May 23, 2024
By Alexa Cizek
Staff Writer
From January 2011 through June 2022, Lyndhurst Public Schools required students to wear schoolwear, which was a more casual version of a school uniform. It is time for Lyndhurst to revise this policy and require its students to wear uniforms.
Having specific attire for students would make the jobs of administrators, faculty and staff easier because infractions would be apparent. Without a uniform policy, students could feel singled out when they are reprimanded for breaking a rule regarding the dress code. Uniforms would eliminate this issue.
Uniforms would undoubtedly create a better learning environment. Kids sometimes bully their peers for what they wear, but there is not much they can say about what others are wearing if everyone is dressed alike.
Uniforms also help prepare students for the workforce. For example, many jobs require employees to wear a uniform or follow a specific dress code, so having one in school helps prepare students to dress appropriately on the job.
Employees must be cognizant of how their attire impacts others’ perceptions of them. They are taken more seriously when they dress professionally and are less likely to be overlooked for raises and promotions.
Uniforms would undoubtedly create a better learning environment.
Another reason students should wear uniforms is because many complain they do not know what to wear to school. When Lyndhurst Public Schools required schoolwear, it was easier for students to get ready in the morning because they did not have to worry about selecting an outfit or stressing about how they looked. Now, getting ready is a more demanding task.
Finally, school uniforms are good for school safety. According to the National School Safety and Security Services’ website, uniforms can help school administrators identify non-students, trespassers and other visitors in the hallways. It is much easier to identify those who do not belong when students are dressed in uniforms.
The Lyndhurst Board of Education should include uniforms in its dress code policy. This change would positively impact students, faculty, staff and administrators, which is why it is worthy of consideration.
