Lesson 7
School Uniforms
For this lesson I had to read two articles associated with this lesson on school uniforms. I then had to watch a video and compose then post a new message in the discussion area for this lesson and conduct my research.
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What is a school uniform? Describe.
In my opinion, school uniforms are worn to present the school or present the same ‘team’. When I was at school I had to wear a uniform because the Head Master told me that wearing the school uniform would make me feel like a part of the school, like I meant something to the school. I think that school uniforms make students stand out more than those schools who don’t. It makes those who wear them feel organized and sophisticated.
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What are the potential benefits of having school uniforms?
I think the potential benefits of having school uniforms would be that they made mornings 100% easier for me. When I woke up in the morning I wouldn’t have to search for clothes to wear because I knew I could only wear my school uniform. I got to spend more time in bed. Another benefit would be that it helps the students increase their self-expression. This is important because students should be expressing themselves through academic achievement. One more benefit of having school uniforms would be that they have a positive effect on everyone in the school. I think schools become less competitive and become more focused on learning. It also makes the students look good and professional. One of the big benefits I think of having a school uniform would be that it could decrease the chance of students being bullied.
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What are the potential problems with having school uniforms?
Potential problems with having school uniforms would be that some people struggle financially to pay for school uniforms. School uniforms are not exactly cheap. Another problem would be that you are not able to show any sense of style or personality through school uniforms. I think it is important for young students to show some sense of style because it shows other students what they like or who they are.
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How can you get parents and students to buy-in to the idea of school uniforms?
Parents buy-in to the idea of getting their kids to wear school uniforms to school because it saves their parents from going shopping for loads of clothing. The parents only have to get what the students need instead of buying them loads of pointless brand clothing they will probably never wear again. By getting students buy in to the idea of school uniforms they don’t have to worry about being alienated when they can’t afford branded clothing. It is also easier for the students to wake up and get their school uniform on that it is for them to pick an outfit that isn’t school uniform.
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What does the Supreme Court have to say on this issue?
Bill Clinton mentions in the article that school uniforms should be an important part of the school leaders efforts because is improves school safety and discipline. He distributed to each of the country's 16,000 school districts at the end of February then issued a 10 point plan for education in 1997 which included a directive encouraging the adoption of school uniforms.
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Are school uniforms truly effective?
I personally think that school uniforms are truly effective. I think they do increase student safety and enhance the learning environment. It had been proven that the school uniforms actually increase violent behaviour. It also improves student behaviour and attitude towards learning and helps the school/teachers identify those who belong on the property.
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Based on your research, provide at least two interesting statistics, additional advantages or disadvantages, or viewpoints that are NOT described in the articles that accompany this lesson
Based on the research there was a few statistics on school uniforms. One interesting statistic about school uniforms would be that in 1995 it was proven that putting everyone in uniforms for a year the overall crime rates in schools decreased by 90%. Another statistic was proven that no bullying had reduced. Bullying happened back then and is still happening in schools now even when students wear school uniform or not.
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Summary
This lesson on school uniforms really made me think whether students should have school uniforms or not. I still don’t know what side I’m on even after doing this essay. Hopefully after reading a few of other people’s lessons they will help me decide more. I especially liked doing the pros and cons of school uniform because there are loads of pros and there are loads of cons. There is not just an odd amount of them.
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Research Question
Do school uniforms help prevent bullying or not?
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Research Analysis
DEBATE.org says that 69% say that kids still get bullied because they wear uniforms. They say it is unfair that students get judged no matter what they wear. Even if everyone wears the same thing to school it doesn’t stop name calling or hitting. Students are going to get bullied period and it doesn't matter if it is school uniform or not, people will get bullied. Height, weight, skin colour, parents, eye colour, shoe size, and anything else imaginable. However, DEBATE.org states that 31% say that wearing school uniform stops bullying. If bullies are bullying students in a school that are wearing school uniform then the bullies are just making fun of themselves. Also if you are less of a target then bully’s pick on you, said the 31%.
I think that school uniforms don’t prevent bullying from happening in schools. Bullying still happened at my school when we wore school uniforms. Bullying can happen for different types of reasons not just the reason of what you wear.
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Research Reference