The wearing of School uniforms is a controversial topic that has inspired many a-heated debate. It is astounding that with the many issues and concerns surrounding our children and teenagers, no one can seem to agree on what they should, or should not, be wearing.
There are positive and negative aspects to both sides of the argument:
Uniforms – Provide a sense of belonging, level the playing field in terms of rich and poor, provide children with a sense of pride in their appearance and encourage an orderly lifestyle. However, uniforms tend to be expensive, restrictive and uncreative, children feel
uncomfortable, and they may feel babied and might act out against authority in self destructive ways.
No Uniforms – Give children a sense of responsibility, encourage creativity, allow children to express themselves and learn about dress sense, and allow children to feel comfortable and confident. However, without school uniforms children may want more expensive clothing, have the opportunity to dress inappropriately, may be ridiculed or ostracised and they might even develop a relaxed attitude towards their school work.
Generally speaking, there are schools with uniforms teaching children who fail their classes, and the same goes for plain clothes schools. And there are children from both types of schools excelling in every subject.
There are more influential aspects in the child's environment which determine their attitude towards learning and life.
1. Parenting
The people who are most responsible for the upbringing of a child are the parents. If a child fails in school, it is the parent's responsibility to address the issue and figure out a way to guide them through the process of achieving better results. A child, whose parents are actively involved in his life, will be ready and able to face the challenges which come their way.
2. Teachers
A child can be dressed impeccably, but still lack a good education. If a teacher is spending large amounts of time worrying about the child's attire, more urgent issues may go unnoticed. Teachers should be teaching, not policing.
3. Environment
A child in a positive environment is more likely to look at life, and education, in a positive way. This applies to the home and the school environment.
4. Community
We all belong to a community. For some of us, this is a healthy and uplifting situation, for others, this is not always the case. A single mother needs the support of her community; she will need help and guidance in the raising of her child. Some children, however, come from a community where this support is not forthcoming and vital aspects of the child's life go unattended to.