School Uniforms in Public Schools Should public schools require students to wear uniforms? Interestingly enough, many people say no. The first school district in the United States to require all K through eight, students to wear uniforms was Long Beach, CA, in Jan. 1994 (Angerame 1). In their first year, the district recorded a fifty percent decline in fights and the number of cases of students bringing weapons to school (Angerame 1). As of 2008, twenty-two US states specifically authorized schools to institute dress codes or uniform policies.
Since the 1990s, the practice of having public school students wear uniforms--like their private school peers--has been credited with some amazing results. School uniforms, proponents have said, can lead to improved discipline and classroom behavior, increased school attendance, respect for teachers, better school performance, higher student self-esteem and confidence, lower clothing costs, promotion of group spirit, reduction in social stratification, and lower rates of violence and crime. Uniforms, in short, seem like the solution to all of education's problems. (Konheim-Kalkstein, 2006) According to various schools administrations, criminal tendencies among students have reduced since the introduction of uniforms in public schools. In 1995, Long Beach, Calif., became the first large urban school district to require uniforms for all students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
My team is definitely in favour of schools having their students wear school uniforms. My teammates and I will demonstrate to you that the benefits brought by the wearing of school uniforms far outweigh any perceived disadvantages. Our first main argument, which will be explained by Brian, is that enforcing school uniforms in all schools will lift school spirit greatly. Justine will discuss our second argument, being that school uniforms reduce the amount of bullying. The fourth speaker, Ray, will debate about casual clothing distracting students.
In one article it stated that “In 1996, only 3% of public schools in the country required students to wear them. By 2000, this figure had risen to 12% and by 2010 to 19%” (“Uniforms”). These results show that every year the United States is slowly adapting to the idea of school uniforms into our education system. Although many researches have positive results, there are still some short-comings (Viardero). With school uniforms, students lose the freedom to express their individuality (“Student”).
“Uniforms sets a message of ‘You are in the business of learning” (Merchant 3). “In the first year following implication, overall school crime decreased by 36%, sex offenses by 74%, physical flight to point students by 51%,... ... middle of paper ... ...nonprofit organizations that give out over $100,000 in financial aid to families that allow them to buy these uniforms. School districts also point out that the uniforms can be passed down from one child to another. By doing this, they would come out ahead in the long run. Many parents believe that uniforms will only stifle the students creativity.
These two socio-psychological concepts (“Self -confidence”) are directly correlated to academic success. Moreover, uniforms would also help prepare students for the professional world. Students attend schools to gain knowledge through their studies and also to learn valuable life lessons. School uniforms teach students an important lesson of accountability and self-sacrifice to serve the common good. What do policemen, flight attendants and waitresses all have in common?
Many schools across the world have implemented policies requiring a school uniform. This differs from a dress code by focusing on what the student should wear and setting an outfit specification instead of just prohibiting unwanted clothing (Wilde). Previously many private schools had this system, but as of 2014, about twenty percent of public schools had adopted this practice, a twelve percent difference since 2000 (Ordway) This drastic change could have been sparked by a comment made by the former US President Bill Clinton in an address to US citizens. He stated, “If it means that the schoolrooms will be more orderly and more disciplined, and that our young people will learn to evaluate themselves by what they are on the inside instead of
Are school uniforms good or bad? Wearing uniform doesn’t stop students from finding ways to stylize themselves. Uniforms were introduced in the United States around the year of 1979 to fix the problem of violence among students who fought for the latest designer clothes. The uniform policy was effectively implemented by President Clinton who wanted to stop the gang war problems. Statistical reports state that only 25% of primary schools and around 10% of secondary schools in United States have strictly implemented the uniform policy.
In the past, people debated about school uniforms whether uniforms should be required for student to wear or not? Uniforms are basically an outfit that student wear. School uniforms may sound outdated, but will help children in the long run. According to New York Times, former President Bill Clinton’s 1996 state of Union address called for all 16,000 school districts to adopt a uniform policy” (Kershaw). The public school district in Long Beach, California was the first to adopt the uniform policy.
Never the less, it's hard to deny the benefits that come from having school uniforms. Former President Bill Clinton is perhaps the most prominent and influential advocate of school uniforms. In a 1996 State of the Union address he said: “If it means that the school rooms will be more orderly and more disciplined, and that our young people will learn to evaluate themselves by what they are on the inside instead of what they're wearing on the outside, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear uniforms” (qtd In Mitchell 1). Implementing a uniform policy in our public schools would benefit students socially, as well as academically. It would also provide a safer school environment and reduce the cost of school clothes for parents.