Schools Are For Learning, Not Fashion Essay

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.

One main reason public schools have uniforms / dress code is because in 1996, President Clinton allowed the school uniform movement and said, “If it means teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms.” This gave schools the power to control the

Determining what to wear to school is difficult for the majority of middle and high schoolers. Wouldn't it be simpler to just have a set outfit planned for each and every day? Throughout education history, the concept of school uniforms has been experimented and debated within both public and private schools. Several schools across the United States require these uniforms, while the rest apply a dress code. Although applying a dress code may seem as if it eliminates all issues with inappropriate clothing violation, it is truly not advantageous. The only alternative to mend this situation would be to enforce school uniforms. Not only would this decrease dress code violations, it would lessen discipline referrals, improve students' self esteems,

“Dress codes and school uniforms increase school safety by eliminating gang-related clothing and helping aid in the recognition of nonstudents on campus. Other potential benefits cited include better student behavior, more resistance to peer pressure and improved emphasis on academics. About one in

Uniforms are argued to positively affect student safety by: lowering student victimization, decreasing gang activity and fights and differentiating strangers from students in school building. Dress codes in public schools would be good, in order to cut down the violence, which would eliminate the problems of

Critics of school uniforms insist they do not improve academic performance, behavioral outcomes, or attendance. Yet, there are several empirical studies that will state quite the opposite. A study conducted in an elementary school in Florida, indicated the average number of juvenile referrals and violent occurrences were significantly reduced between pre-uniform policy and post-uniform policy (Han 3). A second study that took place in Texas, involving two middle schools; revealed a decrease in disciplinary reports and problem behaviors of both severe and minor nature (Hughes 51). A mandatory dress code helps to prevent the presentation of gang insignias or colors, therefore,

I agree that all schools should have dress codes because of the fact that with strict dress codes can deter school shootings or bring the % down, take the columbine shooting for example, the kids that were responsible for the shooting were wearing long jackets with deep enough pockets to hide weapons.

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

The dress codes helps keep kids in school safer because it has been proven to decrease violence, prevent students from wearing gang-related colors, and helping students resist peer pressure. In 1996 President Clinton disseminated the Manual of School Uniforms to most schools in the United States. The manual talked about how the dress code will help students in many ways. According to Larry Wilder it will help students focus on academics and decrease violence throughout the school. In 2000, when a uniform policy was established in New York overall crime was down by about 15 percent. If dress codes really help promote safety, why don’t all schools implement this? If all schools in the US were to have a dress code, crime rate in the whole US would

Dress codes has been apart of the educational system for many years. Administrators have struggled to find effective ways to deal with discipline problems. The creation of the dress codes has been a common solution for many educational system to help decrease the number of disciplinary issues that are dealt with on a daily basis. Things such as gang activity, bullying, increasing violence can all be traced to the way people in school’s dress. The dress code policy is considered to be a "fix all" solution in many public schools, but has failed to resolve the big issues. Dress codes should not be instituted to fix a particular problem, but should be looked at to help overall school reform. This why most private schools have a particular uniform that students must wear every single day. To try and resolve the issue. However, a school uniform policy does not carry enough weight that produces a safe learning environment or helps students achieve their goals at being successful. A student's role is to come into school everyday to learn, without having to worry about gang activities, being bullying or having someone start a fight with them because they are wearing a particular color.

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

I believe school systems should inquire their students with their own opinion on dress codes, discard irrelevant dress codes, and consider an alternative if needed - a school outfit.

Scott Imberman, professor of economics at the University of Houston, investigated findings in 160 urban schools over a 13-year period. The results showed a steady increase in both attendance and test scores across the schools requiring uniforms. Four other studies ranging from 1998 to 2005 documented a conclusion that schools requiring uniforms showed the greatest improvement in test scores, attendance and graduation. These studies prove that uniforms increase most students test scores. Most students still do not like uniforms. As opposed to uniforms, dress codes still let students wear what they want which leaves students with a sense of choice and expression, but it teaches students to be more disciplined, so it basically has the same affect on students as uniforms do. Having dress codes also helps students focus less on their clothes, and more on school. Dress codes make that hurried decision on “what to wear” in the morning whole lot easier. For example let's say today it was very hot outside and you wanted to wear a tank top. You have three tank tops, but you don't know what to wear. One of your schools dress codes is that there should be at least two fingers width of coverage on the shoulders. Only one of your tank tops applies to that rule. Now you can easily decide which tank top you should wear to school. All you have to do is get into the habit and of buying appropriate

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.

Wearing uniform to school have increased of the years, although some schools have not adopted the school uniform policy. Administrators and staff believe that wearing uniform have made schools safer for students, have improved school attendance and increased student achievement, and have reduced the changes of students being bullied. However, others have argued that wearing uniforms have not improve student behavior and wearing the uniform have infringed on student’s freedom of individuality. This essay will explain the importance of adopting a school uniform policy, why all public schools should have a uniform dress code, and how wearing uniform will provide a unified school environment. Therefore, all public schools should adopt a school uniform policy because, it uses will help to reduce bullying, provide a safer learning environment, and help to recognize gang affiliated members.