It’s the end of August and the beaches are slowly emptying while the malls are filling with students getting ready for the beginning of school. Expensive jeans and shirts of every color line the shelves of American Eagle, Hollister, and Abercrombie as everyone tries to find the latest styles and trends. Imagine if you didn’t have to deal with all of the drama of what to wear on the first day of school, or whether your shorts were too short? With uniforms, students would have one less stress in their daily routine since you never have to plan your outfit.

   For a high school student, sleep is one of the most important parts of the day. Every minute counts when it comes to sleep. If Scituate High School had uniforms, it would take much less time to get ready in the morning. This could potentially add an extra five minutes to your sleep time, which seems like an eternity if you were up until 2 a.m. finishing an essay or studying for a big test. That five minutes could also make the difference between being on time for homeroom and being late.

      Hannah Paradise, a Scituate resident and junior at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, said on the topic of school uniforms that she “loves it. It’s so easy and it’s nice not to not have to worry about what to wear.” Despite the seemingly little difference a uniform would make in your morning, the effects would be extremely beneficial.

    In a time of economic struggle, a uniform would greatly decrease the cost that students, especially girls, spend on clothes for school each year. With the extra cash, students would have more opportunities to go to a concert this summer for their favorite artist or go on the school trip they’ve been saving up for. Junior Tess Walter said, “I think uniforms would be a great addition to our school. I would be able to save more money during the summer to spend on gas and different activities rather than spending it on clothes.” At NDA, a typical student’s uniform cost approximately $100. This cost covers a kilt, polo, and sweater. A student without a uniform could easily spend this much on just one pair of jeans.

    At schools without uniforms, many people feel judged based on what they wear. Some are embarrassed because they can’t afford to get the most expensive clothes. Peer pressure to have the newest jacket or coolest top disappears with the presence of uniforms. With everyone wearing the same thing, no one has to worry about being judged for what they wear. The uniform puts everyone on equal footing so that school is an overall more comfortable place for everyone.

    This year, with the weather getting warmer earlier, dress code has been even more significant for the administration. The handbook rules regarding length of shorts, bare areas, and tank top straps would be unnecessary. With a uniform, these restrictions would not be an issue and  further conflict could be prevented.     While violence is motivation for some schools to institute uniforms, this is not as much of a problem at SHS. Here in Scituate, however, uniforms would help promote a better learning environment. Other studies have shown that uniforms help improve grades for students due to the creation of a more serious learning experience. Many say that when you dress better, you are more focused on the task at hand and uniforms encourage this on a daily basis.

    Some may say that uniforms deny a student’s individuality, but the benefits would make SHS a better place for learning. It would promote an even stronger school community with decreased pressure on what to wear and fitting in. Although at first some may not support this idea, it would make life at SHS much easier. Next time you’re at the mall shopping for your school clothes, think about all the money, time, and effort that would be saved and put to better use with a uniform.