More handpicked essays just for you.
Why schools should have no uniform
Why schools should have no uniform
Positive and negative effects of school uniforms
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Why schools should have no uniform
School Uniforms 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? The most concise response to this question is, nobody knows. The superintendent of the Long Beach School District claims that the district's self-generated data showing decreases in certain forms of student misconduct is proof that uniforms work. But other steps to improve student behavior, like increasing the number of teachers patrolling the hallways during clas...
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.
I strongly believe that children should come with an instruction manual in different languages, after all, even the most complicated computer system or VCR has a manual in three to four languages, or more. Granted, sometimes we can't understand the instructions, but we have them and sometimes even a toll-free help line. Now some people would say their own parent would be the help-line but not always does that work out. Our own parents advice can be, shall I say, out-dated; for example, many would suggest to us "new" parents to tell our child, "what we say goes," or "stop that crying or I'll give you something to cry about," or "do it because I'm the parent and I said so," not the desired tone for positive interaction with our children. So often parents today are left with either, no instructions at all, or, not the right kind of instructions.
In Long Beach California, they were the first to prove that school uniforms actually do reduce the amount of violence. With a 51 percent drop of physical fights, 34 percent drop in assaults, 50 percent drop in weapon offences, and 32 percent drop with suspensions. They introduced school uniforms in 1996 and ever since have been reducing the amount of violence in school. School uniforms should be used to stop the violence because nobody should have to get beat up because their outfit looks bad, or because it is easier to start gangs, students should not have to protect themselves by bringing a gun to school, students should be able to come to school safe, and without violence. A total of 85 students died violently in U.S schools, 75 percent incidents involving firearms. A couple of students at schools have had the option of deciding whether or not they wanted to wear uniforms, and less than 1 percent of students chose not to. Students would rather wear sometimes hideous uniforms than to risk their life. Wearing a school uniform is obviously a no brainer compared to being fire armed, but in some cases, some students, such as the 1 percent who chose not to, would rather risk their life. Wearing school uniforms could save students’ lives, and make schools a less violent place and make it a safe place
When President Clinton pointed to Long Beach, California, where the uniforms were already in place, the school said that their fights, weapons offences were reduced by half and sexual offences went down by three fourths. Since his speech in 1995, uniform use in the school district has shown amazing results, as the crime in the district decreased by 91%. Suspensions dropped by 90%, sexual offences were down by a staggering 96%, and vandalism waned by 69% after the uniforms were in place. With these amazing results, it is no wonder many other schools in the country have followed in their footsteps. A study done in 2010, based on the School Survey on Crime and Safety, found that schools with a mandatory uniform had fewer instances of drug and alcohol abuse.
All parents want their children to have the best education possible. Indeed, school should be an enriching experience for all ages and students should be provided with the tools and environment to achieve their maximum capability. The best way to accomplish this goal is to introduce a uniform policy to public schools. In 1994, the first uniforms were required in the schools of Long Beach, California; since then, other public schools have followed in their footsteps, also adopting uniform policies (Chen). The president of the Long Beach School District gave his comments on the effectiveness of uniforms, saying, “These schools are becoming educational workplaces. Students arrive dressed for success, ready to learn. They’re getting along with one another better and experiencing significant gains” (Brunsma and Rockquemore 54). It can be argued that public schools which implement a uniform policy benefit economically, socially, and educationally, as well as make the school campus safer.
“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.
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.
School uniforms have positive effects like rising attendance records, improved grades, and decreased behavioral problems. Since 1994, school systems in Long Beach, California have required school uniforms. Attendance rates have been rising and fighting has dropped by more than half. Crime and suspensions declined by approximately one third. School uniforms reduce the wearing of gang-related clothes and helps some students concentrate more on academics instead of on clothes, which in turn, increases grades.
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
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.
School uniforms in public schools are becoming increasingly popular across the nation. The public school system would benefit greatly if this policy were to be adopted. Opposition is always a factor when trying to make changes. Taking all things into consideration, the positive effects would be far greater than the negative effects. School uniforms should be required in public schools because their use would lead to higher education, less violence, and lower cost to parents.
...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.
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.
In the past few decades school has shifted its focus from education to fashion. Students are judged upon their shoes or jeans instead of what they know. Uniforms in the public education system could be a nice plan, not only is it cost effective, also it provides the students an opportunity to focus on their studies and not have to be compelled to worry about what to wear tomorrow. Also the crime or violence rate normally drops in schools that have a uniform policy, and people that don't belong on the schools property are noticed quicker and easier. Private schools have already taken in this concept, as well as some schools in England and Australia. Early morning or late evening fights over what's allowed to be worn to school may come to an end if uniforms are issued within the public school system.
One of the most popular questions in educational system in recent years is whether students of public schools wear uniforms or not. I come across this debate, at least twice a year either on television or on a radio. As more people are involved in these debates every year, it is still unclear where our Government is standing in this issue.