IMPROVEMENTS WITH REDUCING BULLYING
Bullying has been around since the beginning of time. I'm sure if you asked your parents, they could recall many moments that they were teased when they were younger. It's just something young people do, but as time goes on, there become more reasons why kids bully. The topic of what middle and high schoolers wear and what they look like have been the main source of bullying, as is has been for many years. By implementing uniforms, those children who are currently being subject to this source of bulling are no longer going to be exposed to the psychological abuse.
This may not be common in wealthy areas, as children will all typically be able to afford the same style of clothes; the economical factor of different preferences in style is not there. This may not be the case in areas of poverty. Caitlin Duncan, from Springfield Central High School, a high school in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts, believes that uniforms are the very beneficial in making "life easier," for underprivileged students in particular. In these schools, there may be some students who are wealthier and can afford styles, such as Hollister or Abercrombie and Fitch where jeans alone can run up to $90. There also will be students who can only afford clothes from Walmart or wear hand-me-downs. These styles are extremely different and very noticeable, which can lead to those wearing their big sisters clothing to be looked down upon. With uniforms, every student is wearing the same outfit from the same retailer. This completely eliminates the ability for students to tease those wearing different clothes from them, because they all will be wearing the same clothes.
The use of uniforms secures the hope that students arrive at school in appropriate clothing. If students are given clothes to wear, they do not have the option to wear scandalous clothes that reveal too much skin. Especially in the case of females, students have a tendency to wear shorts that are too short and shirts that expose too much cleavage. This can cause conflict among the student population. Girls will be mean to other girls if they feel that guys are paying too much attention to them, especially if they are exposing too much skin. The case of Pheobe Prince proves this point perfectly. This innocent teenage girl committed suicide because she was being bullied due to the fact that she was new to the school and boys were giving her more attention than other girls (Huus). This can be eliminated entirely if they are given specific outfits to wear that set a certain amount of skin to be revealed. The number of jealous girls will be reduced and many feelings will be spared.
Not only that, but it also helps eliminate the cliques that form in middle and high schools. When you first walk into a room of people in their everyday clothes, you can immediately tell who you'd like to be friends with or who you're attracted to based off of their appearance. The preppy people will be attracted to other preppy people, the sporty people will be attracted to other sporty people, and so on and so forth. Without casual clothes, students will only be able to see people through their personalities and who they are as a person, not what designer brand they may or may not be wearing. This allows the students to for true relationships with their peers instead of superficial ones.
By eliminating everyday clothes in middle and high schools, students will not only lose the ability to judge their peers by their style preferences, but it will also allow the children to build a larger number of relationships as well as stronger relationships.
This may not be common in wealthy areas, as children will all typically be able to afford the same style of clothes; the economical factor of different preferences in style is not there. This may not be the case in areas of poverty. Caitlin Duncan, from Springfield Central High School, a high school in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts, believes that uniforms are the very beneficial in making "life easier," for underprivileged students in particular. In these schools, there may be some students who are wealthier and can afford styles, such as Hollister or Abercrombie and Fitch where jeans alone can run up to $90. There also will be students who can only afford clothes from Walmart or wear hand-me-downs. These styles are extremely different and very noticeable, which can lead to those wearing their big sisters clothing to be looked down upon. With uniforms, every student is wearing the same outfit from the same retailer. This completely eliminates the ability for students to tease those wearing different clothes from them, because they all will be wearing the same clothes.
- “No one has to worry about having the “cutest outfit” or the most expensive pair of jeans. Especially in a city where poverty is common, it makes life easier for students who are underprivileged.” -Caitlin Duncan, student at Springfield Central High School in Springfield, MA
The use of uniforms secures the hope that students arrive at school in appropriate clothing. If students are given clothes to wear, they do not have the option to wear scandalous clothes that reveal too much skin. Especially in the case of females, students have a tendency to wear shorts that are too short and shirts that expose too much cleavage. This can cause conflict among the student population. Girls will be mean to other girls if they feel that guys are paying too much attention to them, especially if they are exposing too much skin. The case of Pheobe Prince proves this point perfectly. This innocent teenage girl committed suicide because she was being bullied due to the fact that she was new to the school and boys were giving her more attention than other girls (Huus). This can be eliminated entirely if they are given specific outfits to wear that set a certain amount of skin to be revealed. The number of jealous girls will be reduced and many feelings will be spared.
Not only that, but it also helps eliminate the cliques that form in middle and high schools. When you first walk into a room of people in their everyday clothes, you can immediately tell who you'd like to be friends with or who you're attracted to based off of their appearance. The preppy people will be attracted to other preppy people, the sporty people will be attracted to other sporty people, and so on and so forth. Without casual clothes, students will only be able to see people through their personalities and who they are as a person, not what designer brand they may or may not be wearing. This allows the students to for true relationships with their peers instead of superficial ones.
- “Students were not able to judge each other off of their appearances” -Justin Warshavsky, former student at East Catholic High School in Manchester, CT
By eliminating everyday clothes in middle and high schools, students will not only lose the ability to judge their peers by their style preferences, but it will also allow the children to build a larger number of relationships as well as stronger relationships.