Do school uniforms help to scrap social inequalities?

Yes

Only a few inner-city schools have had problems with children wearing gang colours. Many
of these have got rid of the problem not by introducing uniform, but by simply having a dress
code which bans such gang clothes and symbols. In fact, uniform boosts a gang state of mind
by marking children out and dividing students from different schools against each other. This
can increase conflict between young people outside school, leading to bullying and violence.

No

Uniform is a social leveller - it makes all the children at a school equal no matter what their
family background or income. If students can choose their own clothes, then the rich kids
compete to show off their expensive designer labels and costly sneakers (trainers). Children
from poorer families get picked on for not being able to afford lots of pricey outfits. Schools in
the USA have used uniform to overcome the problem of students wearing gang colours if
they were allowed to choose their own clothes. Clothes with particular colours or symbols
marked rival groups of students out as linked to street gangs. This often led to fighting inside
and outside the classroom. If everyone has to wear the same clothes to school, this problem is
removed.

Do school uniforms improve children's' results?

No

There is no good evidence that links school uniform to improved results. A few schools in the
USA reported better test scores after they started having uniform, but most of these made
other changes to the running of the school which could have helped instead. Studies looking at
lots of schools, with and without uniform, have not found any link between what children wear
and school results.

Yes

Schools with uniforms obtain better educational results. This is because there is better
discipline and so the school setting makes learning easier. Without the distraction of checking
out what all the other students are wearing (or how much flesh they are showing), students
find it easier to concentrate and do better in tests.
1. Play about
2. Play along
3. Play around
4. Play at
5. Play away
6. Play back
7. Play down
8. Play off
9. Play off against
10. Play on
11. Play out
12. Play up
13. Play up to
14. Play with
Play about
to behave in a silly way

Stop playing about and do your homework!

Play along
to perform a piece of music at the same time as it is playing elsewhere

I learnt to play the piano by playing along with my mothers old

records.
to pretend to agree with or cooperate with someone, generally for a
limited period of time, and in order to get what you want or to avoid an
argument

Sarah doesnt want to go out tonight; she is just playing

along with Brian to avoid an argument.
Play around
to cheat on a partner

I cant believe that my boyfriend was playing around with my best

friend!
to consider different possibilities before making a decision

We played around with many ideas before making a concrete

decision.
to behave in a foolish or irresponsible way
 You shouldnt play around with other peoples feelings.
Play at

to pretend to do something or to be somebody

The children were playing at Superheroes all morning.

to do something in an informal way or not taking it seriously

Sam is only playing at being an actor, hes really studying to be a

doctor.
Play away
when a sports team play at an opponents ground

Our team never have good luck when they play away.
to cheat on a partner

Men tend to play away more than women.

Play back
to watch or listen to something that has been recorded

I had to play the voice message back several times before I could
make out what he was saying.

More for you:

Phrasal Verbs List with Meanings and Examples
10 Cool ESL Games to Learn English On the Net and Mobile Device

Play down
to try to make a problem or bad situation seem less important than it is

The company is trying to play down the fact that their product
causes environmental damage.
Play off
to play an extra match in order to decide which team wins after a draw
 The teams have to play off next week to decide who will win the
Champions League this year.
Play off against
to cause an argument or competition between two people in order to
gain some advantage in the situation

Veronica is playing Bill and Gavin off against each other so that
they will both shower her with expensive gifts.
Play on

to exploit a situation or emotions in order to get what you want

Harry definitely plays on the fact that he was sick as a child to get
everything he wants from his parents.
to continue to play a game, especially after the game has been
interrupted for some reason

We played on despite the torrential rain.

Play out
to develop or end in a particular way

I dont think you should make any changes to the organizations

structure until you see how the new teams play out.
Play up
to behave badly

The children have been playing up all day; Im exhausted!

to not function properly

My computer has been playing up recently, I better back up my

work.
to try to convince people that something is better or more important
than it actually is

The pharmaceutical companies are really playing up the dangers

of not getting immunized in order to sell more vaccines.
More for you:
1000+ Most Popular English Idioms and Their Meanings
7 Quick Games at Any Stage of an English Lesson

Play up to
to flatter someone or behave in a certain way in order to get them to
like you or to get them to do something for you

Mark is really playing up to the new boss in the hope that he will
get a promotion.
Play with
to think about or consider something briefly

I played with the idea of moving to Los Angeles but I decided

against it in the end.
to move or handle something repeatedly

Catherine plays with her hair when she is nervous.

to tease or joke with someone

Dont take everything so seriously! I was only playing with you!

to treat inconsiderately

Richard always plays with the emotions of his girlfriends.

to use things, usually words or ideas, in different ways in order to
produce an interesting or funny effect

The way that Jim plays with words is fantastic; he should be a

writer!