Should School Uniforms Be Enforced?

In 1987, a public school in Baltimore, Maryland became the first to instill a school uniform policy in the United States. This idea of all students dressing alike spread throughout the country, and by 1994 a school district in Long Beach, CA became the first to require a whole school district to wear school uniforms (Background of the Issue - School Uniforms - ProCon.org). Today, an average of 23% of public and private schools enforce a school uniform system (School Uniform Statistics). But this change in dress code policy did not come about without controversy. Although some will argue uniforms promote safety, focus, and an even playing field in schools, school uniform policies oppress student’s freedom of expression, advocate for conformity, and cause more problems than they fix.

The debate about public school uniforms in America is an issue that has been around for a very long time. This issue was even mentioned by President Bill Clinton in a previous State of the Union address in 1996. In his 1996 State of the Union Address, President Clinton decreed,” I challenge all of our schools to teach character education, to teach good values and good citizenship 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 school uniforms” (Clinton 1996). Public schools requiring mandatory uniforms for their students are a major topic as it deals with moral and economic concerns about how America’s public schools are operated.

Should uniforms in U.S. schools be Mandatory? Should teachers and principals be allowed to suppress the human rights of the youth in the United States? The answer is no. Uniforms should not be mandatory in U.S. schools because children dislike school uniforms, uniforms eliminate kids ability to be creative, but uniforms bring equality among students.

The argument whether uniforms should be allowed in school has been debated over the last few decades. Implementing a uniform policy within schools would help reduce the rise of violent crimes. In today's high schools, too many innocent youths become fatalities due to gang warfare that has spread into the school system. Many parents feel that if a uniform policy was implemented the spread of gang warfare and the idea children have to have name brand clothing would decrease drastically. However others are worried that this policy would infringe on students First Amendment rights. Yet there are other parents that all worried that the uniforms will cost too much. In the following essay these issues will be addressed.

There is a long running debate about the if there should be uniforms in public schools. People have been questioning if public schools be subjected to wearing school uniforms? The debate on this question has been going on for many decade with educators and parents combined with students who all have varying opinions on the view of this. All have many points both pros and cons on all sides. Even researchers have disagreed and are divided on what they feel is most beneficial for the education of our nations youth. Some have determined it will lead to more equality while students in most part have said that uniforms will not let them express themselves.

Should school uniforms be permitted in all public schools? Many public schools are going to a convenient uniform system (McDermott). This would decrease the amount of money families have to spend through every year if you get all new clothes for school. Dress code would not be a problem because the uniform would be school appropriate. Changing from everyday clothes to uniforms would help reduce the amount of bullying about having a specific “popular” brand name clothing item. Having uniforms is a good idea and all schools that do not have uniforms yet should switch to them.

“School uniforms restrict students from expression”(School Uniforms - ProCon.org) and over many years people have argued whether school uniforms are needed in the public school system. Many supporters of school uniforms argue that uniforms prevent bullying. Even though school uniforms since England in 1222, school uniforms should be dismissed because they take away our first amendment and our freedom of self expression.

I personally disagree about getting uniforms for our schools because I don't think everybody would feel comfortable wearing clothing they don't want to wear. We wear things we want for a reason, not to look good for others, not to impress anybody, but to be ourselves. Just by changing our schools dress code is not going to change our school's environment or students. Most of us would rather come to school dressing in their normal clothes everyday rather than go to school in clothing every other student is wearing.

Should uniforms be allowed in schools? This is the heated debate that has no sign of stopping. There is a lot of evidence for each side with different points of views from the teachers to the kids to a developmental psychologist, but I’m going to talk about my side of this debate. This is my report on why uniforms should not be allowed in public schools. Uniforms should not be allowed in public schools because the cost of uniforms can cause serious financial problems, kids can’t express themselves, and it doesn’t affect their learning ability, growth, or their motivation toward school.

According to greatschools “ In 2007, cases involving an anti-Bush T-shirt in Vermont, an anti-gay T-shirt in San Diego, and Tigger socks in Napa, California, made their way through the courts, causing many to wonder whether this debate will ever be resolved.” All of this time schools, kids and adults have fought over the problem of what students wear. With this, we can focus more on school grades instead of clothing so kids don't bully other kids, and represent pride in schools or community. Uniforms should be required in schools because kids pay more attention to grades instead of what to wear, there will be less bullying, and school pride can be displayed.

School Uniforms should be required in school to help eliminate the amount of bulling, help increase unity, and lower the cost. In fact “many schools have adopted school uniform policies as a solution to these problems(Forster 2). During the time I was in school I always thought uniforms would be terrible. I thought I will not be able to express my style, and the day would just be boring. Now that I have graduated I believe uniforms would be a great thing to have, and be enforced in schools.

Over the past few years many people have voiced their opinions on whether or not school uniforms should be a requirement in public schools. “This is because many school administrators, faculty, and some parents feel this is needed to put a stop to violence, improving discipline, resistance of peer pressure; while giving them back the sense of belonging” (Wilde, 1998, pg. 100). With the way students show up to school, they tend to break the school dress code by wearing; short shorts, t-shirts that don 't cover the bust, or belly and gang related attire. That’s why school uniforms are a must in today’s society, due to the many different choices one makes when it comes to

A Dallas attorney Domingo Garcia has filed a proposed legislation that would make it mandatory to wear uniforms in Grades k-12 in Texas (Ramos 1997). The first fundamental issue that school board officials and lawmakers should look at before they make new policies and laws concerning school uniforms is, will these new laws and policies have a positive impact on students overall performance. This would not be limited to academic performances only but should also include other socially learned behavior that will enhance the students’ ability to conform to the social norms needed to be successful in today’s society. People for uniforms say that the academic performance has been and will increase by having the students ware them (Caruso 1996). A lessened degree of attention and concern with fashion will enable a better condition for serious study, as well as lesson the cultural and economic challenges of students and parents. (Cohn 1996, Paliokos 1996) Nathan Minster, a seventh grader at Country Day of Arlington said, “Uniforms provide a better educational atmosphere, and symbolize school spirit. If all students dress alike, their attention will not focus on Johnny’s new Tommy Hilfiger outfit.” (Teeters 1996). Any situation that does not promote the improvement of students in school should be looked at

I believe school uniforms should be mandatory in primary and secondary schools because it relieves discrimination and students. School is a place to learn, not to exhibit fashion, wealth or privilege. Unfortunately, now kids spend so much time being stressed about popularity that they hardly have the energy to learn anything valuable.

For one thing, if school uniforms were to become mandatory in school, there will always be students agreeing and disagreeing. School uniforms are a way to discipline students by creating everyone equal in terms of what they wear. The idea of school uniforms is not liked by many as it seems as if the school board is trying to take away the right of freedom of expression. The idea is also liked by many due to the fact that it can help students academically and socially. School uniforms should become mandatory in school as it will help students become more disciplined.