Right: UK psychotherapist and counsellor Norman Munro; uniforms are "saying that this is an inclusive organisation where everyone is seen to be equal, and will be treated as such. School is about learning, not about showing off or scoring fashion points".
Arguments in favour of the government offering tax concessions to help parents purchase school uniforms
1. Tax concessions will assist those parents who need help paying for their children's school uniforms
It has been claimed that this uniform rebate is a measure that will help parents struggling to pay the costs of their children's school uniforms.
On July 15, 2010, The Australian published a letter from Andrew Heslop. Mr Heslop wrote, 'If some families need government financial support to ensure their children can wear warm, suitable clothing to school, then so be it. A uniform can reduce the stigma for those whose parents cannot afford the latest "in" fashion label.'
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has stated, 'This is a measure to help ease the cost of getting kids to school.'
It has been estimated that some 1.3 million families could benefit from this extension of the Family Tax Benefit Part A . Family Tax Benefit Part A helps families with the cost of raising children. It is generally paid for dependent children and dependent full time students under 25 years who are not receiving Youth Allowance or similar payments like ABSTUDY or Veterans' Children Education Supplement.
The existing items parents can claim under Family Tax Benefit Part A as part of the Education Tax refund include the cost of computers and computer equipment, textbooks and trade tools for secondary school trade courses. Uniforms have now been added to this list of items.
The deductions parents can claim are quite substantial. Under Family Tax Benefit Part A, parents are able to claim up to $390 for each child attending primary school, and up to $779 for each child attending secondary school. The benefit is income-dependent and influenced by the number of children a family have.
2. School uniforms discourage unhealthy social competition
It has been claimed that when students do not wear a school uniform, they are left in a position where there is destructive competition between them about what they will wear.
The Prime Minister, Julie Gillard, has stated, 'Having a school uniform helps undercut the kind of unhealthy competition we can see at schools to have the latest, most expensive, fashionable gear...'
It has been suggested that such competition is particularly damaging for those students who are unable to afford the more fashionable clothing. This means that these students may be left feeling stigmatised and inferior.
Norman Munro, a British counsellor and psychotherapist has stated, 'There is no doubt that when a school adopts a uniform policy, it is sending a clear and unequivocal message to parents and students alike. It is saying that this is an inclusive organisation where everyone is seen to be equal, and will be treated as such. School is about learning, not about showing off or scoring fashion points.'
Martin Culkin, principal of Dandenong High School in Melbourne's east, has stated his belief that uniforms were important in low socio-economic districts such as his.
Mr Culkin stated, 'A uniform gives students a symbol of connection both within the school and outside. And it assists in the removal of differentiation of economic capacity when it comes to buying clothes. On non-uniform days we do see some fashion competition.'
3. School uniforms encourage discipline and focus among students
It has been claimed that wearing a school uniform encourages students to focus on their school work and reduces discipline problems in schools.
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has stated, 'I believe having a school uniform gives people a sense of self, a sense of discipline, a sense of how to present yourself to the world.'
In the United States, no long-term, formal studies have been done on the effectiveness of school uniforms, but many schools have kept their own informal statistics.
California's Long Beach Unified School District's records are probably cited most often. This urban district adopted a mandatory uniform policy in 1994. Since then, school crime has dropped by 76 percent, while attendance has reached an all-time high.
Anthony Poet, assistant principal at the Pueblo Del Sol Middle School in Arizona, recently instituted a uniform policy in his school. Since his school began requiring uniforms, the school has documented a significant drop in discipline problems. Mr Poet has said he cannot be sure whether it is the uniforms or the act of instituting the policy that has made the difference.
Dr. Hilfer, a school psychologist, has suggested, 'Discipline problems may be decreasing in schools with uniforms because the schools (and the parents) have begun taking the issue of discipline more seriously.' Whatever the cause and effect relationship, those in support of school uniforms argue they are generally helpful as part of any attempt to develop or maintain an effective discipline policy.
4. School uniforms reduce wealth-based stereotyping of schools
It has been claimed that school uniforms reduce wealth-based distinctions between different schools. It is argued that if all students wear similar uniforms, then class based divisions will be less obvious both within and between schools.
In a discussion forum in which posters were responding to Julia Gillard's school uniform proposal, one of the posters noted, 'Stereotypes are when people are judged, normally on first impressions, religion, culture, clothing or character.
People will no longer be judged by their clothing, because they will all be wearing the same thing. I mean, think about it: a boy walks into school wearing lots of black. Stereotypes will judge him by what he wears, and he will be labelled as a goth or emo. With a uniform, clothing stereotypes will be non-existent.
People with less money may not be able to afford as many clothes as the rich kids. This will not show when they begin to wear the same clothes. With a uniform, it will be impossible to differentiate between social classes because people will wear the same thing.'
5. School uniforms are important in ensuring student safety at school and during excursions
It has been claimed that school uniforms are important as a means of protecting students. It has been suggested that they achieve this in two ways.
Firstly, school uniforms are important when a school takes students on an excursion. They mean that it is easier for supervising teachers to locate and oversee their charges when the children are wearing school uniform.
Secondly, school uniforms make it easier for teachers to recognise when intruders have entered a school yard. When students do not wear a uniform it is very difficult to recognise when an unauthorised person, especially a young person, has come onto school property, as they do not stand out from the rest of the student body.
They are essential when taking students on excursions. They are essential in identifying intruders. One of my children attended Fort Street in a non-uniform phase. She describes how some toughs invaded the playground and staff couldn't tell who was supposed to be there and who wasn't.
On July 16, 2010, The Sydney Morning Herald published a letter from Margaret Hargrave Sutherland which stated, 'They are essential when taking students on excursions. They are essential in identifying intruders. One of my children attended Fort Street in a non-uniform phase. She describes how some toughs invaded the playground and staff couldn't tell who was supposed to be there and who wasn't.'
6. School uniforms can reduce the formation of gangs wearing particular insignia
It has been argued that school uniforms help reduce violence in schools in part because they help reduce gang formation.
Though school uniforms are not compulsory in the United States a number of American governments have promoted them as a means of reducing the development of a gang culture and so as a way of reducing violence within schools. It is believed that if all students within a school are required to dress in the same way, this will prevent them wearing gang uniforms that mark one student off from another and so encourage hostility between different groups.
Norman Munro, a British Counsellor and psychotherapist has stated, 'In 1996, President Clinton instructed the then Secretary for Education Richard W Riley to send a Manual on School Uniforms to every School District in the country. The manual set out the Government's position, creating guidelines for all schools on which they could model their uniform requirements.
The Government view was that the adoption of school uniform would reduce violence and indiscipline in schools...'In 1996, President Clinton instructed the then Secretary for Education Richard W Riley to send a Manual on School Uniforms to every School District in the country. The manual set out the Government's position, creating guidelines for all schools on which they could model their uniform requirements. The Government view was that the adoption of school uniform would reduce violence and indiscipline in schools...'