School uniforms aid with child safety

What is a straightforward method we can keep our school children safe, reduce the cost of school apparel, and facilitate the efforts of teachers and other school personnel to ensure our kids’ safety both on and off campus? Additionally, we want to simultaneously foster in our kids a feeling of belonging and pride. simply by making school uniforms mandatory.

We must do all in our power to safeguard our children from all of the violence in the world today, particularly the violence that is directed at them, not just as parents but also as a community. Right, it takes a village. Enforcing school uniforms is one way we can safeguard our kids and keep them safer while they are at school. It is said that since intruders who don’t belong on a school campus are wearing the official uniforms and will stand out, it is simpler to see them (Ayers n.d.). Threats may come from any outside source in our communities, not simply the student body. Even if mandatory uniforms won’t end all violence on school grounds, our community should take every precaution possible to protect our kids.

School uniforms might also be used to identify pupils who could be on off-campus field trips, which would help keep kids safe. In the event that students get separated from the group, school uniforms may be used to find them. They can also be used to find students who are not where they should be during school hours, such as those who have missed a day of class.

Additionally, uniforms keep everyone appearing the same when they are at school, so there is no comparison between some kids having certain items of clothes or fancier things than other kids who may not be able to buy the same things. They assist in eradicating harassment and victimization since there is no distinction between the “haves” and the “have nots.” The wearing of uniforms and the exhibition of gang colors reduces theft and violence (Chen 2008). Additionally, uniforms make it more difficult to distinguish between the children’s various socioeconomic classes. The uniforms don’t have to be as strict as plaid skirts, button-down shirts, and ties; they can be as straightforward as khakis and polo shirts. The children can still have their own unique identities and express themselves by choosing things like hairstyles, nail polish colors, some jewelry, and even their shoes. My eldest son’s primary school uniform was khaki slacks and either a white, tan, or blue polo shirt. When he was in middle school, parents could either purchase maroon t-shirts with the school logo or they could wear maroon polos and khakis. Although everyone wore the same colors, they were still able to express their individuality by selecting the color of their polo or the style of maroon shirt they wanted to wear that day. The emphasis is more on their academic performance than on whether one kid has the newest designer jeans or the trendiest new jacket, which another youngster may not be able to purchase. The Long Beach California school system started imposing uniforms in 1994, and in that first year, school conflicts and violence had declined by 50% and sexual assaults had decreased by 74%, according to statistics showing the benefits of uniforms (Chen 2008). The majority of the youngsters targeted in the Columbine shooting in 1999 were slain in part due to what they were wearing, according to Melissa Kelly in a 2019 article (Kelly 2019). Even while it is hard to tell for certain whether this catastrophe would have happened if a standard policy had been in place, the chances may have increased. Even while most kids dislike wearing uniforms, they do believe that doing so helps them maintain their individuality. About half of the youngsters also stated that wearing uniforms helps their parents save money (Wilde, n.d).

Parents are naturally concerned about the cost of purchasing school clothes because, as any parent or guardian knows, the start of the school year is full of expenses, including buying everything necessary to ensure the children’s success, school supplies, lunches, and clothing can become very expensive. Schools that do impose uniform requirements have come up with inventive methods to lower the cost for a parent who may have trouble affording the required things. Most kids don’t want to wear their uniforms for any longer than necessary, so when they are no longer required or have outgrown them, families may be able to donate gently used clothing back to the school, which can then be distributed to other students at a discounted price for parents, says Belinda Luscombe (Luscombe 2014).

In the United States, school uniforms typically cost $150 a year. Of course, retailers provide discounts on children’s apparel at the start of the school year. There are several groups, like the Salvation Army and churches, that provide assistance to suffering parents. Families may find out where to get resources in the majority of states from a list that has been put together. People may find out how to seek support from organizations like the Salvation Army, grants for school uniforms, charity drives, and churches by using the information supplied. Of course, it also makes getting ready for school the night before or in the morning much simpler for both children and their parents to not have to select what to wear on a regular basis.

Safety, bullying, and the expense of school clothing shouldn’t be the main issues for kids and parents given everything else they need to worry about in their everyday lives. Parents and guardians will feel more at ease knowing that their kids are as secure as they can be throughout the day and have all they need to succeed in school if they wear school uniforms.