Should School Uniforms Be Mandated?

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,

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.

Have you ever had to wear a school uniform? School uniforms are plain and they have no personality. Who would want to wear something so plane? School uniforms should not be allowed in schools because they have no individuality, school uniforms can increase bullying, and finally they are so expensive.

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 school uniforms be required in public schools? There are many reasons to get school uniforms. It is proven through statistics that school uniforms may decrease the amount of crime but also increase student safety. With uniforms fighting in schools dropped by 51%, sexual offenses depleted by 74% and drug possession went down by 69% (M. Sue Stanley). Student uniforms are all the same, which helps the students and teacher conserve precious class time by not having to re-enforce the standard dress code. Having the same clothes as everyone else can be upsetting but, TeenVogue stated “there are tons of ways to amp up your standard issue getup” (Teen Vogue).

The issue of mandatory school uniform policies has been a highly debated topic for many years. Many school administrators believe that school-issued uniforms play a positive role in the student’s academic career. Research shows that the positive impacts school uniforms have on students far outweigh the negatives. In order to improve the American school system, the United States should adopt British policy, making school uniforms mandatory in all public schools.

In the past 11 years, the percentage of schools wearing uniforms in the US has gone from 11.8% to 18.9%. Requiring students to wear school uniforms has many more benefits than disadvantages, because uniforms improve the safety of, not only students, but everyone on campus, reduce the likeliness of bullying through the form of equality brought with uniforms, and boost the student’s ability to nonviolently and reasonably solve social problems.

The idea of uniforms being required for public school students has been a widely controversial topic in the recent past. In the 2003-2004 school year, only one in eight public schools required students to wear uniforms (ProConorg Headlines). In the 2013-2014 school year, one in five public schools required students to wear uniforms (ProConorg Headlines). This essay will discuss the reasons that uniforms restrict the individuality of students, burdens families that cannot afford two sets of clothes for each of their children (Farrell), and serve little to none purpose in benefitting the education of students. Uniforms are meant for the workforce, not school children.

“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.

One of the touchiest subjects of public schools would be about if they should enforce school uniforms, or should they just enforce a dress code? This subject has many different views, and plenty of good pros and cons on the matter. In our personal belief, we think that schools should only enforce dress codes, and stay away from assigning specific uniforms. Obviously everyone has their own view on this, we are going to give you some insight on how dress codes could do more harm on public schools than good.

Should Kids be forced to wear a school uniform? Out of the 98,817 schools in the U.S. only about 16,304 schools require a dress code, that is 16.5%. There are many reasons why kids should have to wear a school uniform and many reasons why they shouldn't wear a school uniform. Kids shouldn't have to wear a school uniform to school. People think that bullying only occurs when there is no uniform, bullies don't just pick on peoples clothes.

“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

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.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result. Evenings spent laying out school clothes for grandchildren quickly teaches just how insane the current expectations for school dress can be each day. Individuals face this problem on a daily basis, which can be a stressful task. Mandatory school uniforms can benefit each family member in numinous ways. Financial burdens for parents and constant peer comparison for children. It also allows students of differing backgrounds to be brought together to express themselves equally. One can clearly see that school uniforms should become mandatory in all public education systems, K-12 in so doing, improving the overall experience for everyone involved.

In “Public School Uniforms: The Pros and Cons For Your Child”, Grace Chen states that 20% of all public schools have adopted uniform mandates. Public schools didn’t have school uniforms till 1994. Schools wanted to have school uniforms to address safety issues. According to school district data, within a year, the fights and muggings at school decreased by 50%, while sexual offenses were reduced by 74%. More schools across the country are requiring uniforms at their schools, which are naming school safety as their primary motivation. Other statistics argue that uniforms are not as beneficial as school administrators and parents are encouraged to believe. Some opponents say that the lack of individualism and comfort among students are decreasing their learning and success. The real question would be: are public school uniforms good for the children. School uniforms aren’t good for the children.