Why School Uniforms Are a Must
English 122
Instructor: Nelly Aguilar
By. Melodie Ford
March 30, 2014
As our traditional American attitudes change, society as a whole has had to adjust in some major ways. Violence is on the rise throughout our nation and equality is as much an issue now as it was in the 50s and 60s. Protecting our children from violence and bulling is a must and keeping them equal in school is imperative. As our county grows we have seen many diverse groups moving into more rural areas. This has caused great concern with some parents and they want to be able to provide the best educational experience for their children, without feeling the pressure to keep up with the Jones. School uniforms have increased equality in lower grade levels, and helped violent offences decrease in the upper grade levels .
All too often children are forced to fit in. When they don’t it is hard for them to function in school. Children will take from others, rob and even murder others all so they can have the latest Jordan’s or Nike hat. When children wear uniforms they all look alike kind of like team mates do. Able Being able to tell who belongs at the school is important to keep away the gangs. It also keeps those who would plan to harm others out of the building by helping staff identify who should or should not be on school grounds. Yes I know that there are ways around this but it would deter some. I do think that schools who adopt a uniform for both teachers and students are taking a great extra step to insure that the students are clear also as to who belongs in the school and who doesn’t. According to King (1998), “Children's hunger to be fashionable brings another dimension to the connection between clothing style and...
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...he better quality shoes or clothing. Some kids don’t care at all how they look because they actually go to school to learn. This has caused great concern with some parents and they want to be able to provide the best educational experience for their children, without feeling the pressure to keep up. Not only is equality an issue but reducing violence in schools has become a bigger issue each year. School uniforms have increased equality in lower grade levels, and helped violent offences decrease in the upper grade levels. By allowing are children to feel equal and get a good education we are doing what our ancestors fought for, and that is giving them the knowledge to be free. The more you know in life the further you will succeed and by providing a safe, non-threatening, equal, collaborative environment for our children we are adding to their chance odof success.
Having some sameness can create a safe environment in schools. Having school uniforms can help decrease in-school violence, theft rates and gang colors. School uniforms can also eliminate distraction that clothes can cause. According to a study done at a Long Beach middle school overall school crime decreased by 36% when they enforced a mandatory program. If people did not have to wear school uniforms gang rates may go up, theft rate would be higher and it would help the school see who belongs at school and who doesn’t. You need school uniforms to have a safe environment for people to teach and learn.
... students in various ways, such as to learn how to ‘cooperate’ with their friends and work out the problem.” (Mr. Knight). Uniforms are not just for schools it's also for jobs or teams you play on, so you just have to sit down and think about how school uniforms can change and the rest of your priors for the good or better, uniforms can make your school a safe place, bully and gang violence free zone. Even the statistics show schools that have uniforms have a decrease bullying, gang violence and other crimes. Putnam City Schools should adopt school uniforms next year.
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.
Children tend to break off into “cliques” and uniforms could possibly help unite students. Finding creative ways to express their individuality through other outlets other than fashion can help children forge friendships based on their common interests. In conclusion, I feel that school uniforms are something all schools should really consider implementing in their policy. All of these points show that they can be budget-friendly, help children focus and lower the barriers children can build up because of merely what they are wearing.
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.
Have you ever thought about the many ways that a lot of students each day get in trouble and are out of dress code? There are so many ways that kids get in trouble in school due to what they wear. So, what are some ways that you can prevent kids from getting in trouble at school from their outfits? School uniforms can be a way for preventing the large number of students that get in trouble. I think that schools should make everyone wear school uniforms because they are such a big help to schools and students with the dress code and gangs that wearing uniforms creates a better environment for kids to learn in.
School uniforms are a very controversial subject for students. Just hearing the word uniform to some students causes fear and resentment to the idea that they have to look and dress a certain way. They get the feeling that everything that separates them from being who they are is being stripped away and now they are no better than the person sitting next to them. School uniforms stop the kids that wear American eagle, and Abercrombie and Fitch from being known as the rich kids. The kids that are a part of the lower and middle class don’t get to wear the name brand clothes, and in a lot of cases they get bullied very roughly for not being able to look nicer. Uniforms change all of that there is no more wealth class, or differences;
The first dress code was sent to be decided by the Supreme Court. The problem was that students were protesting against the Vietnam War by wearing black wristbands which educators thought to be disrupting to the classroom. However, these codes help prepare kids for the real world where they must dress to the appropriate attire. Research shows, that students learn better when there is a dress code in place and the staff says many students are less worried about what they are wearing and focusing more on completing their school work. Dress codes also introduce a healthy learning environment for kids and help reduce violence. Other statistics have changes as well. Attendance has gone up and gang violence has gone down. Some students are feeling uncomfortable and are saying students are going to have to start dressing the same due to the dress code. On the same note, students also feel that their individualism has gone down because there are so many restrictions on what they can and cannot
1. When students are all wearing the same outfit, they are less concerned about how they look and how they fit in with their peers; which helps them concentrate on their school work.
Poorer students do not feel and are not treated as inferior because they don’t have nice clothes” (Daniels). Since public schooling is welcome to students from all backgrounds, it is important that everyone is treated with the same respect. Not only is it important that no one is put down, it is also important that there is an organization. According to another source, when students wear uniforms it “promotes conformity to organizational goals” which is very helpful on the staff part, making sure that no one is in the school that should not be (LaPoint and Holloman). Another source states that uniforms “help teachers more quickly identify students on field trips as well as spot outsiders who enter the building” (“School Uniforms”).
Picture in your mind, a world where no student is stressed about how they look. A world where a child is judged not by their clothing or social standing, but by their character and their willingness to learn. This world you just imagined could one day be achieved by letting children learn first and establish their place in the school hierarchy later. You may be asking yourself, ‘How could this possibly become reality?’ (Latham) Well, we can look at several schools in China, such as Hong Kong Academy the third highest scoring secondary school in the country, to see that they associate the school uniform to their school’s success. If the highest academically rated schools are advocating the uniform there must be a reason for it. By definition the school uniform is a uniform worn by students primarily for a school or otherwise educational institution. They are common in primary and secondary schools in various countries and
Imagine if you were going to school and you found out you had to wear a school uniform every day. You would look the same as everyone else in your school, no individuality as a result of that. Students should be able to wear what they want in school and not get in trouble for that. That is why we believe that schools should not make uniforms mandatory for every student to wear. School uniforms shouldn’t be in schools because students can’t express themselves, there is no significant effect on student’s education, and they may become more prone to bullies.
Should school uniforms be required? Some say that uniforms help students focus on academics instead of fashion. Others believe that students should have the freedom to choose what they wear to school in order to express their differences and their uniqueness. After considering both sides of the issue, I strongly believe that uniforms should be introduced in primary public and private schools. Wearing school uniforms does not promote unfair comparisons between student’s incomes in terms of clothing; they aid students in developing their inner qualities instead of focusing on the outer aspects of themselves in the crucial earlier years of their lives, and provides a platform for practicing discipline.
Bullies frequently choose to pick on an individual based on what they wear, and as many students already have a tough time at school, they don’t need bullies to make it even worse. Imagine what would happen if they were all dressed alike? In my opinion, the use of school uniform would provide a more bully-free environment causing them to have one less reason to get picked on.
(“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.