Children can sometimes be cruel and abusive toward others for a variety of reasons. A child's look, size, voice or personal mannerisms can set off a bevy of insults and teasing from other students. Students can feel ridiculed by their peers if they aren't wearing the latest fashions or have a style that stands out in some way.
School uniforms respond to this issue since all students dress relatively the same. Public schools offer financial assistance to help qualifying families purchase the uniforms. When all children wear the same outfits, there is less teasing, bullying and mistreatment.
When students do not have to worry about how they are dressed, they can better concentrate on academics. Students wearing uniforms similar to others around them are less self-conscious and thus more able to pay attention to instruction, study and take tests. According to Legacy Educational Resources, "uniforms enhance students' self-concepts, classroom behavior and academic achievement"
Instructors also benefit because lesson plans can be more productive if students are attentive and require less individual attention. With reduced peer pressure and improved concentration, students of all abilities are more adept at understanding and retaining the Instructor's lessons.
Discipline in school improves when children think less about themselves and more about studies and academics. School uniforms reduce peer pressure and improve academic performance. Although there will always be discipline challenges at any school, uniforms can lead to a reduction in the frequency, and more importantly, the severity of problems. With improved behavior and less bullying and peer pressure, students are also less likely to avoid school. Lower absenteeism rates and greater participation in school activities can result from students conforming to school uniform policies.