Mandatory Public School System Uniforms

920 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: the negative effects of school uniforms

Physical and emotional abuse, early sexual initiation, and violence lead to poor academic achievement among public school students (CDC, 2011). Public schools are liberal in their uniform policy. Thirty-seven United States legislatures created laws allowing school districts to put into practice school uniform policies (Konheim-Kalkstein, 2006, p. 26); only fourteen percent of public schools required students to wear a uniform in 2005-2006 (Redmond, 2012). According to the National Educational Longitudinal Study, “uniformed students have significantly higher test scores than do non-uniformed students (Bodine, 2003).” This proposal makes the case that schools need to require students within public schools to wear uniforms over the next year, to improve academic achievement amongst students, with respect to the opponent’s arguments.

The Long Beach, California School District in 1994 was the first public school district to require nearly 60,000 of their students to wear uniforms. Opponents argue uniforms limit personal freedom by restricting student’s choice of clothing. The American Civil Liberties Union supports this argument, noting a violation of student’s First Amendment rights of freedom of speech (creative expression) (Yeung, 2009, p. 849). Proponents argue students are able to choose their clothing during off school hours, and for events like dress down days. The United States courts (AZ, TX, LA, and CA) discarded the argument of the American Civil Liberties Union that school uniforms are unconstitutional, and upheld school uniform policies (Young, 2009, p. 849). The United States Department of Education addressed this conflict recommends school districts, deal with these issues in a manner that allows the student’s right t...

... middle of paper ...

...erest of our students and society to put into practice a mandatory uniform policy in our public school system.

Works Cited

Adolescent and School Health. (2011). Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/health_and_academics/index.htm

Bodine, A. (2003). School Uniforms, Academic Achievement, and Uses of Research. Journal Of Educational Research, 97(2), 67-71.

Konheim-Kalkstein, Y. L. (2006). A Uniform Look. American School Board Journal, 193(8), 25-27.

Redmond, J. (2012). Statistics on School Uniforms. In LoveToKnow Corp. Retrieved from http://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Statistics_on_School_Uniforms

Will school uniforms help curb student violence?. (1996). Jet, 89(20), 12.

Yeung, R. (2009). Are School Uniforms a Good Fit? Results from the ECLS-K and the NELS. Educational Policy, 23(6), 847-874.

Show More
Related

  • The Benefits of Uniform Adoption in Public Schools

    1276 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ever wonder what it would look like to have all students wearing the same white polo shirt, black pants, and a district sweater walking in the hallway? Nowadays, public school and many districts are discussing the possibilities of enforcing the uniform policy. In most places, many private schools already require students to have their mandatory uniforms; however, there are only a few public schools adopting this mandatory school-uniform polices as one of their enrollment requirements. The reason why not all public schools participated was because people believe that they are violating the freedom of choice when enforcing this mandatory uniform policy; yet problems such as bullying and segregation, emerged in these schools. Some people still think uniforms have no benefits at all. However, all public school students should be required to wear uniforms because it would improve the academic performance, reduce the violent behaviors based on appearance judgment, and provide less stress for both parents and students.

    Read More

  • Uniforms: The Benefits

    1248 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many opposing views feel that uniforms are a “Band-Aid Approach” to more serious problems throughout the school community says Bárbara C. Cruz. (43) These are problems like violence, bullying and poor academic behavior. Said by a high school junior “Uniforms would not transform anyone into a good student, just dress up a bad one”. (Cruz 44) It is true that uniforms are not the solution to all educational problems, but they are a good place to start. Although, when schools begin to enforce a uniform policy it shows that the community is acknowledging there are problems to be solved and working together to try something new. Quoting two school safety experts, “Instituting a dress code alone will not solve the problem of violence in the schoo...

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On School Uniform

    1239 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the greatest controversies that is spreading throughout high schools in the United States is parents and their children against the enforcement of their school’s uniform policy. More schools have been adopting uniform policies within the past decade. Rules contained in the policy that are implemented range from wearing certain types of tops (shirts) in specified colors to students being required to tuck in their shirts. In the past, uniforms were exclusively for students who attended private schools because they were “well-off”, but now uniforms are being seen more frequently in public schools on students of all economic levels. Having gone through a school system that considered adopting a uniform policy, I would have to press against the issue of mandated uniforms, because it is simply un-American and unjust.

    Read More

  • School Uniforms

    1040 Words  | 3 Pages

    The issue of whether or not school uniforms are a necessity in today’s society has been a long standing debate. However, it did not come onto the national scene until 1996 when then President Bill Clinton spoke of the matter in his annual State of the Union Address. Citing the Long Beach city school district in California, Clinton spoke of the positive effects of uniform implementation, including: decreased drug cases, sex offenses, violent crimes and fights.

    Read More

  • Dress Codes and Uniforms are not needed in the Schools

    726 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dress codes and uniforms go against the Frist Amendment and take away students constitutional rights. During the Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District case the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that “students do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression at the school house gates.” (Kelly). By the Court saying this means that students do have their constitutional rights at school; dress codes and uniforms take that away for them. The U.S Supreme Court also made it clear that schools cannot just ban a student’s expression because they do not like, or see it as a possible threat. The school must have evidence to support their theories of the students expression would harm others around them or cause conflict among the students (Kelly). Some schools do this all the time, because they do not like what a shirt says; they will say it is against the rules and ban it. This clearly says schools are not allowed to do this.

    Read More

  • Schools Should Not Have Uniforms

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

    "School Uniforms? Yes and No?" How We. TypePad, 10 Oct. 2013. Web. 11 Jan. 2014.(School)

    Read More

  • The Need for School Uniforms

    444 Words  | 1 Pages

    In society today, school-age children are under tremendous pressure to fit in with their peers and still perform well academically. I believe that school uniforms in pre-K through high school levels is an excellent way to help children succeed not only in school, but to prepare them for college and the “real world.” Three reasons why I believe school uniforms should be used in all schools is first, they are economic, next, they reduce distractions and finally, they help with social equality.

    Read More

  • Uniforms Should be Mandatory in Schools

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    Bill Clinton once said, “People will learn to evaluate themselves by what they are on the inside 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 students to wear school uniforms.” Public schools across America are searching to improve safety, school belonging and also help parents save money & students save time getting ready. One way to improve these issues would be to implement a uniform policy. The adoption of school uniforms policies will reach what public schools across America are searching for.

    Read More

  • Uniforms in Schools

    550 Words  | 2 Pages

    School uniforms in public schools are becoming increasingly popular across the nation. The public school system would benefit greatly if this policy were to be adopted. Opposition is always a factor when trying to make changes. Taking all things into consideration, the positive effects would be far greater than the negative effects. School uniforms should be required in public schools because their use would lead to higher education, less violence, and lower cost to parents.

    Read More

  • School Uniforms are Essential: Dealing With Discrimination and Upholding Individuality

    1532 Words  | 4 Pages

    The first argument of the critics against school uniforms is that they believe these infringe on the liberties guaranteed by the First Amendment. An editorial in the Northwest Florida Daily News argues how school uniforms can’t ensure better behavior as well as how anti-individualistic they can be. If uniforms can guarantee better behaviors, how can there still be soldiers who go AWOL and prisoners getting into fights? The anonymous editor speculates that uniforms take away students’ identities which only the “a...

    Read More

  • Argument Against School Uniforms Essay

    2235 Words  | 5 Pages

    Students claim that requiring them to wear mandated uniforms deprives them of their ability to freely express themselves through their choice of dress. However, freedom of expression does consist of the rights to freedom of speech, assembly, and to petition the government, but the first amendment does not grant people the right to act any way they want without actions taken. Numerous schools have a straightforward dress code policy enforced. If these policies are violated, then the students could face consequences for their

    Read More

  • School Uniforms Persuasive Essay

    1029 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...n our public schools today - they may seem like a good suggestion, but when looked at closer, all uniforms do is disguise the center of attention of the real concern that need to be successfully worked out. If security is a worry, we shouldn't be looking to a uniform to rectify the issue - if the concern is students not concentrating on school work, or getting meager grades, again, uniforms should not be seen as a way out. We have a duty to teach our children as much as we can in safe surroundings, and those are grave concerns that cannot be resolved by putting all children in the same attire. If all the children are wearing the same clothes, you still have a question with security and poor instruction - and now you have a student body that is being taught not to express their individuality. Uniforms in some cases, add to a school's concern, they do not answer them.

    Read More

  • School Uniforms And Conformity Essay

    891 Words  | 2 Pages

    Overall, enforcing the policy of school uniforms would have and has negative effects on students and their families. School uniforms should not be required or enforced in school and the extra expenses should be cut from the bills of the students being forced to wear them

    Read More

  • School Uniforms Should Be Mandatory

    1142 Words  | 3 Pages

    Wharton, Claudene. “School Uniform Study.” UNR.edu. University of Nevada, 23 Apr. 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of School Uniforms In Public Schools

    1043 Words  | 3 Pages

    Having a mandated uniform policy in place assists in easing the burden of school clothing costs by allowing parents to shop for more reasonable prices, because the clothes will look the same regardless of the brand. School bullying can be reduced by not easily being able to determine the more expensive garments versus the less expensive, eliminating the ease with which individuals profile based on income status. Students who regularly bully other students based on clothing choices will be eliminated, improving student behavior. This policy also allows students to concentrate more on their studies than on the next new clothing fad, resulting in more academic progress. Reducing distractions stemmed from students clothing choices enables students to concentrate on what they are in school to do, which is learn. (“The Pros and cons of kids wearing uniforms in schools”, 2013). Giving our lesser advantaged students the opportunity to wear administrator mandated uniforms allows these children to feel more included and less segregated from those that are from a more advantageous background. Allowing these students to get to know each other based on actions rather than background and status could result in friendships that are more diverse and sophisticated. This could promote more tolerance in our society resulting in more a peaceful

    Read More

More about Mandatory Public School System Uniforms

Open Document