High School Uniforms

With gang activity, strict dress codes, and bullying becoming more relevant, the idea of school uniforms crosses the mind of many school districts across the country. Even though it may stop students from expressing themselves it would make it easier for staff members to enforce these strict dress codes, reduce the amount of bullying, and overall make schools easier. Which is why schools should have uniforms.

Not only do school uniforms aid the parents financial status, it allows them to limit what they have to buy in regards to clothes on the weekends. This also creates a sense of appreciation in students for their nicer clothing. There is no obligation to buying new

On February 24 of 1996 when President Bill Clinton made a speech at the Jackie Robinson Academy in Long Beach California he stated “This remarkable progress that you have shown in your school as a result of your school uniform policy, making it safe, more disciplined and orderly, creates teachers who focus on teaching and students who focus on their job of learning” (Bily, 2014 p.5). The school dress code debate is not new and the belief that it makes schools safer and improves learning and test scores has been in the forefront as one of the many ways to improve and promote education in our country. The school classrooms in this country are nothing like they were in the past.

Uniforms should not be required because they don’t stop bullying and intellectual decline. A uniform being put on a person doesn’t affect their grades because a uniform doesn’t change how one's mind works. When one school was required to wear a uniform for a semester and wasn’t required to wear a uniform for another semester and then the semester grades of students were looked at, in the article “Back to School Shoppers Debate” by Courtenay Edelhart she states “The transition didn’t affect grades” (Edelhart). Why do schools continuously still think that a uniform is a solution to their problems? The real reason is the schools think that uniforms will work as a band-aid for low grades, but according to this research that didn’t work. Another thing that schools want uniforms for is to decrease disciplinary problems and gang relations. They think that by making students wear uniforms they will not fight. Again a uniform doesn’t change how the brain works. In an article called “School Uniforms” it states “Several academic research studies, they point out, have found that uniforms have no quantifiable effect on academic achievement, attendance, or discipline” (School Uniforms 1). The study was done several times which clearly shows that the first study wasn’t a fluke. This study found things on discipline issues, and it backed up research on academic issues. Both of these studies suggest that a uniform will not help the growing violence and academic levels in schools.

School uniforms would decrease violence in many public schools because they would reduce the amount of theft that may occur, the amount of bullying that occurs on a daily basis, and the amount of attempted or successful murders that occur. Uniforms would reduce the amount of theft that occurs because every student would be wearing the same clothing. If every student is wearing the same article of clothing, students would not be tempted to steal clothing, shoes, or jewelry from one another. Uniforms would also make every student feel a sense of equality.

Furthermore, school uniforms have the potential to make schools a whole lot safer. Think of it like this – if you were to see a student walk in wearing an ugly polo shirt and sweat pants, (s)he would probably be picked on just because of what (s)he is wearing. We as humans naturally judge on what we see first, and it’s usually their face / clothing. If school uniforms were implemented in many places, then it would eradicate school violence and students wouldn’t be indignant with each other based on what they wear. Also, since everyone on school grounds is wearing their uniform, it would be easy to pinpoint unwanted visitors and be one step ahead. Not to mention it would help kids with less money evade the bullying and teasing that they would usually receive, which brings me to my next point.

Schools are all over the world, and a having school uniforms would lower the bullying levels. A bully could make fun of one’s clothing, how someone dresses, and how they look. Without a name tag of nike, or under armour a student may get made fun of for not having name brand clothing. With school uniforms the bullying levels would lower, and their would be less absences through the year. School uniforms

Having uniforms will not stop the bullying at schools. Schools think if students wear uniforms it will result in less bullying with one another. Schools will always have one kid that will do bad things either ways if he or she still wears uniform their can still be a gang that will bully them. In the article “Uniform Effect?” by Viadero he states “Children at this age are always going to find something wrong with someone.” Viadero states quote from Mikesell-Bailey because no matter what any kid will find a way to bully someone just to be cool. If students wear uniforms and some kids don't like it and they feel ashamed of themselves there will be at least one girl or boy that will bully that person of the way they look with it and it goes the

First of all, if school uniforms were implemented there would be higher graduation and attendance rates. It would also decrease gang violence. More students are inclined to show up to school if they wear a school uniform. There is less gang violence because the students in gangs are not representing their color but they are representing the school with their

A multitude of schools now are making their students wear uniforms to school. This can be harmful for any reason. Some people say that it can decrease violence at school, but there is no evidence to support that. School uniforms can be expensive and can be a financial burden for low-income families. Uniforms remove away a child’s individuality and freedom to express themselves.

Growing up in parochial schools, uniforms were a part of my daily life. I wore uniforms for twelve consecutive years, and I feel very strongly that they impacted my education for the better. I had many friends attending public schools, and though they got to wear the latest fashion trends and look cute going to school, I felt that they were at a disadvantage not having uniforms. Uniforms should be implemented in primary and secondary schools because they enhance self-esteem, produce a conducive learning environment, increase safety, and are cost effective.

Another big benefit to having a school uniform is the increase of student safety in multiple things. The first, is the reduction of bullying. This happens at schools with mandatory uniforms because it gives bullies less ammunition. Bullies have less ammunition because social status and wealth are not visible to other students because everyone is wearing the same thing. Another thing more broad than bullying is physical student safety. For example, at a K-8 school system in Long Beach,CA enforced a two year mandatory uniform policy and the results were staggering. Assault reports dropped by 34%. Sex offences got cut by a whopping 74%! Fighting incidents decreased by 51%, and vandalism dropped by 18%. It is crazy to me how much things can improve in just two short years by having kids wear uniforms. One more thing, is that it makes it a lot easier to identify trespassers. I mean think of all the school shootings that have

In his hopes to create "an atmosphere in our school that promotes discipline and order and learning," President William Jefferson Clinton stated, "I believe we should give strong support to school districts that decide to require young students to wear school uniforms." He cited several incidents where student's desire for another's fashionable attire has led to extreme forms of violence (Clinton 1996). This exemplifies one of the many implications of a necessity for school uniforms. Many advocates claim that school uniforms curb violence, limit the potential for gang members to wear representative colors, deter theft, and install students with stronger work ethic and school pride, among many other things. Critics,

School systems have debated for years if they should make school uniforms mandatory for all students. Some parents do not want school systems to mandate uniforms due to pressure from their children to be able to maintain their individuality through clothing, while other parents prefer uniforms to reduce spending money on name brand school clothes and to minimize associations with gangs. More school systems across the United States of America are going to uniforms from grades one through twelve where students are still impressionable by their peers. I believe public schools should require students to wear school uniforms to help parents save money in these hard economic times, to limit the number of incidents of violence in the school systems due to gangs and gang associates such as colors, and to prepare students for the job force after school where some places make it mandatory to wear uniforms to work every day.

(Cons, Pro) Requiring all students to wear the same uniform creates less diversity and causes students to become more dedicated in their academics. By doing so, uniforms, “take away the daily fashion show and helps level the playing field a little bit with the haves and have-nots,” (Sweeney, Emily).