Support School Uniforms
Reasons to Support School Uniforms The issue of implementing a school uniform policy has both strong supporters and opposition. This is a controversial and lingering subject facing many of our public school systems throughout the nation. This issue is so hot and controversial that when the school board of Polk County, Fl voted into effect a school uniform policy, 154 families filed a lawsuit in attempt to defend their rights ( Anderson,n.d). Yet when former President Clinton Expressed his support for school uniforms in a March 1996 speech, he was applauded by thousands (Atkins, 1996). Those in favor of uniforms claim there are many advantages to instituting them such as, a cost savings by eliminating name brand clothing, student security,
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school morale, and by simplifying daily school preparation. Throughout this paper the pros regarding school uniforms will be addressed and show supporting evidence and details to why school uniforms will improve schools learning environment. One of the pros would be a cost savings to parents.
Many students today are pressured by the present American youth and pop cultures to dress a particular way. This also means wearing a particular brand of clothing. Due to the popularity of the name brand clothing it is usually extremely costly to consumers. Many companies such as Lands End, JC Penny, Sears, Kmart, and The Gap, have designed a school uniform line that is both affordable and durable for parents and students (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996). According to teachers in Long Beach, CA, the standard attire worn by students have constructed a more effective learning environment by curbing gang tension and the polarization associated with name brand clothing (Kelly, 2006).School uniforms can also reduce conflict stemming from socio-economic status. For example, comments and personal attacks about whom have better clothing and so on. According to Pamela Hoffler Riddick, principle of Ruffner Middle School when everyone is dressed the same way, distractions are not easily made between the haves and have-nots (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996). This helps to put students on a more even playing field and helps focus on academic success rather than social economic status and peer pressure. According to Ramon Leyba, principle of Phoenix Preparatory Academy, school uniforms give parents another tool in the war against social pressures (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996). Although peer pressure occurs more often in upper grades, …show more content…
elementary students are not immune to it. They are simply exposed to less of it during their elementary years, particularly kindergarten through second grade. Another pro in the use of uniforms is school safety. School uniforms will eliminate the issue of gang colors from the school day and enable school officials too quickly to identify people who do not belong on school grounds (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996). Teachers say that it is much easier to spot non-students, trespassers, and other visitors in the hallways who are not wearing the standard attire uniform. District officials in Long Beach, Ca, found that the year following implementation of the school uniform policy in all elementary and middle schools overall school crime decreased 36%, fights decreased 51%, weapons offenses decreased 50%, and assault and battery offences decreased 34% (Manual on School Uniforms, 2007). Although the type of school violence seen in Long Beach is rare for most parts of the country, especially at the elementary level, uniforms can still help ensure student’s safety by clearly distinguishing them from non-students. The third pro to adopting a school uniform policy is school moral. School uniforms aim to improve school climate, reflect a sense of pride, and affiliation. In Japan, all students are required to wear uniforms. Each school has his, or her own particular uniform. According to Japanese student, the uniforms vary in detail from school to school. When they meet another student on the street, they can immediately tell which school they attend. Students take pride in wearing their uniforms in public (PBS News Hour, n.d.). For Japanese students wearing uniforms is a way of life. Not only is it accepted throughout their communities but it is also preferred. According to Philomina Harshaw, principal of George Washington Carver Elementary in Kansas City, when individuals are well dressed they tend to act differently. This helps to keep the school environment focused on academics and pride (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996). Many principles agreed that a new sense of calmness was observed throughout their schools after students began wearing uniforms (Manual on School Uniforms, 1996). In my opinion, uniforms help to build a sense of pride amongst the student body. The fourth and final advantage to adopting a uniform policy is simplifying daily school preparation and maintenance for families. Many supporters claim that a school uniform alleviates the morning struggle over what to wear. According to Roni Baudor, a mother in Salinas, Ca, she and her son spend valuable time each morning arguing about which clothes match and which look presentable (Anderson, n.d.). She also states that her son is eight years old and fears that the problem will only escalate as he grows older (Anderson, n.d.). I can remember as a child fighting with my mother during the morning over which outfit to wear. There were many days when I went to school in tears because my mother had won the wardrobe battle that morning. As a teenager, I can also remember arriving to school tardy or just as the bell was ringing because I had wasted time in the morning worrying over what to wear. Had there been a uniform policy at the schools which I attended the issue over what to wear would have been moot. Although, there are many supporters of the school uniform movement, there are also many people who opposed to the idea. The strongest argument against school uniforms is that many believe that it violates the First Amendment. Many feel that by imposing a school uniform policy ones freedom of expression is extremely restricted. Many parents of Polk County, Fl, asked are not schools supposed to teach students the importance of our rights, and are schools putting themselves above the law? (Swartz, n.d.). Unsurprisingly, the American Civil Liberties Union or ACLU is one of the biggest and most prominent groups to oppose school uniforms. The ACLU insists that a uniform policy creates a school environment that represses individuality and induces conformity (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996). The ACLU concludes that by banning every form of individual expression what you have left are not students, but soldiers (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996). It is in fact that a uniform would prevent an individual from wearing particular clothing styles and colors. However, the uniform dress code would only apply to the students when attending school. On holidays and weekends students would have the freedom to wear clothing of their or their parent’s choice. An individual’s character and expressiveness are not solely determined by the articles of clothing on their body. During my research, I found a statement that rivaled the freedom of expression debate better that any other I had read. According to Denis Doyle, founder of Doyle Associates, an education consulting firm in Chevy, Md, uniforms were not introduced to impose conformity, but to inject a sense of purpose, and to devalue, at least for the school day, the idea that our material coverings are not what make us individuals in the first place (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996).
My personal evaluation on the issue of school uniforms is that they are a positive addition to a public school.
We understand that uniforms do not single handedly improve a students academic success but, it will set a tone for a more productive learning environment, which all students need in order to succeed. We should also take into consideration that by a school adopting a school uniform policy; it is sending a clear message to its students and parents that education is the top priority and main
focus.
Refences
Atkins, A. & Schlosberg, J. (2007, August). Better homes and gardens: Dressed to
learn. Education, 42 & 44.
Trump, K. (2007). National school safety and security services – School uniforms, dress codes, & book bags. Retrieved August 31, 2007, from http://www.schoolsecurity.org/resources/uniforms.html Manual on School Uniforms. (2007, August).School Uniforms: Where they are and why they work. Retrieved August 29, 2007, from http://www.ed.gov/updates/uniforms.hlml PBS News Hour. (n.d.). School uniforms. Retrieved August 30, 2007, from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/infocus/fashion/school.hlml Wikipedia. (2007). Japanese school uniforms. Retrieved July 26, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/japanese school uniform
Swartz, S. (n.d.). An examination of the effects of school uniforms on student achievement and behavior. Retrieved September 13, 2007, from http://www2.selu.edu/academics/education/EDF600/swartz.htm
school morale, and by simplifying daily school preparation. Throughout this paper the pros regarding school uniforms will be addressed and show supporting evidence and details to why school uniforms will improve schools learning environment. One of the pros would be a cost savings to parents.
Many students today are pressured by the present American youth and pop cultures to dress a particular way. This also means wearing a particular brand of clothing. Due to the popularity of the name brand clothing it is usually extremely costly to consumers. Many companies such as Lands End, JC Penny, Sears, Kmart, and The Gap, have designed a school uniform line that is both affordable and durable for parents and students (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996). According to teachers in Long Beach, CA, the standard attire worn by students have constructed a more effective learning environment by curbing gang tension and the polarization associated with name brand clothing (Kelly, 2006).School uniforms can also reduce conflict stemming from socio-economic status. For example, comments and personal attacks about whom have better clothing and so on. According to Pamela Hoffler Riddick, principle of Ruffner Middle School when everyone is dressed the same way, distractions are not easily made between the haves and have-nots (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996). This helps to put students on a more even playing field and helps focus on academic success rather than social economic status and peer pressure. According to Ramon Leyba, principle of Phoenix Preparatory Academy, school uniforms give parents another tool in the war against social pressures (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996). Although peer pressure occurs more often in upper grades, …show more content…
elementary students are not immune to it. They are simply exposed to less of it during their elementary years, particularly kindergarten through second grade. Another pro in the use of uniforms is school safety. School uniforms will eliminate the issue of gang colors from the school day and enable school officials too quickly to identify people who do not belong on school grounds (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996). Teachers say that it is much easier to spot non-students, trespassers, and other visitors in the hallways who are not wearing the standard attire uniform. District officials in Long Beach, Ca, found that the year following implementation of the school uniform policy in all elementary and middle schools overall school crime decreased 36%, fights decreased 51%, weapons offenses decreased 50%, and assault and battery offences decreased 34% (Manual on School Uniforms, 2007). Although the type of school violence seen in Long Beach is rare for most parts of the country, especially at the elementary level, uniforms can still help ensure student’s safety by clearly distinguishing them from non-students. The third pro to adopting a school uniform policy is school moral. School uniforms aim to improve school climate, reflect a sense of pride, and affiliation. In Japan, all students are required to wear uniforms. Each school has his, or her own particular uniform. According to Japanese student, the uniforms vary in detail from school to school. When they meet another student on the street, they can immediately tell which school they attend. Students take pride in wearing their uniforms in public (PBS News Hour, n.d.). For Japanese students wearing uniforms is a way of life. Not only is it accepted throughout their communities but it is also preferred. According to Philomina Harshaw, principal of George Washington Carver Elementary in Kansas City, when individuals are well dressed they tend to act differently. This helps to keep the school environment focused on academics and pride (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996). Many principles agreed that a new sense of calmness was observed throughout their schools after students began wearing uniforms (Manual on School Uniforms, 1996). In my opinion, uniforms help to build a sense of pride amongst the student body. The fourth and final advantage to adopting a uniform policy is simplifying daily school preparation and maintenance for families. Many supporters claim that a school uniform alleviates the morning struggle over what to wear. According to Roni Baudor, a mother in Salinas, Ca, she and her son spend valuable time each morning arguing about which clothes match and which look presentable (Anderson, n.d.). She also states that her son is eight years old and fears that the problem will only escalate as he grows older (Anderson, n.d.). I can remember as a child fighting with my mother during the morning over which outfit to wear. There were many days when I went to school in tears because my mother had won the wardrobe battle that morning. As a teenager, I can also remember arriving to school tardy or just as the bell was ringing because I had wasted time in the morning worrying over what to wear. Had there been a uniform policy at the schools which I attended the issue over what to wear would have been moot. Although, there are many supporters of the school uniform movement, there are also many people who opposed to the idea. The strongest argument against school uniforms is that many believe that it violates the First Amendment. Many feel that by imposing a school uniform policy ones freedom of expression is extremely restricted. Many parents of Polk County, Fl, asked are not schools supposed to teach students the importance of our rights, and are schools putting themselves above the law? (Swartz, n.d.). Unsurprisingly, the American Civil Liberties Union or ACLU is one of the biggest and most prominent groups to oppose school uniforms. The ACLU insists that a uniform policy creates a school environment that represses individuality and induces conformity (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996). The ACLU concludes that by banning every form of individual expression what you have left are not students, but soldiers (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996). It is in fact that a uniform would prevent an individual from wearing particular clothing styles and colors. However, the uniform dress code would only apply to the students when attending school. On holidays and weekends students would have the freedom to wear clothing of their or their parent’s choice. An individual’s character and expressiveness are not solely determined by the articles of clothing on their body. During my research, I found a statement that rivaled the freedom of expression debate better that any other I had read. According to Denis Doyle, founder of Doyle Associates, an education consulting firm in Chevy, Md, uniforms were not introduced to impose conformity, but to inject a sense of purpose, and to devalue, at least for the school day, the idea that our material coverings are not what make us individuals in the first place (Atkins and Schlosberg, 1996).
My personal evaluation on the issue of school uniforms is that they are a positive addition to a public school.
We understand that uniforms do not single handedly improve a students academic success but, it will set a tone for a more productive learning environment, which all students need in order to succeed. We should also take into consideration that by a school adopting a school uniform policy; it is sending a clear message to its students and parents that education is the top priority and main
focus.
Refences
Atkins, A. & Schlosberg, J. (2007, August). Better homes and gardens: Dressed to
learn. Education, 42 & 44.
Trump, K. (2007). National school safety and security services – School uniforms, dress codes, & book bags. Retrieved August 31, 2007, from http://www.schoolsecurity.org/resources/uniforms.html Manual on School Uniforms. (2007, August).School Uniforms: Where they are and why they work. Retrieved August 29, 2007, from http://www.ed.gov/updates/uniforms.hlml PBS News Hour. (n.d.). School uniforms. Retrieved August 30, 2007, from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/infocus/fashion/school.hlml Wikipedia. (2007). Japanese school uniforms. Retrieved July 26, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/japanese school uniform
Swartz, S. (n.d.). An examination of the effects of school uniforms on student achievement and behavior. Retrieved September 13, 2007, from http://www2.selu.edu/academics/education/EDF600/swartz.htm