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Mandatory uniforms for schools
Mandatory uniforms for schools
School uniforms
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The first standardized dress code is believed to have been recorded in England during the early 1200’s. Their uniforms consisted of very distinctive scarves, handkerchiefs, waist coats, and heeled shoes. School uniforms in England were used as a representation of social status. It was later adopted by many schooling systems in other countries, such as Japan and Africa. Japan is now known for having almost all schools in the country enforcing dress code policies. The United States later followed suit in the late 1900’s, limiting dress code policies to mainly private and parochial schools. School dress code is rarely seen in public schools in Europe and Canada, though you may see one enforced in many private schools in the area. A uniform is …show more content…
The topics of her articles focus mainly on education and school environments. Throughout her article ‘Do uniforms make schools better?’, she speaks on the impact dress code policy has made in certain schools around the United States and how it reduces the amount of gang-related violence on campus. In her article, Wilde states, “... when the researchers looked into school discipline and local police records and compared them to the prior year’s data, discipline referrals were down 10 percent, there were 63 percent fewer police log reports, and graffiti, fights, and gang-related activity were all down.”(Wilde 20) In other words, enforcing uniform code contributed to the reduction of violence and vandalism on school grounds, making it a safer place for students working to gain an education and allow them to focus more without having fear. She also gave a quote from President Clinton expressing his approval for the uniform policies being enforced throughout the nation. The quote stated, “If it means teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms” (Wilde 4). Over time, officials of district schools around the country have seen large amounts of improvement after dress code policies were enforced into public schools, including higher academic achievements and attendance rates. Marian Wilde’s credibility as a source is …show more content…
In his article, Constitution Check: Do school uniform policies violate the First Amendment?, he speaks on the issue of school uniforms violating students’ rights of free speech. In the piece, Denniston states,”...it not the business is of the government to decide which views are acceptable, and which are not, and the right to speak one’s own views is matched by protection against having to utter someone else’s views – especially, views favored by the government.”(Denniston 3) The first amendment protects students from having to be restricted from expressing themselves instead of following after others opinion, such as the government. School uniforms are a violation of the rights entitled to students because it limits their freedom of expression and comfortability through clothing. Though some countries do not have freedom of speech, such as North Korea and Cuba, most do. Later in the piece, he talks about different Supreme Court cases concerning uniform policies and the violation of the first amendment. Denniston’s credibility is increased as source throughout the article as he states that he has reported on the Supreme Court and constitutional issues for over 55 years, basically imply that he has a decent amount of experience to support his argument. The source appears to not have any
Dress codes are essential for all schools across America. Dress codes will set the tone for students to be safe because they will help reduce violence, increase student safety, and provide a positive learning environment. Dress codes can reduce violence in many different ways. “The National School Board Association estimates that approximately 135,000 guns are brought to America’s 85,000 public schools each day.” (Larry Wilder, Pros of the Dress Code, pg. 1) “Some dress codes require students to have the belt line exposed at all times for fear of guns concealed under clothing.”
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.
Miller includes the quotes and opinions of both those in favor and not in favor, and does not impose her own views on the reader. This article was worth my time because it expanded my view of dress codes and the reasons they are established. It did not change my view per say, but I see now how at times they are necessary until deeper, more thorough changes can be made, especially when student 's lives are at stake. It is for this reason that schools in Detroit have taken action against crimes within the student population by adopting a dress code. Mumford High School was the first school in Detroit to enforce a dress code in 1986. The school also requires that all book bags be see-through to ensure that students are not concealing firearms or any other weapons. Subsequently, Dunbar High School also enforced a dress code in 1988. Today, offenders of these regulations are punished with suspension and negative marks upon permanent records. After these adjustments were made, the number of robberies at Dunbar had dropped significantly. Along with the Mumford and Dunbar high school, Tilton Elementary School in Detroit adopted an optional uniform after a rise in student robberies. 10 year old LaDonna White, a fifth-grader at Tilton Elementary responds, "The code shows that you come to school to work and not to play, and it saves your parents money. And people
One main reason public schools have uniforms / dress code is because in 1996, President Clinton allowed the school uniform movement and said, “If it means teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms.” This gave schools the power to control the students with dress code. A few pros about having dress code in public schools are prevention from formation of gangs, identify intruders, resist peer pressure, and take away social barriers. But the cons give more reasons on why not to have dress code. Some are violation of freedom of expression, “Band-Aid” on school violence, bully targets, financial issue for certain families, and difficult to enforce. Dress code can vary from a button down solid polo with a tie, to solid colors, navy / khaki pants, to any polo shirt without offensive print / sayings and unholy jeans. Dress code also can exclude tattoos, baggy clothes, holes, scarves, leggings, strapless garments, and visible piercings (except in ear).
Dress code enforces the modest dress of students, preventing bullying and distractions.Numerous people believe clothing is a distraction and when eliminated the school environment is more professional and gives a better education to a student. Authority figures consider the school apparel enforcements are constitutionally sound, not affecting the child’s right to freely express, and providing a professional and working setting causing a better learning environment and decreased amount of bullying due to clear differences in appearance. However, opposers disagree with the restrictive code because of its limitations on individuality
The debate over the use of school uniforms in public schools is one that has raged on for decades, and still hasn’t come to a conclusion. School uniforms are increasingly being enforced in public schools throughout the country, amidst a slew of opposition. Some people believe that school uniforms do not help our schools and their students, but hurt the schools and smother the student’s freedom. More specifically, some schools in the Greeley/Evans School District 6 have adopted school uniforms to try and improve the respective schools problems while some schools haven’t adopted uniforms. This leads people to question, should the Greeley-Evans School District adopt a school uniform policy?
Ensuing President Bill Clinton's State of the Union address in January of 1996, more and more public schools are implementing dress codes and uniform policies in their schools. As a result, there has been an increase in legal controversies dealing with the issue. The reason that dress codes are not conclusively enforced is due to the application of the First Amendment to juveniles in the public school setting. The First Amendment states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Should children in public schools be able to wear whatever they want because of the freedoms classified in the First Amendment? I feel that the answer is no. Institutionalizing dress codes in public schools would do a great good for students and the entire academic community. I base my opinion on the fact that the pros of imposing dress codes outweigh the cons of the argument. By imposing dress codes or uniforms for students, it would eliminate opportunities for the ridicule of less popular or less fortunate students based on their attire, help prevent gang violence and gang members from wearing gang colors and insignia in schools, and generate an overall better academic concentration and discipline in the educational community.
"’School uniforms are one step that may help break the cycle of violence, truancy and disorder by helping young students understand what really counts is what kind of people they are,’ President Clinton said. It didn 't take much more than this presidential nod of approval to get the uniform ball rolling in many school districts across the country” (Bowen). Are school uniforms really the answer to the public schools’ problems? Although having a school uniform policy is mostly beneficial to schools, there are some drawbacks to having one. While uniforms provide less cost to the parent and less chance of bullying in schools, they also limit a student’s freedom of expression and can decrease the student’s comfort level.
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.
It has been observed that the adoption of school uniform policies can promote school safety, improve discipline, and enhance the learning environment. The potential benefits of school uniforms include decreasing violence and theft. Some instances involving designer clothing and expensive sneakers have even led to life-threatening situations among students. Uniforms would also prevent gang members from wearing gang colors and insignia at school. Uniforms would also teach students discipline and help them resist peer pressure. Uniforms would also help students concentrate on their schoolwork and would help school officials detect intruders who come unwelcome into the school.
Dress codes and uniforms have been deemed legal by the United States Supreme Court. As long as the dress code or uniform regulations pass a four-pronged test. Opposition for school uniforms holds fast to preserving the sanctity of freedom of speech. The supreme court ultimately has decided that dress codes and uniforms do not violate the freedom of speech. In Harold W. Mitchell and John C. Knechtle’s study of the first amendment rights and dress code, they note that in 1968 in Ginsberg v. New York the supreme court ruled that “[t]he state has power to control the conduct of children that reaches beyond its scope of authority over adults (491).” Mitchell and Knechtle go further into explaining the 4 pronged rule the supreme court uses to judge if a rule is against the freedom of
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
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).
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...
Proponents of school uniforms agree that students’ school uniforms are not a violation of their First Amendment of the U.S. constitution right. In the case of Canady v. Bossier Parish School Board, the Fifth Circuit upheld that “students remain free to wear what they want after school hours. Students may still express their views through other mediums during the school day” (Canady v. Bossier Parish School Board). Advocates for school uniforms argue that school is for learning, and that self-expression is for after-school hours. Some people will say that there is room for self-expression such that students’ can use hairstyles and accessories to start forming their individuality. However, proponents of school uniforms need to