Uniforms have long been regarded as the trademark of exclusive private schools all around the world, as a symbol of higher learning, discipline, and astronomical tuition bills. However, that trend is quickly changing. More and more, public schools and smaller parochial schools are recognizing the benefits of uniform dress.
Studies nationwide indicate that wearing uniforms promotes an atmosphere of concentration and positive behavior in the educational setting. Recognizing these facts, most of the Tulsa Public Schools have joined the ranks of the "informed uniformed." These schools and their students are experiencing the many benefits of a uniform dress code.
Gone are the morning arguments over what to wear, and the worries of a child whose parents cannot afford ridiculously expensive jeans and tennis shoes. Attention is disengaged from the socioeconomic status of individual children, and focused instead on the child's own abilities and talents.
This is especially important for developing adolescents, who experience great fluctuations in self-image and self-consciousness during the ages of 12 to 14. These years show markedly lower self-esteem and a more unstable self-image than 8 to 11 year olds, or adolescents over the age of 15. (L. Steinberg, Adolescence, McGraw Hill Publishing, 1989)
A common misconception surrounding school uniforms is that they are more expensive. On the contrary, in fact, school uniforms are far less of a burden on the budget than "regular" school clothes. According to USA Today, in 1998, parents spent an average of $185 per child purchasing non-uniform clothing, compared to an average of only $104 per child for school uniforms. The transition from a non-uniform school to one with a dress code can be eased into gradually by allowing a grace period, while families purchase what their children will need to wear. Once the ball is rolling on the uniform program, getting ready for school is just as easy as before, with replacement of worn-out and outgrown items as needed.
In addition to the simplification of wardrobe, increased school spirit and a feeling of belonging enhance the academic environment. All parents know the importance to a child of acceptance by his or her peers. It is also acknowledged by many concerned parents that creativity and expressions of individuality are heightened when unnecessary stresses are removed from everyday life. This expression is seen academically, as well as socially, in the students of schools with a uniform dress program. The tone is set in the classroom as a serious place for learning, and attendance and academic achievement are increased. This change in behavior and attitude is best illustrated by the example of "church clothes." There is no doubt in anyone's mind that a child in his shirt and tie for Sunday service is on his best behavior. This dressed-up attitude is duplicated in the school uniform environment.
All in all, introducing a school uniform program can be greatly beneficial for parents, students, and schools alike. K. Renee's Uniform Closet is ready to assist in whatever way we can, from offering facts to concerned parents and teachers, to creating a tasteful and agreeable array of items for the students to wear.
K. Renee's Uniform Closet
5557 East 41st Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135-6008
Phone (918) 627-3341
Toll-Free (877) 627-3341
Copyright © 2008 K. Renee's Uniform Closet. All rights reserved.