Superintendent Crouse, School Board Members, and Administrators of Loveland High School, thank you for all you have done for this wonderful school and its students. We are deeply appreciative of all you’ve sacrificed to ensure that we receive a good, solid education and have fun while doing so. But, there is one thing that could possibly make this school better; school uniforms. I don’t mean to propose something that could potentially be very expensive or uncomfortable for the students; I mean to suggest an idea that could potentially improve the image of the school in its surrounding community and in the students’ minds. I don’t intend to come off as rude or blunt; this is not an insidious undertaking. I just wish to inform you of the possibility of something that could mean good things for your students.
School dress codes have always been a center of controversy, with uniforms being at its core. Uniforms are a simple way to control how your students look and how they’re perceived by the surrounding community. They also boost the students’ self-esteem and confidence. Nobody has to worry about wearing the latest trend or how they look in the eyes of their peers. Uniforms equalize the playing field for every student. Furthermore, uniforms help those who struggle to get out of bed on time. Wearing the same thing everyday results in a smaller amount of time it takes to get dressed. You can roll out of bed, throw it on, and be ready to go. Due to wearing the same thing everyday, a school-wide sense of unity is felt. Wearing your school colors everyday creates some unity and spirit, which results in students feeling like they belong in their school. Schools acquire a sense of identity as their students are united together, with uniforms creating alliance and harmony. Uniforms make upholding the dress code system so much easier and they prepare students for the future. When you are held to a certain standard for a period of time, you use that outside of school. Uniforms show you what is appropriate in a professional and an academic environment. It’s important to understand when to dress smartly because, in fact, it greatly impacts the future of a student and how they’re accepted by future employers.
Don’t you
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
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.
Now a days, school-age kids feel the pressure to fit in with their friends and be successful in school. Many schools are considering the use of uniforms to avoid certain problems with student’s behavior like school violence, etc. School uniforms should be used because they are economic, they promote social equality and the school staff has more control of the dress code.
As a society we value the individual choices that we are able to decide upon in our everyday life. School uniforms have a negative effect on students, due to the lack of individuality and self-image that they are able to express. Therefore passing student policies requiring school uniforms is misleading as it creates more issues than it solves. Students should feel they are different from everyone else and have to freedom to act the way they want and wear what they want. Enforcing school uniforms does not affect academic situations in any way for uniforms to be mandatory. Schools need to re-think their decision on school uniform policies for the mental and physical well-being of their students.
Uniforms have swept through the world, taking over schools, and restraining students in outfit choices. Though many people are for uniforms, many, however, are not. With a constant debate on whether uniforms are needed, I stand objectified against the use of uniforms, because research proves uniforms have a negative impact. Not only are the students negatively affected by uniforms, but so are the parents. So why do administrators put such a restraint on the clothing students wear? The short answer; they want to eliminate many of the problems that come along without the use of uniforms. Instead, more problems were created in its place, yet school boards are still blind to the cries of those against it. With a world so against change, open mindedness, and lack of freedom, I plan to examine the ‘side effects’ of wearing uniforms. Research has shown uniforms are very costly, does not allow freedom of expression, and does not help in the long run to further a student’s learning.
It may be surprising to hear that school uniforms break the first amendment of the constitution but it is very true. The first amendment guarantees freedom on many things, one of them is Freedom of Expression. Freedom of Expression is about more than just saying what you want to say, it’s also about being able to express your ideologies and beliefs which are, unfortunately, hindered by school uniforms. Uniforms weren’t a common thing of the past because they were only enforced in private schools. That is, until 1987, when Maryland and Washington D.C implemented school uniforms in public schools. School uniforms should be banned because they promote conforming over individuality, they increase the amount of bullying, and they can affect a student’s self-image.
People say you are what you wear. Well, uniforms are expensive and are a violation of human rights, even though it’s professional and sober clothing, they don’t allow students to express who they are, so how are they supposed to be what they wear? People say it prevents bullying, but bullying can happen without uniform. School uniform promotes conformity over individuality. They are difficult to enforce in public schools. It is more money to pay for uniforms and normal clothes outside of school. There really isn’t a uniform in real life like working if you work as a janitor at a school it doesn’t matter what you wear it matters that you get the job done.
School uniforms and dress codes are becoming a popular trend among schools. Most Students and some parents don’t agree with the enforcement with school uniforms, saying that uniforms are taking away self-expression in schools. But, school uniforms are not a negative thing to have. Yes, uniforms and some very strict dress codes limit what the students have to choose to wear to school every day, but it doesn’t limit them from learning which is the main reason they are in school. Some students treat school as a fashion show, so eliminating the size of wardrobe shifts the attention toward their school work. Although requiring students to wear school uniforms may violate their self-expression in some ways, a uniform is supposed to be looked
School uniforms, do you consider them as an obstruction of the 1st amendment of the US Constitution “Freedom of Expression”? How about having equality amongst every child at school age? This is the perfect age to teach them that no matter the social economic status from one child to another, nobody is any less or more then someone else. School uniforms would be an enormous step towards shaping a better future for our children. This would stop all the questions some parents get from their asking “why I can’t have H&M, Tommy Hilfiger, Adidas or American Eagle clothes like other kids in school”. The freedom of dressing how anyone wants is what every teenager wants and does, but this sometimes causes tension amongst them. I will be explaining
Uniforms have been around for centuries, from back in the day when women had to wear dresses or skirts and men had to wear pants. To now where students and employees have to wear certain pieces of clothing. People dress to express themselves, schools tell their students to be who they are and to be proud; however, when the student tries to do so they are sent home or held in the office which not only takes away their rights to express themselves, but takes them out of class. According to Friedrichs, “A shocking number of students are actually sent home or suspended for breaking dress code, which means even more time out of class.” A school's job is to prepare children for their futures, that can be quite hard when the student is not there to learn. Dress codes can be overwhelming to maintain. A student's wardrobe isn’t going to be full of polos and khakis because they most likely do not wear polos and khakis outside of school. Dress code should not be as strict, hoodies should be allowed, tank tops should be
School uniforms have been a commonly debated topic for many years. Some schools feel as though having uniforms is requisite for better school programs. In fifth grade, I attended a school that required students to wear uniforms. I did not like the idea of uniforms initially, simply because I wanted to wear the clothes that I chose, but as time progressed, I realized that all that time I had been reaping the benefits of having school uniforms. Uniforms are advantageous for a school because they help improve the behavioral issues found in students, level the playing field among social classes, and provide a safer environment for students and staff.
Have you ever had to wear a school uniform? Did you you love it, or hate it? I’m here today to explain my stance on school uniforms. I believe that having a school uniform would be a good thing for multiple reasons. The first being how it would completely and utterly eradicate the issue of dress code. The next reason is how it would be able to create a more focused learning environment by eliminating clothing distractions. The most important reason in my mind however, is how it could drastically increase student safety at school. Now I will go a bit more in depth as I explain these reasons…
You get up in the morning to put on the exact same outfit over and over again. You walk into school and everyone looks the same. Same colored polos and plaid skirts or khaki pants. You’ll be wearing this every day, every week, and for the entire school year. Boring. Not only do parents have to buy regular clothes for their kids, now they have to buy school uniforms for their kids to wear to school every day. Every family will not be able to afford these school uniforms along with regular clothes. You will look exactly like everyone else.
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.
School Uniforms are being pushed more and more in schools, but what is commonly thought of when the words “school uniform” is said? For most people the picture of children in the same colored uniforms gathered in front of a Catholic Church or a private school is displayed in their mind. This picture is one of the many problems with school uniforms. Instead of being seen as an individual, students are seen as just another kid in a uniform attending a fancy private school. The students cannot develop the self-expression that is crucial to their development at this age. Uniforms are thought to create a more protected campus and learning environment, however, if someone wants to bully someone else, clothes are not going to stop them. The cost, which is usually seen as a pro, can actually be more than people anticipate. As one can see, in the best interest of any student, school uniforms should not be made part of the dress code.