We’re in the midst of back-to-school season, and many boys and girls will begin or have already begun an abnormal school year as a result of the coronavirus. Returning to school presents a slew of concerns, as there is a fear of disease spreading and a repeat of the March crisis. Regardless of this uncertainty, which will dissipate as the days pass, the return of school brings up an essential topic: the wearing of the school uniform. We’ll go over the benefits and drawbacks in this piece.
Many parents defend the use of school uniforms while others criticize them; we’ll look at the benefits and drawbacks so you can create your School uniforms own view.
Wearing a school uniform has a number of benefits. The following are some of the benefits of wearing the school uniform:
- Promotes gender equality and reduces socioeconomic disparities among boys and girls. It is the most compelling argument made by those fathers and moms who support the uniform’s use. It is critical that all boys and girls arrive to school dressed in the same manner in order to avoid inequities. Inequality may be created if pupils wore their own clothes since the difference in parents’ purchasing power would be visible, for example, if a student wore branded clothing. Equality in uniform use implies that situations of harassment be avoided when a boy or girl, for example, wears older or worn clothes.
- Encourages boys and girls to have high self-esteem. The fact that boys and girls dress alike makes them feel less different from one another and boosts their self-esteem.
- Encourages the acquisition of values. Because they will feel equal and like they belong to a community, wearing the uniform enables boys and girls to learn important values such as respect and solidarity, as we will see later.
- Foster a sense of community. The uniform gives students a sense of belonging to something, in this case the school. It’s the same thing that happens when they play football and everyone wears the same uniform; it creates a sense of belonging to the team.
- It is practical and time and money efficient. Another significant benefit of the uniform is its practicality. The usage of the same clothes eliminates the need to think about what to wear to the boy or girl each day, so all you have to do is have a pair or more of each outfit and wash them each morning to have the uniform ready. The older brothers’ uniform, on the other hand, can be inherited by the younger brothers if it is in good condition, saving money.
- Encourages self-control. As previously said, wearing the school uniform fosters a sense of belonging, which encourages adherence to the rules. The situation is analogous to a police officer wearing a uniform, for example.
- Helps to ensure long-term viability. Consumption is avoided owing to the purchase of clothing when the school uniform is worn, therefore conserving the environment and contributing to sustainability. Furthermore, it is washed less frequently than other garments, resulting in lower energy use.
- Assists with concentration. Because both boys and girls are dressed similarly, there are no clothing-related distractions, allowing them to focus on their studies.
Wearing the school uniform has its drawbacks. However, there are certain arguments for not wearing the school uniform, including the following:
- It’s a cost that can quickly add up. School uniforms are not always inexpensive, and they may need to be replaced in the middle of the semester due to wear and tear. As a result, many families are forced to make major financial sacrifices in order to pay for school uniforms.
- Schoolchildren are homogenized, and kids are not allowed to express themselves authentically. Some parents believe that the school uniform restricts children’s ability to think freely since it homogenizes them. Because they are unable to wear the clothes with which they identify and feel more at ease, the uniform restricts their freedom.
Has the potential to be stereotyped. School uniforms frequently require girls to wear skirts and males to wear pants, which is why opponents of school uniforms argue that they are stereotypical and obstruct progress toward gender equality. As a result, some parents have urged that girls in uniformed schools have the option of wearing pants or skirts.
