ROSEMONT HILLS MONTESSORI COLLEGE

ACCOUNTANCY, BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Banawan, Christine Joyce

Enriquez, Charles
Formentera, Rhea Mae
Macalolooy, Rachel Joy
Mota, Mherill Tiffany
Quimada, Razel Ann
Tapayan, Meneonito Nicolas

THE PERCEPTION OF NEARBY SCHOOLS ON FEMALE SCHOOL UNIFORM OF ROSEMONT

HILLS MONTESSORI COLLEGE

Research Adviser:
Ma. Yvonne R. Montilla, M. Ed.

Date of Oral Defense

October 22, 2019

Permission is given for the following people to have access to this thesis:

Available to the general public Yes

Available only after consultation with author/thesis adviser Yes
Available only to those bound by confidentially agreement Yes

Student’s signature: _______________________

Signature of adviser: ____________________

 CHAPTER 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

Rationale

The rule of wearing a school uniform can be traced back for centuries. While no
one is certain on the fact, it is believed that “the origin of the modern school uniform
can be traced to the 16th Century England.” Other sources say that “the first recorded
use of standardized dress in education may have been in England in 1222.” Regardless
of the origin, the school uniform policy has been around for a very long time and
according to the National Center for Education Statistics, the number of schools that
have adopted the concept of a uniform has “increased from 13% during the 2003-2004
school year to 19% during the 2011-2012 school year,” which means that the policy is
not only here to stay, but it is also increasing in popularity (google.com, 2012).

“High uniform standards are indicative of the highest standards that we have at
our school. Our uniform is part of our school identity, uniting our students and we hope
that they take pride in wearing it” (thomas, 2015). Rosemont Hills Montessori College
having different color, style, and length of school uniform for the female students makes
the identity of the students unique among other schools. The researchers want to know
the perceptions of other students towards the female school uniform of RHMC and how
will it affect their decision making in choosing school for their senior years.

These images commonly appear within pornography (Craik, 2005). In this way,
sexual adult images coexist with images of childhood, creating a culture that portrays
schoolgirls as sexy symbols and as potential sexual partners (Durham, 2008).
Furthermore, pornographic images and stories create fantasies that may become part of
the viewer’s sexual identity (Page, 2009). These images of school uniforms, while
inspiring pornographic and fetish costumes, later inspired the clothing of subculture
groups like punks (Craik, 2005). As a subculture adopts mainstream followers, its
clothing is often depicted within popular music and fashion trends (Craik, 2005).
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Designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Thierry Mugler, and Mary Quant have all
incorporated fetish images within their designs (Steele, 2010). For decades this type of
sexualized clothing has contributed to both the fashion industry and popular culture
references (Steele, 2010). (lazarine, 2018)

The Grace Christian School dress code is designed to serve as a guide to parents
and students on the proper attire for our students. The biblical principles of
Christlikeness, modesty, purity, obedience and respect are the standards applied. As
Christians, our goal is to glorify God in everything and to be an example to those around
us. Clothing should be neat, modest, and appropriate. Clothing should be appropriately
sized – not too small and not too large. A student should not be dressed in such a way
as to draw attention to his/ her body, but to respect and honor God, themselves and
others. Parents and students have the primary responsibility to understand and adhere
to the dress code. In all circumstances GRACE retains the final authority to determine,
in its discretion, whether a student is in compliance with the dress code. If a dress code
infraction pertains to modesty, the student will be required to change their attire or
have a parent bring appropriate clothing to school. Students will remain in the office
until dressed appropriately and any absences from class during this time will be
considered unexcused absences (School, 2019).

Theoretical Background

Related Theories

The researchers used the Visual Perception Theory by Gregory (1970). In 1970,
psychologist Richard Gregory stated that perception is a constructive process that
depends on top-down processing. He explained that past experience and prior
knowledge related to a stimulus help us make inferences. For Gregory, perception is all
about making the best guess or a hypothesis about what we see. In terms of visual

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perception, Gregory argues that about 90% of visual information is lost by the time it
arrives in the brain for processing. This event leads to the creation of a perceptual
hypothesis about the stimulus, based on his memory and past experience that may be
related to it. When it comes to visual illusions, such as the Necker tube, Gregory
believed that the brain may create incorrect hypotheses, leading to several errors of
perception. (Sincero, 2018)

Information from the environment we are equipped with sense organs e.g. eye,
ear, and nose. Each sense organ is part of a sensory system which receives sensory
inputs and transmits sensory information to the brain. (McLeod, 2018)

A particular problem for psychologists is to explain the process by which the

physical energy received by sense organs forms the basis of perceptual experience.
Sensory inputs are somehow converted into perceptions of desks and computers,
flowers and buildings, cars and planes; into sights, sounds, smells, taste and touch
experiences A major theoretical issue on which psychologists are divided is the extent to
which perception relies directly on the information present in the environment. Some
argue that perceptual processes are not direct, but depend on the perceiver's
expectations and previous knowledge as well as the information available in the
stimulus itself. This controversy is discussed with respect to Gibson (1966) who has
proposed a direct theory of perception which is a 'bottom-up' theory, and Gregory
(1970) who has proposed a constructivist (indirect) theory of perception which is a 'top-
down' theory Psychologists distinguish between two types of processes in perception:
bottom-up processing and top-down processing. (McLeod, 2018)

Bottom-up processing is also known as data-driven processing, because

perception begins with the stimulus itself. Processing is carried out in one direction
from the retina to the visual cortex, with each successive stage in the visual pathway
carrying out ever more complex analysis of the input. (McLeod, 2018)

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 Top-down processing refers to the use of contextual information in pattern
recognition. For example, understanding difficult handwriting is easier when reading
complete sentences than when reading single and isolated words. This is because the
meaning of the surrounding words provide a context to aid understanding. Top down
processing sensory (sight, smell, touch, taste, and sound) input into large chunks of
information. In top down processing perceptions are formed based on our previous
experiences beginning with the largest idea or concept and gradually working towards
the finer details. Why is top-down processing important? We are surrounded by so
much information that it would simply be impossible to attend to and process every
single detail. Top-down processing works to help simply our understanding of the
world. The broad, general impressions you gather upon first glance may then help
influence the finer details that you focus on as you take in more information about your
environment. Consider just how much information you might be inundated by at any
given moment. You are surrounded by a plethora of sights, sounds, smells, tastes,
textures, and physical sensations. If you focused equally on each and every one of these
sensations, you would be overwhelmed. Processing information from the top-down
allows us to make sense of information that has already been brought in by the senses,
working downward from initial impressions down to lower-level senses. (Cherry, 2018)

Related Literature

What is the point of School Uniform?

A shirt, tie and blazer may not be the ingredients for my favorite outfit, but if I
were given the choice, I wouldn’t throw away the idea of school uniform. Wearing a
uniform is a badge of pride, creates an identity for a school and is an important part of
being a school student. “Uniforms show that you are part of an organization. Wearing
it says we’re all in this together,” Jason Wing, head teacher at the Neale-Wade academy
in Cambridge shire, says. “Also, if you wear your uniform with pride, it means you are

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half way there to being respectful, buying into what the organization is all about.’’ Claire
Howlette, an English teacher, agrees: “Uniforms give students a sense of belonging to a
particular school and create an identity for the school in the community.” (Spencer,
2013)

What the United Kingdom Can Teach the United States about School Uniforms:
Wearing School Uniforms Can Create a More Respectful Atmosphere for Learning and
Ease the Burden on Parents.

Students walk the school hallways in an orderly fashion, dressed professionally in

uniforms consisting of blazers with the school's crest and skirts for girls and trousers for
boys. They don't walk with hands in their pockets. Students are polite and wait for the
teacher outside the classroom door. When he says to enter, all students enter and
stand at their desks until everyone is inside. They don't sit until the teacher invites them
to sit. Students prepare for their lesson and are, for the most part, quite content and
respectful. Where am I? (walmsley, 2011)

The journal article was written by Angela Walmsley, the description sounds like a
wealthy preparatory school but instead it’s a regular state school in England. . They all
share one thing in common: respect for the teachers, the school, and themselves. The
reason behind of the student’s behavior is because of the existence of school uniform.

Why I Regret Dressing Up as a Sexy schoolgirl

Those who believe the “sexy schoolgirl” to be nothing more than a bit of fun
should consider the knock-on effect this sexualization has on real-life schoolgirls, who
are routinely harassed on their way to and from school. Growing up, we listened to a lot
of blues and rock and roll in our house, but there was always one particular song that
my mother always told me that she hated. “Good morning little schoolgirl,” it goes,
“can I go home with you? Tell your mama and your daddy, that I’m a little schoolboy
too.” Regardless of the era in which it was made, it’s hard to view the song’s lyrics as

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anything other than flesh-crawlingly creepy, and not just because it was covered by the
Grateful Dead and the thought of Jerry Garcia dressed incognito as a schoolboy truly is
the stuff of nightmares. (Cosslett, 2014)

Related Studies

Choosing and deciding on something have consequences. The results of what

you have chosen can either help you, it will hinder you in the future. It is also the same
with the course that you will have to decide. In choosing the course, there are a lot of
factors that the student must consider. According to Boyer (1987), “in taking a course,
one of the life’s major decision is being made. A lot of time, money, and effort will be
involved. The shape and excellence of the student’s life may rest on the result.” In
choosing a junior, senior academic track, a student should take a risk. F. Yates. Veinotte.
& Patalano (2003) define a decision as “… a commitment to a course of action that is
intended to produce a satisfying state of affairs.” A student will choose a course which
he or she will be studying throughout his or her college years, and decision-making
should take part and should not take for granted. The decision of which course to take
is one of the farthest decisions for a student especially those who are graduating High
School Students. (Dollaga, 2019)

All participants were asked if there was anything that concerned them about the
school uniform. While the biggest concern was the quality of the formal uniform
(despite it being very costly it did not seem to last), the second biggest area of concern
was how the uniform affected female students. Many participants commented that the
girls’ uniform was see-through, and that the girls felt very self-conscious (and some
were distressed) in the dress and kilt. While schools often argue that a uniform creates
a sense of pride and contributes to higher levels of self-esteem, this cannot be the case

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for girls who feel self-conscious and distressed when wearing their uniform.
Participants were asked what they would change about the uniform if they could change
anything they liked. The most common response was that they would let the girls wear
pants. The College Executive in particular outlined that the uniform was too formal and
restricted the students’ childhoods. It seems that all participants felt that the College
uniform did not suit the needs of the students and needed to be changed. (Mergler,
2017)

This research highlights that while many problems were identified in relation to
the current school uniform, the restrictions, discriminations, comfort issues and
challenges were largely borne by the girls. As children spend a large portion of their
week at school, there is a responsibility on schools to encourage uniforms that allow for
vigorous activity. Where schools insist on female students wearing dresses and skirts,
they undermine the ability of their female students to engage in such activity. Further,
they increase the likelihood that their female students will feel self-conscious, an
outcome that undermines their confidence and ability to meet challenges head on. As
only female students have to deal with the plethora of issues that result from being
forced into skirts and dresses, schools who enforce this uniform code are engaging in
sex-based discrimination. (Mergler, 2017)

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Figure 1.Conceptual Framework

VISUAL PERCEPTION THEORY

INTERVIEW

PERCEPTION

DECISION-MAKING

DATA INVESTIGATION

CONCLUSION
RECOMMENDATION

Figure 1. Schematic Diagram

The researchers of this study will use Visual Perception Theory as the guideline
of the research. The Visual Perception Theory explains the ability to see, organize, and
interpret one's environment. One of the approach of Visual Perception Theory is the
Top-Down Processing Theory. Top-down processing is defined as the development of
pattern recognition through the use of contextual information. For instance, you are
presented with a paragraph written with difficult handwriting. It is easier to understand
what the writer wants to convey if you read the whole paragraph rather than reading
the words in separate terms. The brain may be able to perceive and understand the gist
of the paragraph due to the context supplied by the surrounding words. (Sincero, 2018)

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 THE PROBLEM

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The researchers aims to find out other students perception towards the female
school uniform of RHMC. Specifically, this research aims to answer the following
questions:

1. What are the perceptions of students towards the female senior high school
uniform in RHMC?
2. How your perceptions affect your decision making in choosing your school for
your senior year?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this research is to guide the grade ten students of nearby schools in
choosing their school for senior high school. Findings of which will not only help
students but also RHMC. The significance of the study is as follows but is not limited to
only these:

Students- Give guidance to the grade ten students in terms of decision-making.

RHMC-once the researchers come up with their results, RHMC can improve their school
uniform, at the same time the school can benefit through marketing.
Future researchers- to help the future researchers that are going to conduct a similar
research to this one, it will help them find their related study.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

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This study specifically involves the grade 10 female students of Maslog National High
School, Sabang National High School and Bibiana Mercado Integrated School. This study
will be conducted on the first semester of this school year 2019-2020. The researchers
will interview the respondents during the first semester of the school year.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Fetish- an inanimate object worshiped for it’s supposed magical powers or because it is
considered to be inhabited by a spirit.

Adhere- stick fast to (a surface or substance).

Stimulus- a thing or event that evokes a specific functional reaction in an organ or

tissue.

Contructivist- a theory also known as contructivism.

Inundated- overwhelm with things or people to be dealt with.

Plethora- a large or excessive amount of (something).

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 CHAPTER 2

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the research design, research environment, research

subjects, and data gathering procedure/pedagogical approach, research instrument, and
statistical treatment.

Research Design

This research study used in narrative research design. A literary form of

qualitative research, Narrative research is all about collecting and telling a story or
stories (in detail). Researchers write narratives about experiences of individuals,
describe a life experience, and discuss the meaning of the experience with the
individual. Usually, a narrative research design is focused on studying an individual
person. The researcher becomes the interpreter of the individual's stories, as opposed
to a community. The researchers used this design because they used the purposive
sampling method to choose their respondents. Purposive Sampling, participants are
selected or sought after based on pre-selected criteria based on the research question.
The grade 10 female students of nearby schools are chosen to become the respondents
of these study because they are going to proceed to senior high school.

Research Environment

This study will be conducted at the three nearby schools namely Maslog National
High School, Sabang National High School and Bibiana Mercado Integrated School
because the students of RHMC always pass by the said schools also the students of
those schools mostly see the students of RHMC.

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 Research Area

Figure 2. Research Environment Map (BMIS, MNHS, SNHS)

This study will be conducted at the three nearby schools namely Maslog National
High School, Sabang National High School and Bibiana Mercado Integrated School
because the students of RHMC always pass by the said schools also the students of
those schools mostly see the students of RHMC.

Research Respondent

The researchers will use the purposive sampling in choosing their respondents
because the respondents of this research are the grade 10 female students of Maslog
National High School, Sabang National High School and Bibiana Mercado Integrated
School. They were the respondents because they are going to proceed to senior high
school.

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Research Procedure

The researchers will interview the respondents and after knowing their
perception of the respondents, the researchers will analyze the data gathered.

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 APPENDIX A

RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE

1. What is your ideal school uniform when you go to senior high school?
2. What is your perception towards the senior high female school uniform in
RHMC?

3. How your perception affects your decision making in choosing your school for
your senior year?

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