History of School Uniforms

School uniforms originated in England around during the 16th century, first used for poor children in charity schools. This was a way of providing these children with clothing so they could attend an institution of learning. During the 18th century, England started to institute uniforms into public schools in an attempt to replace disorganization with disciplined order.

History of school uniforms in the United States

In the United States, school uniforms were associated with private schools until recently. In today's world, the use of school uniforms in public schools is on the rise, yet still less than half of all public schools in the nation require students to wear uniforms. These uniforms are traditionally professional, and they are primarily common in both primary and secondary schools.

Argument and debate over school uniforms

The argument and debate over the use of school uniforms started in the 1980s, centralizing its focus around freedom of expression vs. order and clarity. Other arguments involve the idea that school uniforms help prepare students for future jobs, reduce gang violence and peer pressure, eliminate some of the power struggle and competition, and save parents money. For these reasons, school uniforms are increasingly popular, but many people still claim that the uniforms prevent individuality and take away rights and natural order.

While school uniforms have existed for centuries, their inherent popularity has exponentially increased in recent years more than ever before. School uniforms are implemented in many different countries, and encompass many various styles and formats. Public schools are moving towards school uniforms, which have come a long way since they were implemented in charity schools in 16th century England.