the confidence to be who they are and not be defined by material things like the clothes they wear.
With a school uniform, your child can express themselves in more meaningful ways, which helps to enhance their creativity, their emotionality, their language, their relational skills…
12. Value the effort parents make
Along with the 11 points above, let’s not forget that it is part of their education to allow children to express themselves in their own clothes and learn to value the goods that their parents provide them with.
Wearing something we like also helps to build confidence in who we are. After wearing their quality uniform five days a week, children can develop a greater sense of appreciation for the rest of the clothes they wear on weekends and evenings.
They find it easier to appreciate the effort it takes for their parents to pay for their special trainers, the ones they will happily wear on Saturdays and Sundays.
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What do you think of the article, would you add or subtract any of the advantages? We look forward to hearing from you and chatting on the blog. Please leave us a comment just below.
Thank you!
ROSA GARCIA CONFECCIONES
