In the 2009-2010 school year, nineteen percent of public school principals reported requiring uniforms, from being twelve percent a decade earlier. As of right now, the percentage of public schools who reported the enforcement of strict dress code rose from 47 percent to 57 percent during the decade. Many people will argue that school uniforms are a benefit to students due to the fact that it could possibly decrease bullying or that the uniform will increase work ethic. Instilling school uniforms can actually be a large distraction in a public school. Attending a place of education where the norm for dress code is sweatpants and hoodies quickly turns to khakis and polos, can change from being a step in the right direction to a major step in …show more content…
Self expression is one of the biggest reasons having a school uniform is frowned upon by a vast majority of students. Junior Sara Hogan stated, "Dress codes are OK...I understand schools not wanting students to wear distracting clothing, but individuality would be lost with school uniforms..." Students want to show their individuality by the clothes they wear, and with school uniforms that is not a possibility. Instead of students paying attention to the teachers and learning to the fullest extent, they will worry about breaking dress code. Karen McAlhaney states,“Parents should be the ones to decide what clothing their children wear.” It should not be a concern of the school as to what the students are wearing unless it is blatantly inappropriate, it should be a conversation between parent and …show more content…
While the thought of a student not having to worry about their fashion might heighten the span of attention, if one does not want to pay attention they will not. "My advice to superintendents and principals, especially those in high-risk school districts, would be that uniforms may help reduce problem behaviors and may create a more orderly environment for learning," Draa said. "They are not a cure-all, but they certainly may help." Adding a school uniform policy will not add the impact wished for by the school. A student graduating has nothing to do with the clothes they wear and all to do with their dedication to moving on in life. While a social stigma is present without school uniforms, adding them will not do away with it, it could potentially make it worse. Regardless of a uniform, cliques will be formed, students will find a way to personalize the clothing and alienate others. “Children who are in trouble at school because of overzealous policing of “rule breakers” are not going to be motivated to attend school regularly, try hard in classes, or have a sense of belonging.” Having a sense of belonging, something needed to avoid the feeling of being a social outcast because no matter what happens reputation matters in the teen world and adult
Officials say that students feel happier when they don’t have to worry about their clothes. Which would help students focus in class better. Virginia Draa, assistant professor at Youngstown state university took a survey with students with uniforms and students without uniforms. Her results were fascinating, she said that even if their wasn’t that much of an academic improvement. But she said there were better attendance, graduation and Proficiency rates. It is proven that uniforms not only help for graduation and other rates it also helps to gain discipline. Having uniforms in school would help students take school more seriously. Students would feel equal in class because there wouldn’t be any differences in clothing.
In conclusion, no matter where people stand on the issue of whether schools should have a dress code or require uniforms in schools, there are no studies that definitively prove one way is better than the other. On one hand , school uniforms have been shown to decrease school violence, and make school environment safer and aid in the academic process. In contrast, a school dress code has also been shown to have no significant impact on attendance or behavior and has not been proven to be anymore effective than not having one. No matter what, uniforms will always be a societal issue that will always be up for debate on their effectiveness.
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
School uniforms make students look more formal, and progressively affects a student’s self-esteem, discipline, and safety, and develops students to be more confident of what they can achieve in life. First, uniforms are easier for schools to enforce than non-uniforms. Uniforms help students have fewer penalizing problems and increased attendance than non-uniform schools. When students are not wearing uniforms, students tend to act the way they are dressed for school.
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.
(“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.
By requiring school uniforms in public schools, education will be improved. A dress code will enforce discipline toward learning. Uniforms improve a person’s outlook toward success. Students generally act the way they are dressed. With fewer distractions, students see the school as a workplace for teaching and learning. Students also have less stress in their lives because they are not in a fashion competition. Dress codes also lead to a change in grades. Mainly this happens because the student’s attendance comes up. There is also a change in grades because it is easier to focus when everyone looks alike.
The most common argument against school uniforms is that they take away the students right to self-expression. Yes, school uniforms limit what the students have to wear, but students can still have their own ways of self-expression. Students can still express their style of choice with their hair and what accessories they wear. Their shoe choice is also a form of self-expression. Students can make the uniforms their own style without breaking the dress code. School is a place to learn. Outside of school, self- expression is limitless. Some parents also believe that it could interfere with students' natural behavior to experiment with different identities. Having uniforms in schools helps erase the defined line of the social classes. Typically, popular kids in the higher social classes wear the trendiest clothing...
School uniforms are a boiling conversation point these days. There are so many well-built points of view about what route parents, students, and superintendents wish to go in. It has been disputed that school uniforms have the potential to make a school safer, that uniforms reduce harassment or self-esteem issues, and that uniforms return the focus to the students' learning. I disagree. I, in fact think that school uniforms do not help make our schools a more secure place, I think that they do not revisit the center of attention to student's education - they just shifted where the attention was previous, and that they won’t help cut down on harassment or self- esteem issues in school.
“We cannot forget that reinforcing economic differences drives students further apart when schools should be drawing them closer together.” There are many problems in public schools with no uniforms. The use of school uniforms could eliminate some of these problems. Although school uniforms may take away a child’s individuality, there are more benefits than disadvantages to having school uniforms in public schools because school uniforms lessen the money spent on the latest fashion trends and school uniforms provide a positive school climate. A school uniform should be a simple outfit.
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.
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
Studies have been done on how school uniforms create a better and safe environment for students and teachers. However there is contradictory about this issue because of the lack of information and other changes that might have happened at the same time as the uniform policy was being integrated. This may be difficult to single out one change that was added to the school system. Schools are believed to take away opportunities for the students to realize diversity and socioeconomic gap between students as stated by (Fossey and DeMitchell). Authors with both sides of the argument for and against school uniforms who were key components to the forming of this article are Keith A King in “Should School Uniforms be Mandated In Elementary Schools?”,
These studies were also answered by teachers and parents by marking either agree or strongly agree. When asked if school uniforms have promoted positive student behavior; 37% parents, and 95% of teachers agreed. When asked if school uniforms decreased the amount of peer pressure and bullying because students no longer had to fit in with the crowd; 47% of parents and 90% of teachers agreed. There was only one question that no teachers agreed upon but some parents agreed with. That question had to do with school uniforms taking away students personal liberty.
Point 1 (Brian): Having school uniforms will greatly lift the feeling of teamwork and sense of school spirit and belonging, and is a benefit for students. According to SafeSchools.edublogs.org, school uniform programs make it easier for students to develop a sense of belonging at school because greater attention is given to who they are instead of what they wear. School uniforms will make students feel that they are ...