by Jessica Sherry

Created on: March 02, 2007   Last Updated: September 10, 2009

School uniforms may evoke images of an overly controlled, prison-like environment, but having been exposed to both situations, I can tell you they work. I attended public school, where students had freedom of dress, and admittedly I spent more time picking out my attire than I did on homework. School was like a fashion show; the popular kids donned the most expensive trends of the time while the rest of us attempted to look like them. Those of us who couldn't afford the expensive clothes faced constant frustration. It may sound ridiculous to those of us who have since moved on in maturity and priorities, but fashion, like it or not, is important to teenagers.

I had the opportunity to teach at a private school that required uniforms. At first, I thought it would stifle a student's creativity and expression. Boy, was I wrong! With the element of fashion removed, students found other, better, ways to express themselves - through their academics and extracurricular activities. And the most amazing thing I observed happened on "Dress Down Days". A few times a year, the students would be allowed to wear regular clothes if they brought in a charitable donation. I came to realize that those were the worst days for teachers. The students acted differently. They were louder, more talkative, and less focused. Over my five years there, I came to dislike dress down days simply because there would be more disciplinary problems. I was baffled by this change in them! But, sure enough, every dress down day, I found the same results. Now, I believe in the old saying that "clothes make the man".

Now, I have a child in school and he wears a uniform. At first, I worried about the expense of the uniforms. I quickly discovered that items I did buy from the manufacturer were of great quality, and consequently those pieces outlasted most of his other clothes. What I couldn't afford online, I bought at yard sales, consignment stores, and thrift shops. Over the last three years, I've spent about $100 on his school uniforms, and that's an extreme estimate. If I had to purchase regular clothes for school, I'm sure I would have spent more.

Kids need to see that what you wear isn't as important as who you are. Taking fashion out of the equation makes for better students, happier teachers, and an overall better educational experience.

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