As a mom, I love school uniforms. They take the decision-making out of back-to-school shopping and my kids’ morning routines. But the benefits of school uniforms go far beyond my personal experiences.

Most obviously, uniforms prevent students from wearing inappropriate clothing to school. One study in the Journal of School Violence cited “girls wearing revealing clothing and boys wearing shirts with inappropriate messages and images” as a reason that one public school in Nevada adopted a new school uniform policy. Uniform policies also prevent students from wearing pajamas, which is trending in high schools nationwide and apparently “endemic on Long Island.” In modern parlance, school uniforms are “very demure, very mindful.”

But school leaders also favor uniforms to improve safety, promote school spirit, limit distractions, and save parents money. (A helpful summary of the academic research on uniforms is available here.)

Uniforms make schools safer by making it easier to identify strangers on campus. They also make it easier to identify students on a field trip. Even some schools without regular uniform policies insist that students wear matching school T-shirts during school-sponsored field trips—as anyone who has visited their local zoo or museum on a weekday can attest.

Moreover, high school administrators use uniforms to decrease gang activity. That’s because mandatory school uniforms necessarily prevent students from wearing gang-affiliated styles, logos, and colors. In a study published in Education and Urban Society, researchers found that teachers at schools with uniform policies observed less gang presence. And another study published in The Handbook of Violence in Education found that “school uniforms in particular may be a useful way to reduce both gang activity and negative outcomes associated with gangs.” On this measure, they found that uniforms work better than dress code policies or even gang prevention programs.

But not all benefits of school uniforms are life-and-death. In 2016, Keith Metcalfe, Deputy head master elect of Harrow School in the U.K., made the case that uniforms promote school spirit, stating:

Harrow’s distinctive uniform is not simply an exercise in conformity, but a connection to the rich history of the school and a symbol of its distinguished community. … These elements make boys feel that they belong to something bigger than themselves. The simple act of putting on a uniform makes every day an occasion, and indicates a readiness for the day ahead; just as the sportsman pulls on his team kit and the judge his wig, each ‘uniform’ in its own way brings feelings of pride and of purpose.

I have witnessed this effect in my youngest son. He knows that when he puts his uniform on in the morning, it means that he is ready to learn and to make his teachers (and parents) proud.

Some research also suggests that school uniforms help students focus on academics by limiting distractions. However, the results are mixed on these outcomes. Some studies have found positive effects on students listening, achievement, and attendance. But others have found no effect from students wearing uniforms.

In the long run, school uniforms also save parents money. All children feel pressure to fit in. At schools without uniform policies, and for girls especially, that means following fashion trends—which can get expensive! School uniforms can be much more economical. For instance, school uniform seller French Toast writes on its website,

Comparisons show that school uniforms cost significantly less than what most parents pay for unregulated school clothing. … A student can easily be outfitted with easy-care, long-lasting French Toast uniforms for about $150.00 a year. This includes 10 to 12 items. The durability, re-usability and the year-to-year consistency also cut costs.

Some schools keep costs for parents extremely low by simply requiring polo shirts of a certain color paired with khaki pants. Such a uniform can be purchased at Walmart for cheaper than $20. At my children’s school, a healthy secondhand uniform market also helps defray costs.

Although students sometimes dislike uniforms, the costs outweigh the benefits. Private schools across the United States already make good use of uniform policy to keep students safe, school-spirited, and focused on schoolwork. Public schools should follow their lead. Uniforms are a win-win for students, parents, and the schools themselves.

—

Image credit: Pexels