The School Uniform Debate
The School Uniform Debate
In the United States, school uniforms were once the exclusive domain of private and religious schools, but since the 1990s they have been hailed as a solution to issues surrounding drugs, violence, and academic shortcomings afflicting many public schools, particularly in urban areas (Donnelly, 2008). For the past few decades, schools, parents, and students have clashed over the issue of regulating student attire. Meanwhile, researchers are divided over how much of an impact, if any, dress policies have upon student learning. Standardized dress or uniforms are transforming schools into places where learning is positively affected. Uniforms and dress codes put the focus on school, rather than social and illicit activities (Martin, 2010). Students worried about personal safety can have difficulty concentrating. Schools that require students to wear uniforms are taking steps to reduce the chance that students will use baggy clothes to cover up weapons. This also prevents students from advertising gang membership. Schools that choose to have uniforms are easily able to recognize unwanted outsiders and take action to remove them. This also can curtail violence as well as drug dealing on campus (Martin, 2010).
Attendance can be bolstered when schools implement school uniforms, according to a University of Houston study conducted by economics professor Scott Imberman. School attendance is directly related to achievement, as when students attend school regularly, they learn more. Clothes can affect student attendance negatively when students wear inappropriate clothing to school and are sent home for the day (Martin, 2010).
Schools where students are required to wear a school uniform are in an environment in which the teachers and faculty are sending a clear message that students need to put academics before fashion (Martin, 2010). Parents also send their children an important message when they dress them in uniforms. “It is not
In the United States, school uniforms were once the exclusive domain of private and religious schools, but since the 1990s they have been hailed as a solution to issues surrounding drugs, violence, and academic shortcomings afflicting many public schools, particularly in urban areas (Donnelly, 2008). For the past few decades, schools, parents, and students have clashed over the issue of regulating student attire. Meanwhile, researchers are divided over how much of an impact, if any, dress policies have upon student learning. Standardized dress or uniforms are transforming schools into places where learning is positively affected. Uniforms and dress codes put the focus on school, rather than social and illicit activities (Martin, 2010). Students worried about personal safety can have difficulty concentrating. Schools that require students to wear uniforms are taking steps to reduce the chance that students will use baggy clothes to cover up weapons. This also prevents students from advertising gang membership. Schools that choose to have uniforms are easily able to recognize unwanted outsiders and take action to remove them. This also can curtail violence as well as drug dealing on campus (Martin, 2010).
Attendance can be bolstered when schools implement school uniforms, according to a University of Houston study conducted by economics professor Scott Imberman. School attendance is directly related to achievement, as when students attend school regularly, they learn more. Clothes can affect student attendance negatively when students wear inappropriate clothing to school and are sent home for the day (Martin, 2010).
Schools where students are required to wear a school uniform are in an environment in which the teachers and faculty are sending a clear message that students need to put academics before fashion (Martin, 2010). Parents also send their children an important message when they dress them in uniforms. “It is not
References: Donnelly, M. (2008). Dress Codes & Uniforms in Public Schools. Dress Codes & Uniforms In Public Schools -- Research Starters Education, 1. EBSCOhost (accessed March 24, 2013). Gursky, D. (1996). `Uniform ' improvement? Education Digest, 61(7), 46. EBSCOhost (accessed March 24, 2013). Martin, M. (2010). How Do the Clothes Kids Wear Affect How They Learn?. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/248103-how-do-the-clothes-kids-wear-affect-how-they-learn/#ixzz2O1jOAM8K National Center for Education Statistics.(2012). Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display. asp?id=334 Peters, K. (1996). Can uniforms improve school climate? Thrust For Educational Leadership, 25(4), 36 EBSCOhost (accessed March 24, 2013).