In the United States today, millions of students’ attend public schools and face some sort of violence that is associated with that school. It can be gang related or just simply bullying in the school. Because of these rising issues, parents are being forced to pull their children out of public school and home school them for their safety. Is this the best action for the children? Will they be missing out on many life skills that are learned while attending schools with peers their own age? How can the schools make our children feel safe so that they are able to attend the public schools and so that schools don’t lose out on valuable funding from the state? The idea that many believe will fix the problems at school is by implementing a dress code or uniform policy for all students. School uniforms should be mandatory for the increased safety of our students, for the improvement of grades/behavior and for the low cost. School uniforms are defined as a set of standardized clothes worn primarily for an educational institute, usually in a primary or secondary school system. Boys’ uniforms usually consist of dark short or long pants, and a light colored shirt, and in some schools ties must be worn. Girls’ uniforms usually vary between different countries, but mainly consist of a dress or blouse worn either with a skirt or pants. (Wikipedia, 2010) This type of dress code seems to be pretty strict and unfair to the students but the actual uniforms worn at most public schools are a polo shirt with pants, shorts, or skirts. In 1987, Cherry Hill Elementary School in Baltimore, Maryland, became the first school to adopt a uniform policy. (Education Bug, 2010) After this school, there was a dramatic increase in the u... ... middle of paper ... ...ip: http://www.principalsparnership.com/ Cost/ Benefit Analysis of School Uniforms. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2010, from http://www.classroomuniforms.com/news/costanalysis.htm Education Bug. (2010). Retrieved July 9, 2010, from Public School Uniform Statistics: http://www.educationbug.org/a/public-school-uniform-statistics.html ehow.com. (1999). Retrieved June 21, 2010, from http://www.ehow.com/about_5462433_school-uniforms.html Kelly, M. (1998, February 13). School Uniforms: Supreme Court Rulings and Effectiveness. Retrieved July 10, 2010, from About.com: http://712educators.about.com/cs/schoolviolence/a/uniforms_2.htm Leyba, R. b. (1996, Feb 29). Manual On School Uniforms. Retrieved July 5, 2010, from http://www2.ed.gov/updates/uniforms.html Wikipedia. (2010, June 15). Retrieved June 18, 2010, from Wikipedia.com: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_uniform
Students are being bullied, bringing weapons and drugs to school, and fighting every day for numerous reasons. Uniforms would decrease bullying and make each student feel equal and not because they can’t afford the name brand items that other students wear. All students should be required to wear the same uniform, which would make each student feel more comfortable attending school. The uniforms could be a plain solid colored polo with khaki pants or blue jeans. Having a dress code would prevent the display of gang activity within the school and increase the safety of students in our community. Peer pressure pulls many students to react in ways they should not. For example, students wear clothing with multiple pockets and could easily carry weapons or items that are not permitted at school. Uniforms would increase the safety of students and allow them to learn in the best environment possible. In 2013, in Virginia, classroom discipline improved with a high of 85 percent and the student’s safety 79
or formal dress code stipulating what students can and cannot wear to school, a required school uniform is not as common. Customarily only seen in private and parochial schools, a growing numbers of US public schools are now adopting strict school uniform policies. One in five US public schools required students to wear uniforms during the 2013-2014 school year, up from one in eight in 2003-2004 ("School Uniforms," n.d, p. 1). In today’s world, it is not uncommon to see media stories about crime in schools and our educators are constantly looking for ways to improve safety within this school. Some of these educators feel that school uniforms are one way to protect the safety and welfare of students and school personnel. Many kids find
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.
Public schools need to be brought back under control by changing the learning system in some of the simplest ways. Today’s schools’ system is not doing as well as before. The crime rate has risen, a significant amount of girls are being sexually harassed, and bulling in schools has gone to a whole other level. With “gangsters” roaming the halls; kids don’t feel safe because they are being harassed. The worst part of the many students is that their discipline is rotten and has got to be rebuilt. There is a solution to all these problems. Public schools, K-12, must implement school uniforms across the nation to bring the benefits of a decent education system.
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.
"School Uniforms? Yes and No?" How We. TypePad, 10 Oct. 2013. Web. 11 Jan. 2014.(School)
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.
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.
Is her midriff showing? Are her shorts to short? Is her bra visible? Do these shoes look right with her outfit? These are all conflicts that could be avoided with school uniforms. School uniforms are special clothes worn by students from a particular school. They typically include bottoms in neutral colors like khaki, black, or even dark green, and tops that are either neutral or in the school colors. Sometimes the uniforms will include a special striped tie in the school colors for both girls and boys. The girls may also have the option to wear pants, skirts, or dresses. Students may or may not be required to wear specific shoes. Historically private schools mainly required uniforms which began in the sixteenth century in England. A statement
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.
(“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.
...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.
Wharton, Claudene. “School Uniform Study.” UNR.edu. University of Nevada, 23 Apr. 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
“A district wide proposal emerged in 2009 but was never enacted, and protests led by the group Clifton Asserting Parental Rights managed to stop a second try in 2012. The group, headed by parents Ann and Kurt Schnakenberg, gained momentum in the anti-uniform movement six years ago. The group cites studies by a Virginia Tech sociologist, David Brunsma, whose research found that school uniforms fail to improve student behavior, self-esteem or academics, as proponents
Since the 1990 's schools have reported amazing results by mandating a school uniform policy. Konheim-Kalkstein, Y. L (2006) write: “ 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