The Power of the School Uniform People make many difficult decisions everyday that possibly may change the future. When we think of future, we think of the young students and how our future depends on them. The awgovernment continues to find ways to increase school’s ways of enhancing young students’ minds. Enforcing Uniforms became a strong focus as a solution. Kent J. Fetzer expressed, “Our biggest problem with a school uniform policy is the anti-individuality message it sends.” He feels students lose their freedom when forced to conform to only certain apparels.
This does not mean that parents have no rights to what happens to their child while they are at school but this allows school to guide student behaviors though discipline. This idea is called in loco parentis (pg. 378). This concept was once more important in schools than it is now but it has brought forth it idea that no matter the student, disabled or not, there needs to be a certain level of responsibility put on all students for their behaviors when they are at school. This would be a great chapter of the book for parents to read because it would help them to understand why the school is doing what it is doing.
Pro School Uniforms Today’s schools have many internal problems such as bullying, lost class time, and intruders. These problems can simply be corrected by the use of school uniforms. School uniforms are distinct articles of clothing worn by students to match one another and show unity. The characteristic unity is a group coming together as a whole, or a sense of belonging. Students should always feel that they belong to the school for the right reason: getting an education in a safe and friendly environment.
Many public school systems across the country are instituting school uniforms in an effort to improve overall school performance and to reduce negative behavior. The use of school uniforms is a topic of hot debate among parents and school administrators. Some argue the benefits of school uniforms, while others believe that the downsides are far more numerous. While you probably cannot influence what your school has already decided, you may have a voice on the issue of school uniforms in PTA meetings. School uniforms are a great way to maintain the level of social equality amongst the students of public schools.
Even besides the fact of students finding other ways to express themselves with their physical experience, students may even feel they have to act out just to stand out from others. Self expression is important for development, and forcing students to wear uniforms is teach them to conform to standards they do not agree with. Children are our future actresses, writers, etcetera. We do not want to teach them to conform and be like everyone else and hold their creativity inside. The issue of expenses also brings up a major disadvantage of the implementation school uniforms.
The school’s dress code sets a path for students to have a right to individuality, to make choices and to express their personality through clothing. Students who feel more comfortable in their own clothing will have a greater desire of attending school every day. One of Darwin High School’s dress code’s main purposes is to protect the student’s personal safety while attending school. School activities can be harmful to a student’s person safety, for example, practicals in a science laboratory. The school’s dress code prevents students from exposing their skin, as a
“School officials have a responsibility to provide a safe, secure, and productive learning environment. Dress and appearance play a role in doing so” (“School Safe and Security Services”, 1996-2012, para. 1). If children place too much emphasis on what they look like, or how expensive other student’s clothes cost, it can make an unsafe and unhealthy environment. Students and some adults claim that, “School-uniform policies infringe upon students’ First Amendment rights to freedom of expression” (“Dress Codes Verses Public Schools”, 2012, para.
It also burdens colleges with providing preparation that should have taken place earlier. (Bauerlein) Bauerlein takes a dig at teachers for not preparing their students well enough to be successful in their next step in life, college. Because of the bad preparation teachers give the students, when they are ready to go to college they are bound to take remedial classes because if they take normal courses they will most likely fail them. It is a teacher’s duty to prepare the student for his future. It is the schools responsibility to be able to provide good enough teachers, who can prepare these students.
At the elementary level, we are shaping how students feel about themselves which can affect them the rest of their lives. At the high school level, we have the opportunity to truly inspire and make a child feel as if someone believes in them. While teachers can do so many positive things with this power, they can also do much harm (as Dr. Wayson spoke on). I really enjoyed this section of his talk, however, my one critique is that I felt Dr. Wayson didn’t practice what he was preaching here. Perhaps he was leading by an alternate example or giving examples of what not to do, but I felt that Dr. Wayson picked on many of the members of the class.
Society thrives on the philosophy of allowing children to do what they want when they want. When in reality these students are often are acting up or failing grades to get attention from parents and mentors. Neo-Scholasticism allows students to become internally motivated. Students who have internal as well as external motivation to finish school will be less likely to drop out of school. While, factors such as constant absentness, unwanted behaviors, and low grades influence drop-out rates, school that have stricter guidelines and repercussions for the factors might make students think twice about their actions.