Besides the actual learning, the hardest part about school is fitting in. Your children are living in an age run rampant with social media, which means everything is documented. What you’re wearing, how you’re styling it, where you got it, and why it’s the trendiest thing in the classroom. Quite frankly, it’s gotten to be too much. Society has put more emphasis on the way you look than what you know and how you apply yourself. So how can this be stopped? How can you make sure your child gets an education they deserve without worrying about the outlying societal pressures? We can think of one way…

Did you know that nearly 20% of public schools in the United States have adopted a school uniform policy? That number is only increasing, and it makes sense as to why that is. School uniforms may seem antiquated, but there’s a reason they still exist. There’s a reason more and more schools are adopting a uniform policy. 

In this article, we’re going to highlight the top 12 reasons why school uniforms are important for your child’s education. 

12 Reasons Why School Uniforms Are Important for Your Child’s Education

School uniforms help improve school safety

Schools use various measures to ensure their students’ safety. From locking and monitoring doors to wearing uniforms, a student’s safety is at the top of the priority list. You can’t learn if you aren’t safe. One way uniforms ensure safety is that they may make intruders stand out. Uniforms at school also reduce the prevalence of violence, which is a major concern for many public schools. Outsiders who do not belong on campus are easily identified, and thus, do not pose a great threat to the students. Additionally, uniforms reduce the prevalence of “cliques” and gangs on school campuses as students are required to only wear specific colors and uniform pieces. A school may only allow green or yellow polo shirts and khaki bottoms, for example, preventing students from wearing the traditional gang identifying colors of red and blue. Accessories such as bandanas, another distinguishing gang clothing characteristic, can also be eliminated from the school dress code.  When it is more difficult to identify members of gangs in school, the fights and violence between rival gangs decrease.  

School uniforms help improve discipline

When students wear uniforms, it’s been proven that the classroom becomes a more disciplined place. Students perform best when teachers create a disciplined atmosphere where students listen to teachers, where noise levels in the classroom are low and they do not have to wait to start class and teach. Good discipline allows students to work well and this ultimately leads to better academic performance. Uniforms contribute to better discipline in everyday school operations. In general, implementing school uniforms at schools might enhance discipline and allow for better learning.

School uniforms provide a sense of unity

Uniforms promote teamwork and school spirit. Much like wearing a matching jersey for a sport, you’re wearing the same uniform in school to show that you’re in this together. Without uniforms, students feel pressured to stand out instead of fit in. When you level the playing field with uniforms, what students wear reflects the community.

School uniforms improve scholastic performance

When students worry about what they’re wearing, that’s less time they have to focus on learning. Uniforms make school an easier place to learn. Students in uniform pay more attention in class. Attendance and participation affect students’ class grades in a positive way.

School uniforms save money

The average student’s back to school wardrobe costs around $800. Per student! Per year! But when students wear uniforms, that number decreases exponentially. One study found that the cost of school uniforms is only about $150. 

School uniforms make students more responsible

Students in uniform are also more likely to follow school rules. Eighty-five percent of principals reported that uniforms increased classroom discipline. It may also help students learn respect for authority. Uniforms distinguish students from those who are in charge at school; this improves relationships between students and staff. Uniforms also prepare students for their futures. Many jobs have a dress code or a uniform. If a student wears a uniform at school, it will be easier for them to follow dress codes at work. By wearing a uniform, students learn how to dress appropriately. They learn that what they wear matters in society.

School uniforms reduce bullying

Students can be cruel and conniving and just plain bullies. Studies show that taking the appearance out of the equation decreases bullying in schools. Students who reported being bullied at school said bullying had a negative effect on how they felt about themselves. In fact, 27% of students who reported being bullied said they were bullied because of their appearance. Removing the pressure to dress a certain way can decrease bullying between students. When students stop treating school like a fashion show, they feel less afraid of rejection. 

School uniforms reduce social inequalities

In junior high and high school, fashion, and the high price of designer labels, can create a perceived hierarchy among students. Uniforms are able to minimize this type of competition through uniform dress codes. Fashion can be expensive and when students are able to avoid concerns about designer brands and the cost of what they wear to school, good things happen. They don’t have to figure out how to fit in with superficial fashion choices, so they’re more likely to act as their authentic selves. This also helps them relate to their fellow students as team or even family members, rather than competitors.

School uniforms decrease time it takes to get ready for school

Wearing the same variation of clothes everyday, generally speaking, will make it way easier to figure out what to wear to school. This khaki skirt with that white button down? Or those navy trousers with that red polo? This is really helpful if you’re prone to running late. 

School uniforms create a sense of identity

Students are more than what they wear. By requiring school uniforms, students have the opportunity to express themselves in other ways. Attaining complete inclusivity in schools is something every school leader hopes to achieve, and one of the simplest ways to do this is to adopt a school uniform. Uniforms generate a tangible sense of identity and belonging among pupils, and subsequently helps to create a safe environment both in and out of the classroom.

School uniforms increase your school’s image

Uniforms benefit students’ education by setting a more serious tone in school. The formal appearance of uniforms suggests that the school has a high academic standard. Therefore, students are more serious about their education. Experts suggest that teachers view students in uniform as having a more positive attitude.

School uniforms help improve student behavior

All in all, you can see that uniforms improve student behavior. Bullying has been known to decrease, students are more focused, and feel a sense of community in what they do in the classroom. At the end of the day, school is about learning. Freedom of expression is a small price to pay for a great education. 

Buying Guide

• The first step in living a life in which school uniforms rule is by getting your child’s school uniform. Check out Uniform Advantage, a site with every colored uniform you could need.

• In order to give your child a sense of self, they should pick up a pair of everyday shoes that go with their uniform from Sneakersnstuff.  

• Oh, and don’t forget  a unique pair of shades from EzContacts.

•  Of course, there’s no dress code for backpacks, and you’ll want your child to carry all their belongings safely, so check out the backpacks sold at Uncommon Goods. Just because your uniform is common, doesn’t mean your backpack needs to be. 

• Finally, a Papier planner will keep any student on top of their school work.