How to
Increase Students’ Will
of Wearing Uniform
The continuance of uniform is one of the greatest debates among education workers and students. Termination of uniform system has long been an appeal of a number of education workers. To them, uniform is the symbol of suppression and unfairness. However, there are also students and teachers agree with uniform. They hold the opinion that uniform help forming discipline and equality. The two sides have their points. It is true that some dress code is too strict as uniform increase discipline and obedience. After a long consideration, I conclude that it is too aggressive to terminate uniform system. It is true that uniform is not perfect, so I suggest that the supporters of uniform should modify the dress codes of uniform to convince the opponents that uniform is not as terrible as they think.
Uniforms are proved to be efficient in many ways. A review of related literature is provided along with results of the opinions obtained from 604 seventh- and eighth-grade middle school students attending a public school in Nevada that had recently initiated a school uniform policy. Improvements in discipline data and school police data were also examined. (Sanchez, J. E., Yoxsimer, A., & Hill, G. C. 2012). Discrimination and discipline are uniforms greatest advantages. School uniforms are one of several strategies used by this nation’s public schools to restore order in the classroom or safety in the school. (Stanley, M. S. (1996). School uniforms and safety. Education and Urban Society, 28(4), 424-435.)With uniform, schools can easily distinguish their students. If strangers want to invade the campus, guards can tell it from their outfit immediately. The unified dress code also help enhance students self conscious, so they will behave especially fine with uniform. However, there are still some problems making students don’t like uniform. For example, students from poor families exclude uniform because they don’t want to spend extra money for it. If they can wear casual clothes to school, they can save some money and those numbers can help them a lot. Also, students don’t want to wear uniform because it does not look good and they only wear it to school. If the uniforms are well-designed just like popular clothes, students may fall for it and willingly wear it even when they are off school. Last, many students, especially girls, think that some dress codes are not appropriate at all. For example, the rule that girl wear skirt is unfair to some girl such as tomboys, who are the masculine side in lesbian relationships. They don’t feel good or look good in skirts but they have to wear them to school. (帥帥T, 2004) These disadvantages are widely discussed, if teachers really want students to accept uniform but being forced to wear it, they must come up with solutions of those problems. Some suggestions related have been listed below.
According to the survey, 30% of the respondents think that cost is the main reason they dislike uniform. Many students don’t like uniform because of its cost. As a result, schools can try decreasing uniform’s price or set up a uniform inheriting system that collects graduated students uniform and offer them to the needed. Also, the manufacturers have to improve the quality of uniform. Our uniforms are usually too thin that others can even see skin color under the fabric. As a result, many people think it is unfair that uniforms’ quality is not worth of its prices. If those problems are solved, more than 60% of the students who previously deny uniforms accept it. However, schools have to spend for collecting uniform and consequent cleaning duties if they try to build the uniform inheriting system and the administration may not agree with this idea. At the same time, lessening the price will also bring about manufacturers’ disagreements. If manufacturers turn out to refuse manufacturing for schools, another dilemma will appear. Yet, these results are still inevitable if a school wants to benefits students.
Subsequently, the design is also a matter for students. Though students don’t really have to dress up in school, whether the clothes they wear is good-looking is still important for teenagers. If uniform is well- designed, it might increase students’ will of wearing it. Once students fall in love with uniform, it will be difficult to tell them not to wear it. In that case, they will all wear uniform to school even when they don’t have to. In my survey, 53.8% of the respondents deny uniform simply because it does not look good. To solve this problem, I suggest that schools can hire designers to help design the uniform. If the uniform looks really good, not only students would love it, but it can also enhance school’s image. However, it is a burden for school to hire a really good designer. Sometimes, it costs really much to hire a designer. If the school cannot afford a professional designer, I suggest that it should allow students to choose which manufacturer’s uniform they are to wear. If students can vote for the uniform, then manufacturers have to manage to win students heart, so they will design well and use better material. As a result, the quality of uniforms will increase a lot. Of course, this may lead to the protest of manufacturers, and it will definitely increase the difficulty of administrative works. In exchange, more than 90% of the students will give uniform the second chance if schools can adopt these strategies. However, the financial pressure will also need to be considered carefully.
Last, uniform cannot run away from gender stereotype. When we buy uniforms, skirts are always for girl. On the other hand, girls are bound to wear skirts as boys are supposed to wear pants. 15.4% of the respondents agree with this situation, and they believe that gender stereotype is hiding in the design of uniform. Some girls don’t like skirts because they are not convenient, and sometimes others may see the underwear. However, schools decide girls should skirts and boy should wear pant not because those clothes are suitable for them but because they have gender stereotype. I suggest that schools should let students choose their uniform. This method is barely with side effects. Changing the dress codes will not spend money or increase administration’s job, a simple public announcement to teachers and students and it will work. 90% of respondents will accept uniform in that case. The most important is that this method not only cause no trouble for school but also protect students’ right.
Though being with some problem, it is undeniable that uniform is a great system. To change its negative image in students’ mind, I provide several ways. First, we have to lower the price of uniform and provide free ones for the needed. Yet, this way will lead to difficulty discussing with uniform manufacturers and collecting second-hand uniforms. Then the design of uniform should also improve so that students will be more willing to wear it, but hiring designer and uniform election will greatly increase financial and administrative burden. Last, schools shall respect everyone’s freedom of performance. Teachers cannot decide what gender should wear what kind of clothes. We should let students to decide how they combine their uniform. This is the only way that nearly has no side effect. To sum up, I suggest that schools can start from letting students decide their uniform dress code. Although there still will be students oppose uniform, we have done our best to improve students’ experience of wearing uniform. Only by making a small difference, we can get students to accept uniform again.
References
帥帥 T 與學校制服的愛恨情仇. 性別平等教育季刊, 2004.
Sanchez, J. E., Yoxsimer, A., & Hill, G. C. (2012). Uniforms in the middle school: Student opinions, discipline data, and school police data. Journal of School Violence, 11(4), 345-356.
Stanley, M. S. (1996). School uniforms and safety. Education and Urban Society, 28(4), 424-435.