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Positive and negative effects of school uniforms
Cons of uniforms in public schools
Advantages of school uniforms conclusion
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School uniforms have always been a topic of interest for me since fifth grade when my school merged with another and I had the possibility of adopting their uniform policies. Up until researching this topic I have always thought uniforms were a terrible idea because they were just ugly and looked uncomfortable. So with my argument paper of course I wrote about how uniforms are a bad idea. After reviewing all of my research I did in order to write this paper I came to the conclusion that uniforms actually make so much sense to me now. This could be because I am lazy and like that I wouldn’t have to make any decisions. I have also encountered many peers who do wear uniforms and after hearing their opinions and tolerance for them I began to wish I was exposed to that growing up. So I have done full research into both sides, while switching sides a few times as I created a solid outline. Currently I feel that uniforms offer a safe and united community that encourages the individual and self growth.
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...
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...ILE. Web. 14 Oct. 2013.
Brunsma, David L. "The Effects of School Uniforms and Dress Codes on Behavioral and Social
Processes and Outcomes." The School Uniform Movement and What It Tells Us About
American Education: A Symbolic Crusade. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Education, 2004. 155-176. Print.
Cruz, Bárbara. School Dress Codes: A Pro/con Issue. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Pub.,
2001. Print.
McDermott, Michelle. "The Pros and Cons of School Uniforms." Living RSS. N.p., 7 Aug.
2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
"New School Uniform Guidance Published." Education Journal 173 (2013): 4. Academic
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""School Uniforms" Survey Results." Kids USA Survey. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
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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.
Until President Clinton called attention to the issue in his State of the Union address, mandatory public school uniform policies were sporadic local occurences. A few school districts had been quietly experimenting with uniforms for years, but the issue caught President Clinton's eye after the Long Beach, California school district released some numbers suggesting that after only one year, its mandatory uniform policy had not only brought about significant decreases in vandalism and fighting, but had also led to higher test scores. Now that the President's endorsement has elevated school uniforms into the realm of federal education policy, a question needs to be answered: Are uniforms a good idea?
With many of the schools that do not use school uniforms, they are having trouble with their students, and the school environment is collapsing. Two very educated people that work on keeping schools safe; Linda Lumsden and Gabriel Miller’s, in their article “School Uniforms and Dress Codes”, they have informed people the biggest reasons school crime exists. Some kids come in dressed promoting drugs and alcohol, others come in dressed in “swag in gang related clothes”, and other students come to school with sexually provocative clothing (Lumsden, Miller). This is getting out of hand because so many students are wearing cloths, which is provocative, and no one is taking serious control to stop them from being a distraction to other students. Also one of the biggest issues with schools these days, are the school shootings. Sherry Bowen, a professional in the education system has informed people about how easy it is to sneak in weapons to school. By using schools uniforms it will be hard to sneak in a gun, or other harmful weapon (Bowen). With schoo...
...ers found when schools switched to uniforms was that school fights decreased 36%, and students fights dropped 51%. In addition, sexual offenses dropped 74%. Nevertheless the research was mixed when it came to academic performance.
Brunsma, David L. and Kerry A. Rockquemore. “Effects of Student Uniforms on Attendance, Behavior Problems, Substance Abuse, and Academic Achievement”. The Journal of Education Research. 92.1 (1998): 53-62. Print.
There is something comforting about school children and teenagers dressed in pleats and plaid. Maybe it is a reminder of past times, or conjures up thoughts of order and safety. Whatever the reason, school uniforms are getting a lot of ?wear? these days, yet remain an unproven deterrent to school violence. No long-term, formal studies have been done with regards to the effectiveness of school uniforms, but many schools have kept their own informal statistics, such as the Long Beach School District. These statistics offered by Long Beach are often most cited as a proven deterrent to school violence, after adopting a mandatory uniform policy in 1994. According to Richard Van Der Laan, school crime has dropped over seventy-five percent, while attendance has reached an all-time high. One question we must ask ourselves is this, ?Is it the uniforms, or the induction of them that is solving the problem?? Maybe it is the school and parents showing some ?back-bone? which is affecting the students, not the clothing.
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 at pre-K through high school levels are 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. To begin, school uniforms are economic. When schools have a uniform policy, it makes it easier on the children and parents.
The before school arguments over what to wear, and the ridiculous pricing of fashionable brand clothing, have become a harsh reality to many parents and their children. Because children feel a deep need to fit in with their peers, they face the never ending contest of comparison and stereotypes. On the other hand, many students do not have families that can provide them with the newest, sought after clothing and struggle to do so even when getting clothes from thrift stores and hand me downs. At the same time, in some schools gang signs and gang related clothing can be an issue, as well as fights and violence. Studies have shown that school uniforms are a solution to these problems that affect student interaction and productiveness in school. Therefore, school uniforms allow students to learn without distractions and should be readily available to all.
Do you remember what your wardrobe was like during high school? Maybe you wore the latest in brand name clothing, anything that wasn’t associated with gang signs, or whatever hand me downs you could get. The reality is physical violence is common between children because of the name brand on a jacket or a pair of jeans. Children are being ridiculed because their families simply can't afford to provide them with the latest in fashion. In our larger cities where gang involvement is prevalent, children are killed because they choose to wear the wrong color to school. This concern is not about civil liberties or freedom of expression, it's about improving the educational environment within our public school systems nationwide. If this is a possible solution to the issues faced in public schools, is expressing one’s self with brand name clothing not worth giving up? and I went to private school where I was required to wear uniforms. I saw a strong correlation between wearing uniforms and prevention of school violence. I’m here today to talk about why uniforms prevent school violence. I will speak about how it prevents students from ridicule, theft and gang violence.
At the beginning of the 20th century almost no parent or faculty had any concerns with how students dressed to attend school. Nowadays, though, this is a giant concern among students, parents, and school board officials. Many arguments have been made over the matter saying uniforms should be required and enforced in schools. But, uniforms should not be required as they ultimately eliminate freedom of expression, promote conformity over individuality, may have a detrimental effect on students self image, emphasize the socioeconomic divisions they are supposed to eliminate, and lastly, school uniforms in public schools undermine the promise of a free education by adding an extra expense for families.
The ever so controversial issue of whether or not students should be required to wear school uniforms is commonly discussed and argued about. School board members, superintendents, teachers, and parents frequently talk about the benefits and negative effects of school uniforms on the students, schools, and the communities as a whole. People argue that uniforms pose a feeling of unity, decrease bullying and bad behavior, and that they look professional. On the other side of the argument, it is said that they are expensive and suppress the creativity and individuality of students. So the real question is, does requiring uniforms in school benefit students or deter them from reaching their full potential in
Pickerington School District should require students to have a uniform dress code. The current dress code policy is very minimal and is not adhered to by the students. Faculty overlook the students who don’t abide by the current dress code as it would take away from their teaching time. One of the main concerns that is brought up when the topic of school uniforms is discussed is freedom of expression. Many people worry that not allowing children to wear certain clothing will “stifle their creativity” (p. ) or restrict their First Amendment rights (Nevada, 2008). There are many reasons for having uniforms in public schools. School uniforms have been shown to improve test scores, raise school pride, increase attendance, reduce violence, and teaches students to dress professionally. School uniforms can also avert the wearing of gang colors (Wilson, 1998).
Uniforms in public schools are becoming accepted throughout the world. The public school systems would benefit significantly if this policy were to be accepted. Wearing uniforms in public schools result in positive effects.
(“Quotes about Uniform Policy” 1). Theodore R. Mitchell, UCLA School of Education says, "I think its great news for all of us who have advocated school uniforms as a way of building community.” A pressing issue, bullying has become a big problem in many school, and to eliminate this problem, school policies should require students to wear uniforms. Many people believe that school uniforms build the community into a safer, more positive environment. School uniforms improve school academics, prevent gang violence, and assist families, who can not afford expensive clothing.
students to wear uniforms or not. I have weighed the pros-and-cons, and although I can see a few drawbacks, ultimately, I support the idea. While I’ve considered the notion that uniforms may restrict our student’s individuality, undermine the whole “free education” idea, and might also be viewed as a band-aid solution to a few of the larger concerns our public schools face, however I strongly maintain that there are far more advantages than disadvantages. The U.S. Departments of Education’s Manual on School Uniforms states “Uniforms by themselves cannot solve all of the problems of school discipline, but they can be one positive contributing factor