When I was a child attending elementary school all of my friends loved the way I dressed, but there was also other children that attended school with me that seemed inferior to me simply because of how I dressed. Usually the children that praised the way I dress always wore nice clothes themselves, while the others who didn’t dress ad nice would try to pick fights or make fun of children that did dress nice. Later on in my life as I approached high school the tables turned; the teenagers who dressed nice became the ones who picked on other students in school because of the low quality clothes certain students wore in school, this would result in student violence. My stance on student uniforms is that I believe every public school in the U.S should utilize school uniform policy because it reduces school violence, provides better security, increases performance, and also reduces stress on families. School Uniforms Reduce Violence (Wilson 1994) "Some of the children dressed so poorly that the other children made fun of them,". "We thought they should all be equal from the beginning" (Pg. 18A). This article clearly provides detail why all public school students should wear uniforms all year around. The article also implies that when some students dress a certain way they get picked on immensely, it’s a shame that any person should have to deal with being picked on because of how they dress. "Uniforms erase that," she said. (Wilson 1994) "When they are dressed in uniforms they are dressed for success. That confidence makes them feel like they can achieve anything" (Pg. 18A), the author quoted a school staff member in previous sentence to show that even staff members notice a difference in how students act when wearing school u... ... middle of paper ... ... A uniform idea for saving. The Advertiser, p. 2. Mailander, J., & Staff, H. (1996, June 9). UNIFORMS MAKE THE GRADE. The Miami Herald, p. 1B. OSBORNE, C. (1988, February 18). A UNIFORM CODE FOR CLASS SUCCESS. Sydney Morning Herald, p. 2. Oilchange.com. (n.d.). Do Uniforms Decrease School Violence in Intercity Schools?. School Violence , Weapons, Crime, & Bullying. Retrieved February 24, 2011, from http://www.nssc1.org/uniforms-and-intercity-schools.html Silver, B. (2006, July 25). Surveys Show More Traditional Public & Public Charter Schools Are Implementing School Uniform Programs; For the First Time, Schools in Uniform Provide Real Numbers on Their Programs. Market Wire, p. 2. Staff, H., Walters, S., & Vise, D. d. (1998, September 17). UNIFORMS BECOME THE WAY IN BROWARD SPURRED BY PARENTS, STATUS-CONSCIOUS KIDS TRADE IN PRICEY TOGS. The Miami Herald, p. 1A.
Viadero, Debra. "Uniform Effects?." Education Week Vol. 24, No. 18. Jan. 12 2005: 27-29. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
This paper could be targeted at a couple of audiences. Firstly this paper could appeal to the general public, or anyone interested in school uniforms in general. More specifically, the papers audience could be the Greeley-Evans School Districts employees and board members.
Brunsma, David L. "The Effects of School Uniforms and Dress Codes on Behavioral and Social
"Do Uniforms Make School Better?" Great Schools. GreatSchools, Inc, 2013. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. .
“The Manual on School Uniforms”, printed and issued by the United States Department of Education, noted that Long Beach, California, reported a decrease in crime, fights, sex offenses, weapons offenses, and vandalism after they adopted their uniform policy (4). Contrary to government findings, The National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 discovered that school uniforms have had no real effects on behavior, drug abuse or attendance; furthermore they also came to find that uniforms actually have negative effects on the academic achievement of the students (Brunsma and Rockquemore 54). If school A is emphasizing that school uniforms are conducive to the learning environment, yet school B down the road has higher testing scores but no uniform policy, then their stand is no longer valid. This proves that uniforms have no effect on the learning process.
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.
Uniforms in public schools are becoming more and more accepted around the world. “Over the last two decades, the debate over the implementation of school uniform policies in public schools has been a consistent presence in schools and districts around the United States.” (Sanchez, 345). Teachers, parents and school administrators feel the need for school uniforms as a positive way to increase school safety and increase academic performance. Even though school uniforms are not the most popular choice among students and parents, the positive impact school uniforms make on students and the school outweigh the negative opinions.
Jessica Portner, a writer for Education Week, agreed with President Clinton in her February 14, 1996 article entitled “Uniforms Get Credit for Decrease in Discipline Problems.” Using statistical evidence from the aforementioned Long Beach school system grades K-8, Portner creates a compelling argument pro school uniforms. In a study of the 83,000 K-8 students, the rates of assault and battery decreased 34%, fights 51% and there were 32% fewer suspensions.
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.
"Will School Uniforms Crube Student Violence." Inspire. Johnson Publishing, 1 Apr. 1996. Web. 11 Jan. 2014. (Will school)
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.
Imagine every kid looking the same when they are at school. Some people could say that uniforms enhances school pride, But it is more true that without kids wearing school uniforms they will be able to express who they are, it is less money for the parents, and there won't be that much bullying. One reason, that kids will be able to express who they are is that just imagine walking through school where everyone around you looks the same because you are all wearing uniforms. You won’t be able to tell what kind of people they are because everyone is dressed the same as you according to “should kids wear school uniforms”.
Boutelle, Marsha. “Uniforms: Are They A Good Fit?” The Education Digest Feb. 2008: 37. Print.
(“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.
Wharton, Claudene. “School Uniform Study.” UNR.edu. University of Nevada, 23 Apr. 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.