"The uniforms, in my opinion, are a good idea. They are very professional looking; they are cheaper than buying clothes twice a month, and they show school spirit. This also means we don't have to worry much about how we look," said Luis Rodarte, a student of Hoover Middles School. School uniforms create an esprit de corps, a positive feeling of student belonging. They not only keep students safe, but also increase their self-esteem and promote a more positive attitude throughout the school.
Initial impressions are powerful, especially because they can only made once, and usually have a lasting effect. On my first day of high school in the late 90's, I was surprised by what I thought were the most bizarre clothes. Students worn torn clothes and baggy pants, and had dyed hair.
Dressing outside of what is expected can be a distraction that works against a goal a person is trying to accomplish. Different outfits would be worn when someone go for a job interview, a semi-formal meeting, or even a common birthday party. For instance, what if a person had walked into a semi-formal school meeting today dressing in torn, painter-style jeans, and old, shredded T-shirt, and a pair of New Balance tennis shoes? Chances are high that most people would see that person in a bad light, a negative perspective. But, what if a student had came into this room wearing black wool pants, a crisp white ironed shirt, and a pair of dress shoes? The opposite would be true that student would receive a positive response. For this reason I believe that school uniform can be very beneficial. .
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School uniforms remove the opportunity to make a provocative statement, they clearly identify those who belong in the school from those who do not, and as a result, they enhance the safety of education.
"I"m very pro-uniform," Ms. Buccos said, a Family Center facilitator at Carney Academy. "I believe that statistics show they reduce violence, create an air of seriousness in school and give kids a sense of belonging.
