Should Uniforms be Mandatory in Public Schools

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Recommended: Effect of school uniform in learning

Contrary to popular belief, school uniforms play a larger role in education than one might think. Studies have shown school uniforms to promote more focus and increase drive pertaining to students’ school work. Just like a businessman puts a suit on when attending an important meeting, some students become more serious about their projects and assignments at school when putting their uniforms on. While individuality is an important thing, many people are constantly ridiculed not because of personality-based traits, but because of the pattern on their t-shirt, the hat that they mustered up the courage to wear, or the brand on their jeans. Uniforms eliminate this in-school judgment that occurs in many around the country. If public schools implemented mandatory school uniforms, might there be more unity among the student body? Would the quality of education be more of a priority in student’s lives?

It is no coincidence that schools requiring the wearing of a uniform report consistently higher grades among students than those that do not require uniforms. Although it may seem illogical that something as materialistic as clothes can affect students’ focus on academics, reports shockingly prove this to be the case. Currently, one in four public elementary schools and one in eight public middle and high schools have school uniform policies. Of those schools, the U.S. Department of Education did several studies on the overall behavior of students. The

percentage of students leaving class without permission dropped by about 47%, school suspensions dropped by 90%, and the overall in-school crime rate dropped a dramatic 91%. The proof is in the pudding; clearly, the uniforms provide the students with a more focused school day. Some of ...

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... of Kids” Livestrong.org 14 January 2013

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Part I: Northwest Florida Daily News; Part II: Kent J. Fetzer. "School Uniforms Stifle Freedom of Expression." Opposing Viewpoints: School Policies. Ed. Jamuna Carroll. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL - AZ. 30 Apr. 2014 .

“School Uniform Statistics” Statistic Brain, US Department of Education, NCES, ECS, NAESP, University of Florida 1 January, 2014 < http://www.statisticbrain.com/school-uniform-statistics/>

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