The Impact of School Uniform Policies to the Behavior of Senior High School

Students of Imelda Integrated Secondary School

A Quantitative Research
Presented to the
Faculty of Senior High School
FATIMA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Fatima, General Santos City

In Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirements in the Subject
Practical Research 2

Rhea Salaver
Elene-Beth T. Orandoy
Kiermelvie C. Balantay
John Kyle T. Dumasig
Kent Torrefranca
 Chapter l

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The school uniform policies provides data and implementation that allow

every student to wear the given uniform as part of school practices, culture, and was

applied to promote and represents school image. Uniform have been a staple

component of private schools for many years, but have increased in public schools.

As stated in Bees Creek School (2017) The goal of a school uniform policy is to give

parents and students a common understanding of what is expected of them in terms

of wearing a school uniform.

According to Joshi et al., (2012) In this situation, students' behavior is defined

by explicit instruction, which can help them learn the positive behaviors and skills

they are expected to display at school as well as help them overcome some

academic deficits. In addition, as stated in NSW Government (2020) A person's

behavior is their actions. It is the action taken by an individual to cause something to

occur, alter, or remain unchanged. A person's behavior is a reaction to events that

are occurring both externally—the environment, including other people—and

internally—thoughts and feelings.

School uniform policies influence students to have valuable insights into the

pros and cons of the school uniform used. It is important to document the perception

of these students. Students nowadays, tend to wear civilians over uniform some

reasons are following new generation trends, to express themselves, and to be

comfortable to what they wear rather than following school uniform policies. It

became normalized when new generation arrived.

 The researchers are motivated to conduct this study because it will serve as

basis for understanding how important school uniform is in enabling students to

behave properly, help them to be more focused on learning, and reduce numbers of

bully at school which will results in higher performance of students because of the

healthy environment they contained inside the school.

This study wants the school administrators and students to know the

relationship of school uniform policies on the behavior of G12 HUMSS students in

Fatima National High School. That will address various perspective and opinions of

students on the implementation of uniform.

Statement of the Problem

This study generally aims to determine if school uniform policies can improve

the behavior of Senior High School Students of Imelda Integrate Secondary School

Specifically this study shall answers the following questions:

1.) What is the impact of school uniform policies among Senior High School

students?

2.) What is the behavior of Senior High S students?

3.) Is there any significant relationship between school uniform policies and the

behavior of G12 HUMSS students?

Significance of the Study

This study aims to provide factual Information about the impact of school

uniform policies to the behavior of G12 HUMSS students in FNHS.

The results of this study will be beneficial to the following:

School Administrators- This study will help them to implement a safer school

environment and fostering school culture.

To the Teachers- Through this study they can maintain the focus learning

environment among students.

To the Parents- This will be a cost savings for many parents and also to

lessen their worries about what their children will wear everyday in going to school.

To the Students- This will help in fostering sense of belonging and reducing

peer comparison as anyone dress similarly.

To the Future Researchers- This can be used as a basis for learning and

gaining insight into the significance and effects of student conduct on school uniform

policies.

Scope and delimitation of the Study

The focus of this study is to determine the impact of school uniform policies

on the behavior of G12 HUMSS students.

The respondents of these study are the two hundred forty five(245) HUMSS

students in G12 of Fatima National High School enrolled into school year 2023-2024.

Slovin's formula was used to get this number of respondents. This study will be

conducted in September 2023 at Fatima National High School.

 Chapter ll

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES AND CONCEPTUAL

FRAMEWORK

RELATED LITERATURE

School uniform policies according El-Rayess et al., (2019) When their inability

to acquire and wear school uniforms causes them to openly break their symbolic

identification with the majority. Levesque (2011) asserts the theory of Erikson's

(1997) "Sometimes the justification for school clothing codes and uniform policies is

the belief that they would help adolescents fulfill their developmental goals" For

certain students, choosing what to wear to school is frequently a significant choice

that is connected to their developing sense of self and location.

The results of the study show that there are statistically significant differences

in how boys and girls perceive the emotions and behaviors that come with wearing a

school uniform. Girls are more likely than boys to think that students who wear

uniforms feel more confident and like they belong to the group. More often than not,

guys perceive wearing a school uniform as a sign of limitations on their freedom. The

study offers reliable empirical evidence in support of the school uniform policy (Popa,

2018).

Sometimes the argument over what students should and shouldn't wear to

school ends up in court. Many schools have created dress rules and, most recently,

required school uniforms as a way to address security and discipline concerns in an

attempt to minimize controversy and potential disturbances surrounding student

apparel (DeMitchell & Fossey, 2015). In an effort to balance out gang-related

activities and rappers' dress rules, urban public schools have lately instituted school

uniform policies (Ansari et al., 2022). It is anticipated that dress code laws pertaining

to school uniforms will lessen violence in schools, avoid disciplinary problems, and

enhance school safety.

However, students have rights and such rights may cover matters pertaining

to political, economic, and cultural liberties. School uniforms elicit strong unfavorable

reactions from students, particularly from teenagers (Mahlangu, 2017). Similar

conclusions were reached by Brunsma and Rockquemore (2010), who found no

connection between student attire and substance misuse, behavioral problems, or

attendance. Contrary to widespread opinion, the researchers found that uniforms

negatively affect pupils' academic performance. Uniform policies provide a clear and

visible symbol of educational reform and advancement, which may indirectly affect

student performance and the school environment. "Opponents argue that uniforms

violate young people's right to free speech and have not been shown to be effective.

Following the 1996 State of the Union Address by President Clinton, school

uniform rules truly took off. He emphasized that students would be safe and that

school uniforms would aid in promoting security. "In his 1996 State of the Union

Address, Bill Clinton challenged schools "to teach character education, to teach good

values and good citizenship. And if that means that teenagers will stop killing each

other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their

students to wear school uniforms." (Yeung, Ryan, 2009). Proponents contend that

uniforms can improve school safety as well as attendance and student achievement

(Boutelle & Marsha, 2008). And encouraging pupils to feel linked to their school can

improve their wellbeing (McNeely et al., 2009).

 According to the Philippines article of Nord Anglia Education (2023), If a child

feels like they don't fit in or have the uniform, it can be damaging to their confidence

and the potential for children to tease and make fun of one another. A lack of

confidence can be one of the biggest obstacles to academic growth. "There are

significant safety concerns associated with not adopting a uniform in school. With

their school colours on, children can immediately be recognized at a distance as a

member of that school. In a situation where someone who isn't a member of the

school is on-site, they can be easily identified as not part of the school by their lack

of uniform.

Furthermore, children are not any different from adults in that they express

themselves through their clothes. Regrettably, it might bring a distinction between

children when they express themselves differently from other children. Allowing kids

to dress whatever they choose can drive a wedge between them rather than foster a

sense of equality and camaraderie among those wearing uniforms. It evens the

playing field when pupils arrive at school dressed identically each day. Children

experience a greater sense of equality and there are no expectations about what

they should wear. Every child starts from the same place, regardless of their social

status. If their parents cannot afford the newest uniforms, youngsters from lower-

class homes may feel alone without them.

Establishing a standard helps to spread the notion that everyone is the same.

Kids from diverse backgrounds join together and can quickly recognize a teammate

based only on what they wear, which fosters a sense of unity and solidarity that

disappears when school uniforms are eliminated. By instituting a school uniform, this

risk is eliminated, giving your child more confidence in the classroom and less

reason to worry." Popa (2018)

RELATED STUDIES

Gentile and Imberman (2009) state that certain school districts now require

uniforms due to concerns about student safety on urban campuses. But nothing is

known about how school uniforms have impacted the classroom atmosphere. In her

opinion, Kouzmine (2019) listed a number of reasons why wearing a school uniform

is detrimental. She claims that the school uniform restricts students' ability to express

themselves freely, causes discomfort, pushes conformity, and encourages diversity.

Moreover, parents are burdened further because purchasing one might be

expensive. Numerous concerns were found to be non-supportive of the unified code,

according to similar studies (Cheurprakobkit & Bartsch, 2010). The study found that,

despite no discernible variation in perception by gender, students strongly connected

their school uniform to their self-esteem based on their perceptions of it.

According to The National Bureau of Economic Research also carried out a

study with a focus on the trend of adopting school uniforms and a sizable urban

school district. Researchers discovered in this study that there was no statistically

significant difference between pupils in the district they analyzed who attended

schools with and without uniforms (Rice, 2011). Conversely, Evans and Kremer

(2009) also carried out a study in Kenya and instituted school uniforms via a lottery,

aiming to investigate the potential impact of the uniform on academic achievement.

They discovered that wearing a school uniform greatly improved student participation

and attendance, with a greater effect on girls.

 Moreover, a number of research on school uniform regulations suggest that

the original objectives included raising students' self-esteem, relaxing social

constraints, and lowering incidents of student-to-student violence related to attire and

shoes (Stockton & Gullat, 2015). There have been mixed results on the real impact

of school uniform policies. On the one hand, a NAESP research study's findings

demonstrated that principals had a good impact on: (a) student safety; (b) peer

pressure; (c) school spirit; (d) focus on homework; and (e) classroom discipline

(NAESP, 2000). Evidence suggests that school uniforms may enhance a school's

atmosphere by lowering competitiveness, boosting student self-esteem, and raising

academic achievement, according to Konheim-Kalkstein (2006). UK Teachers think

that when kids wear uniforms, they are more courteous, duty-minded, and focused.

Compared to pupils who had no prior experience, those who had reported

wearing school uniforms expressed a more favorable opinion of the policies (Mimmo,

2012). Furthermore, children attach a lot of significance to their appearance and

clothing when attempting to fit in and compete with their peers. Many school reform

programs have implemented uniform policies in an effort to enforce behavior

management and promote a sense of cohesion and belonging among students

(Uriyo, 2000).

Furthermore, according to a study, wearing a school uniform makes kids feel

more equal to one another, which boosts their self-esteem. They went on to say that

students benefit from wearing school uniforms because it makes them less self-

conscious about their appearance and what other people may think of them.

Students will undoubtedly learn more and perform better if the school, where they

spend the majority of their time, fosters an environment where self-esteem is

nourished and physical disparities are not a problem (Sempele, Wamalwa, and
Kisilu, 2014). In a public school, wearing a school uniform had a beneficial impact on

variables such as attendance, test scores, and student behavior. In particular,

wearing a school uniform either supports equality or condemns disparities between

pupils from different social classes.

The study of Jones (2017) there may be a positive impact on the school

climate that ensures equal opportunities for children from diverse backgrounds.

According to his research, wearing a school uniform will also minimize parent-child

conflict and bullying among students. While this claim provides interesting details

about school environments, disputes and bullying incidents are still on the rise in the

study area, which prompted the researchers to look further into the matter. The

researcher comes to the conclusion that students benefit greatly from wearing school

uniforms, particularly in terms of safety, and that students' attitudes are reflected in

their choice of attire. Additionally, the researcher finds no evidence of a substantial

correlation between the number of the percentage of students that wear school

uniforms and their knowledge of its significance (Paracha, 2017).

A child's sense of family and belonging is enhanced by wearing a school

uniform since everyone is dressed same. Critics claim that items of apparel like see-

through shirts, low-cut jeans, and in a school context, apparel bearing phrases

deemed insulting is unsuitable and obtrusive (Patton, 2011). Many school districts

have implemented stricter dress restrictions or mandated that students wear school

uniforms in response to these critiques (Lumsden & Miller, 2002).

According to a study conducted in the Philippines, even though students are

aware of the advantages and disadvantages of wearing a uniform, they continue to

use their choice, preference, self-expression, and socioeconomic standing as

justifications for not adhering to the school uniform policy. It is so recommended that
the current school uniform policy be thoroughly reviewed in order to develop a more

suitable policy (Javillonar & Vasquez, 2019). Due to DepEd Order No. 45 s. 2008.

Polomolok National High School's administration did not mandate that students wear

school uniforms. On the other hand, students may wear their uniforms if they are still

accessible. The institution promotes uniform wear among students in order to

increase safety both on and off campus.

Conceptual Framework

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE DEPENDENT VARIABLE

School uniform policies Behavior

Fig. 1 The Conceptual Framework of the Study

Figure 1 shows the conceptual framework of the study. School uniform

policies are the independent variable while the behavior is the dependent variable of

the study. The independent variable focuses on the school uniform policies engage

by the learner of Grade 12 HUMSS students of FNHS such as dress code and other

form of school uniform policies. The dependent variable focuses on the behavior of

the students.

Hypothesis of the study

 Participation on school uniform policies has no significant effect on G12-

students' behavior in Fatima National High School.

Definition of Terms

For clarity and specificity about the study, the following terms are defined

operationally.

School uniform policies. Refers to the policy that implemented to students to wear

required school uniform by the head of the school.

Behavior. Action where students express their confidence and emotion on the

implementation of wearing school uniform.

Humss students. Refers to the respondents involve in the study. This will include

Humanities and Social Science of Fatima National High School enrolled in school

year 2023-2024.

Fatima National High School. This is the school where the respondents are enrolled

in Humanities and Social Science strand of the school year 2023-2024, located at

Brgy. Fatima General Santos City.

 Chapter lll

METHODOLOGY

This chapter discusses the methods of research used during the course of

study it discusses the research design, research respondents, research instrument,

research procedures, and statistical treatment.

Research Design

This study will use the descriptive-correlational method of research. It aims to

determine the impact of school uniform policies to the behavior of G12 Humanities

and Social Science(HUMSS) of Fatima National High School. Descriptive-

correlational statistical focuses in evaluating and examining patterns of relationship

between two variables. That provides valuable and reliable insights across fields in

research.

Research Respondents

This study involves two hundred forty five(245) Grade 12 Humanities and

Social Science(HUMSS) students of Fatima National High School, Brgy Fatima,

General Santos City for the school year 2023-2024. Slovin's formula was used to get

the numbers of respondents.

Research Instruments

The research will utilize questionnaires on the impact of school uniform

policies to the behavior of the Grade 12 HUMSS students in Fatima National High

School. It is a two-part questionnaire. The first part of the questionnaire will

determine the impact of school uniform policies among G12 HUMSS students and

the second part will determine the behavior of G12 HUMSS students.The

questionnaire adopted from related studies that consist of sixteen(16) items on the

school-sponsored likert-scale; it is a response scale primarily used to obtain

participant’s self-confidence. The scale will be described as follows.

Description Range

Strongly agree 5

Agree 4

Neither agree nor disagree 3

Disagree 2

Strongly disagree 1

Research Procedure

Before to the distribution of the questionnaire, the researcher will ask

permission from the school head to conduct the research. Upon the approval, proper

coordination will be made to arrange the visit and distribution of questionnaire to the

respondents. The questionnaire will be distributed by the researchers themselves to

the respondents and as soon as the respondents will be done answering, retrieval of

the said instrument will be followed.

Statistical Treatment

To treat the data gathered, frequency distribution and weighted mean will be

used to determine the impact of school uniform policies.

To treat the data gathered, frequency distribution and weighted mean will be

used to determine the behavior of G12 students.

The researchers will used Pearson Product Moment Coefficient Correlation to

find out the impact of school uniform policies to the behavior of G12 Humanities and

Social Science(HUMSS) students.

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