School Uniforms In Japan

In Japan, most schools have punitive guidelines about proper uniforms. Some schools do not allow students to enter the classes if they wear the school uniform imperfectly. Students have to follow the school’s rules and regulations. However, these kinds of practices make students uncomfortable and hard to deal with. It seems rigid and uncomfortable for a student. Recently, students have argued about school uniforms against their schools to loosen the rules. However, school uniforms have merits for parents, students, schools, and Japanese society because they represent Japanese culture, society, and unity. Schools are not merely providing an academic education.

Students experience several crucial things to survive in a community. Japanese people tend to avoid acting differently from others because of their culture. Conspicuous actions often cause various repulsions in Japan. In fact, if a person stands out from the crowd, they will get hammered down. Wearing the same uniform tells students how to maintain regularity in society, and it is related to mental health. Japanese expression says that a disheveled dress brings out disorder in the mind. It means the outside reflects the inside. However, students can learn how to act appropriately in certain circumstances through school uniforms. For example, an official party does not allow people to enter putting on pajamas. Japanese school uniforms represent unity, which means that people act the same outside or inside the school. Therefore, adults must act responsibly after graduating from school. These kinds of rules can prepare students for the future. For example, if students respect all the rules in the school from the first year until they graduate, they will appreciate all the rules in the future. Some parents find it quite stressful for their children to conform to these strict rules of school uniforms.

Families suffer from money disparity. Students’ physical appearance represents their wealth. School uniforms play a role in making students equal in public places. If they go to school with their clothes, the differences in their wealth and status stand out. It affects their relationships and disturbs their studying environment. Besides, school uniforms help parents to save money because students wear them throughout the whole school period. Therefore, their parents do not have to buy any other clothes. Schools in Japan focus on studying more than clothing. Students can enjoy their fashion out of school. Also, preparing special garments takes time. It makes them late for the school sometimes. Students can save time in the morning if they have school uniforms. They do not have to care about enjoying their fashion out in their school. School uniforms show their school spirit, and they help students protect their right image as members of the community.

People change their opinions easily from students’ appearance and behavior. The observation from the outside increases the responsibility of students. If a student does a bad thing, people think about the problem, not just the student but also the school. Moreover, people can recognize their school due to their appearance at a glance. Therefore, local people take care of them while they go to school and go back home. It prevents a crime. Also, properly wearing school uniforms protects students from strangers. If a female student changes her school skirt to shorts, a stranger targets her over other students. Following the rules of the school, uniforms keep strangers away from students. In general, a woman wears a skirt, and a man wears pants in the school. Students cannot change this rule even if the temperature outside is under 15 °F. My high school has strict control over it. This rule binds students tightly, not just for uniform but also for hair color, hair length, the shape of an eyebrow, and makeup. Teachers check the students’ clothes regularly. Teachers inflict a penalty on the student who does not follow the rules. For example, my original hair color is dark brown and is a little brighter than other students. A teacher forced me to dye my hair black or prove my natural hair color. This strict teaching style exceeds education. It criticizes the student’s human identity.

For a considerable length of time, there have been many contentions on whether students should dress in uniforms or they should wear what they want. Many institutes settled with the impression and have now made it essential to wear school uniforms, while many are still seeing it. Some say that uniforms in schools signify restraint and provide an impact on school superiority, but others think that it is not originality and ease. Although there are still opinions about it, school uniforms have progressively proved their significance and power in many ways. While wearing uniforms, students need to obey and follow the guidelines so they will figure out how to regard others. An article reports, “Instructors and principals regularly report that discipline issues are decreased to a great extent in schools where the proper dress code is followed.” Moreover, wearing school outfits is a stage of readiness for a proficient life.

School uniforms help pupils to understand that they are a part of a group, so they feel responsible. In schools, they have a place to learn a lot from their surroundings, assuming all the liability for whatever they do. Next, school outfits will support the learning condition. If the school does not require uniforms, it will set aside more opportunities for understudies to choose what to wear for the following day. They should contemplate apparel, shoes, or hair. Along these lines, they can’t utilize that profitable time to focus more on their examinations and other exercises. Uniform advises them that they are still understudies and the greatest objective is to learn. This will inspire them to attempt their best to accomplish the objective.

In conclusion, school uniforms are a part of education. It gives benefits to Japanese society. Their parents can save money on clothes, and people do not judge them because of their appearance. Also, local people readily recognize them as students, and it protects them from crime. School uniform represents the school so that students can feel like they belong to the community. It increases their responsibilities. Students learn proper behavior under various circumstances. Strict rules regarding school uniforms transcend education and can refuse students’ identity. However, Japanese society needs school uniforms as one part of the school experience.