Dress Code Policy Pros And Cons

Some people might say that “school uniforms are a financial burden to low income families,” (Pros and cons, 2014, p. 4) but the average cost per year for school uniforms are only $249. The Education Commission of the States writes that their “research has identified 21 states and the District of Columbia that have passed policies authorizing districts or schools to require uniforms” (Safety/school, 2014, p. 1). Lumsden writes, “When developing a dress code policy, the school should specify how the policy relates to its ability to educate students in a safe, orderly environment” (2014, p. 1). Schools should improve and enforce their dress code policies. FindLaw states that “generally schools have the right to create rules that provide an effective public school education

Lumsden writes that “potential benefits attributed to school uniforms include improved discipline, increased respect for teachers, ... lower clothing costs, promotion of group spirit, reduction in social stratification and fashion statements, improved classroom behavior, lower rates of school crime and violence, and easy identification of nonstudents (Brown)”(2014, p.1). In the hopes that there will be less issues for students and teachers to find clothes that fit well, most schools have switched to a uniform policy. With the uniforms the “children are free to concentrate on their lessons.” Although some people say that the uniforms have thwarted self-expression and creativity, the uniforms have actually promoted a sense of unison with other students that might not be found in any other school. “Thirty-four percent of parents say that ‘a uniform policy hinders self expression [sic] and creativity’” (School uniform statistics, 2014, p. 1). The positive side of uniform policies are that “students reduce the pressure of deciding what dress to wear each morning to going to school [sic]” (Pros and cons, 2014, p.