Persuasive Effect On School Uniforms

With that being said, as more research about the benefits of uniforms develops, the more common dress code policies are becoming in the United States. With the appropriate research, school officials, parents, and students are becoming more aware of the importance of enforcing dress code policies. As research has shown, uniforms can create a sense of unity and develop self-confidence in students (Caruso). Uniforms can also improve academic performance and limit violence among students (King). While opponents will argue that there is not enough evidence to back up the value of a dress code, research proves that uniforms can be beneficial to school systems. Just as Japan and South Korea have implemented dress codes in their school systems, the time has come for the United States to recognize the value of school uniforms (Yeung). The question still remains, should all schools in the United States be required to enforce a dress code policy? In order to provide optimum learning in the classroom, uniforms are needed now more than

In high school and middle school, however, most of the learning comes from inside the classroom. Adolescents often find out a lot about who they are in their school environments. “Ten states currently allow states to mandate school uniforms” (Boutelle, Marsha. "UNIFORMS: Are They a Good Fit?." Education Digest, vol. 73, no. 6, Feb. 2008, pp. 34-37. EBSCOhost). The advocates of school uniforms believe that they will reduce violence in schools and promote a better learning environment for students.

Having school uniforms or "dress codes", has both positives and negatives. Some people would like to believe that they help and play a role in students academic performance and behavior at school. However, others counter that, with it does not help, it only creates a bigger problem by enforcing the rules of a school dress code. According to "School Uniforms: An Overview", the definition of dress code means, "rules designed by school districts or individual schools to prescribe students ' attire" (Chittom). Although, school uniforms may help with discipline, attendance, and academic performance, it can also diminish their freedom of expression. Which conversely affects the student 's’ self esteem and

“If it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear uniforms” This statement from Bill Clinton was what started a movement toward using uniforms in-state school in the United States in 1996. Since then school uniforms have become a common thing in the school system in the United States. There is no doubt that school uniforms can lead to loss of students’ rights to express themselves and that school uniforms will not generally stop bullying even though they might increase student’s safety.

Larry Wilder, Ed. D had spent 19 years at Fresno County Office of Education, and currently directs the administrative services program in the Fresno Pacific University School of Education said, “The National School Board Association estimates that approximately 135,000 guns are brought to America’s 85,000 public schools each day.” This clearly states that there is a serious problem with students bringing guns to school. If school uniforms are implemented, these numbers are certain to go down. For example, the Long Beach Unified School District to require uniforms and in the first year of having them, there was a 50% decline in fights and cases of students with weapons. Other schools have dress codes that require the beltline to be exposed at all times for fear of a weapon in the waistband. Educators say that because of that policy, there was a decrease in violence, fights in schools and improved student achievement. School is meant to a healthy learning environment and by decreasing violence, with the use of uniforms and dress codes, schools are starting to become better learning environments.

Uniforms are traditionally favored in private schools, but they are being introduced into more and more United States public schools everyday. During the 2013-2014 school year, one in five public schools in the United States required students to wear uniforms to school everyday. This went up from one in eight schools requiring them in the 2003-2004 school year. ("Background of the Issue," n.d., para. 1). The percentage of schools that require them has increased from thirteen percent during the 2003-2004 school year, to nineteen percent in the 2011-2012 school year ("Background of the Issue," n.d., para. 18). The process of having to discipline a student because they violated the dress code is a process that nobody, student, teacher, or parent, likes to go through. Multiple students cannot drive; so when they disregard the school 's dress code, their parents have to pause whatever

“If it means that the schoolrooms will be more orderly, more disciplined,” President Clinton said, “and that our young people will learn 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 their students to wear school uniforms.” President Clinton is referring to the outfits or sets of standardized clothes that are worn primarily for an educational institution, usually in primary and secondary schools in various countries. When used, they form the basis of a school’s dress code, which is a set of rules, usually written and posted specifying the required manner of dress at a school. It began when schools had issues with grades and behavioral problems, but they didn’t want uniforms because it infringed upon individuality. The commotion began when the uniform movement began nearly four years ago when Long Beach, California became the nation’s first public school district to require elementary and middle school students to wear uniforms. Since then, public schools from east to west have debated whether they’re beneficial or not, which has caused the controversy to heat up significantly. Even though requiring uniforms in public schools have been controversial throughout history, it continues to be an area of debate for school communities because research shows that uniform policies do provide benefits to schools, but there are also disadvantages that create unfavorable conditions

School uniforms would help reduce crime and violence on the school property. School violence in all its harmful forms has potentially serious short-term and long-term effects on the individual student, the school as a whole, and the society. (Schier, 24) In the 1950’s, violence at school became commoner especially violence associated with gangs. (Davidson, 9) From the 1950’s through the 1970’s the number of crimes committed by teens at schools significantly increased. (Davidson, 9) School officials argued with the court that student’s loose-fitting clothing could be used to hide guns and other weapons. (“Update: School Uniforms”) With school uniforms, students wouldn’t be wearing baggy clothing, which would reduce weapons coming into the school. In 1995, Long Beach School District required uniforms for all students in kindergarten through eighth grade. (Konheim-Kalkstein, “A Uniform Look”) The Long Beach School District in California was the first largest urban school district to require uniforms. (Konheim-Kalkstein, “A Uniform Look”) Five years later, they said the overall crime in the school district dropped down by ninety-nine percent. (Konheim-Kalkstein, “A Uniform Look”) In urban schools, fashion trends are often characterized by gang-related clothing. School Uniforms can diminish gangs. (Konheim-Kalkstein, “A Uniform Look”) Diminishing gangs would reduce violence. After introducing uniforms, the Birmingham, Alabama

In America, there are about 49 million students enrolled into public schools of kindergarten through twelfth grade. Plus, six million students attend private schools. In that 55 million of students that attend school 47% to 57% wear school uniforms. Schools believe that it helps with discipline and attendance. But they don’t realize the negative effects to students wearing the uniforms. Schools shouldn’t enforce kids to wear the uniforms.

Favored by private schools and institutions, school uniforms are the mandatory clothing an individual must wear when going to school, but in public schools it is becoming more common in high poverty areas. When having uniforms, it is said to allow an even playing field among students and lowers social anxieties, and encourages kids to focus on their studies in comparison to their clothes within the United States. Yet others say, school uniforms attack the student’s rights to express their individuality, have little to no positive effect on how children act, their academic standpoint, and emphasizes the social anxieties that individuals are trying to hide such as fear of not fitting in..

It is a belief that school uniforms teach students to respect their learning environment and behave themselves, and, therefore improving discipline. However, that assumption isn’t entirely correct. Researchers have actually found that school uniforms don’t make students better behaved. According to a study of more than 4,500 students, those who wore a school uniform did not have fewer behavior problems or better attendance. Forcing students to wear uniforms lead to more problems and misbehavior instead of encouraging discipline. Students could get into trouble if they did not wear their uniforms correctly. Many kids in today’s society cannot stand the thought of someone telling them what to do, especially what to wear. Instead of encouraging respect, uniforms may cause rebellions. For example, in 2009, a group of students at John A. Ferguson Senior High School rebelled against their school uniforms. Instead of following their school uniform requirements, the students wore what they thought would be a better school uniform to school. Not only uniforms don’t earn schools the respect from its students, but it may also lead to more problems.

“Students who can’t afford expensive or designer clothing are often an easy target to bullying” (Anderson 1). Dave Anderson is a credited author who wrote an article for ListLand and in it describes the top reasons school uniforms should be mandatory. One of his top reasons was the problems kids face due to their attire. Being rich or being poor should not take away from the great young kids and make school an unsafe place for them. Not only do school uniforms help with the bullying seen within school, they also help people feel connected and accepted. Much like a sports team, wearing the same outfit as those surrounding you, will help you feel like they are the same as you. Dave Anderson further elaborates on his previous reasons for wearing school uniforms and claims that, “Uniforms play a vital role in reducing peer pressure and raise the level of acceptability. Students in uniform feel united and connected”(Anderson 1). The amount of peer pressure someone may not have to endure, can make that person want to come back to school and be surrounding by the people they connect with. Due to the increase of students feeling accepted and less teasing, having school uniforms will make the entire atmosphere of schools change and promote positivity and an enjoyable place to be and feel welcome.

What comes to mind when uniforms come up? Most would say that they are stifling and bland, yet while school uniforms may seem like a thing of the past; they are slowly becoming more popular. Recently there have been many reports of “sexist” dress codes. One teen from Collier High who started a petition has received over 1,000 signatures for changes to the dress code. This has gained much interest from the media on whether school dress codes are really worth all the trouble. As stated by Hammerschlag, an education and investigations reporter for the Naples Daily News, “If a parent is unavailable, the student must miss classes for the rest of the day” (Hammerschlag). Students who are reprimanded, even for a small infraction such as a hole in their jeans, must sit out of class and lose precious learning time. This problem could be eliminated if schools implemented uniforms. Uniforms improve the lives of students, parents, and teachers. Surprisingly, the people most against uniforms are parents; they worry about their children’s individuality and rights. Although some parents uniforms can create a safer, more productive workplace. Uniforms do this by helping students socially, mentally, and educationally.

One of the goals of public schools is to create a secure environment for their students. A way that school uniform supports this idea of forming less violence. The reduction of violence is another way to have students focus on the significant of school. Many suggest that school uniform can reduce the amount of thief, and negative peer pressure. The sociology behind everyone feeling comfortable being around people who dress the same way they do can create less friction between two different people. Many of the bullying can happen to what is being worn by others. In a study shown by Long Beach officials, after establishing a school uniform the amount of violent has decreased 36% (Publicschoolreview). This can correlate to many factors including gang related violence. Where many gang

For centuries the public-school system has been plagued with crime, bullying, and peer pressure. The time have come for administrators to put student’s safety first and consider a policy that will help to ensure that our children are getting the best education possible. Most public schools in the United States have adopted a school uniform policy to account for the safety and well-being of their students. However, some public schools have not adopted the school uniform policy. This essay will explain why all public schools should adopt the school uniform policy. I will discuss the advantages of the policy and an argument against the policy. Therefore, all public schools should adopt the school uniform policy because, it will help to reduce bullying, prove a safer learning environment, and help to recognize gang affiliated members.