Essay Students and School Uniforms

As the years pass, many students have been bullied, a bully, or they just hate school and this was affecting their lives academically. School boards tried to find a way to improve the way students feel about themselves and about school, and they came up with the idea of school uniforms. School uniforms have been associated with just the Catholic school, but are now showing up in public schools across the country. According to the National Center for Education Statistics: Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2011, twenty-one states require students to wear uniforms in the public school system (Pros and Cons of School Uniforms Statistics). This has seemed to work tremendously in the school system. In education, school uniforms assist with student success, academically, socially, and personally.

Never once was there a time that I walked down the hallways at school without hearing at least one kid get picked on about their clothes. Everyone knew the popular kids from the weird kids, the rich from the poor, and the nerds from the jocks based on their clothing alone. Our school was divided into social groups because of clothing types. Then we got school uniforms. Once we got them, the school became more peaceful. No one got picked on because of their clothes; that was because we all dressed the same. The amount of bullying went down and the sense of kindness soon began to fill the school. The utilization of school uniforms in public schools creates many benefits for students.

Is the absence of school uniforms leading to an up rise of violence between children in public schools? According to the National School Safety Center’s Report on School Associated Violent Deaths, “Since the 1992-1993 school year, two-hundred seven were shooting victims” (Kelly n pag). According to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), “10% of all public schools had one or more serious violent crimes (murder, rape, sexual battery, suicide, physical attack or fight with a weapon, or robbery), and most of the serious violent crimes occurred in the middle and high schools” (Kelly n pag).

Furthermore, school uniforms have the potential to make schools a whole lot safer. Think of it like this – if you were to see a student walk in wearing an ugly polo shirt and sweat pants, (s)he would probably be picked on just because of what (s)he is wearing. We as humans naturally judge on what we see first, and it’s usually their face / clothing. If school uniforms were implemented in many places, then it would eradicate school violence and students wouldn’t be indignant with each other based on what they wear. Also, since everyone on school grounds is wearing their uniform, it would be easy to pinpoint unwanted visitors and be one step ahead. Not to mention it would help kids with less money evade the bullying and teasing that they would usually receive, which brings me to my next point.

Violence in schools is a big problem. Former President Bill Clinton thinks so during his recent state of the Union address he said: “public schools should be allowed to require uniforms if it would mean teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets” (“Will School…” 1). They believe that wearing the uniform makes quite a bit of a difference in how students will behave (“Will School…”2). If the student wears a uniform to school other than their “gang clothes” it will protect the other students from getting hurt. Violence has gone down in the schools with dress code and people have been impressed by the difference (“Will School…” 2). Schools that do not require the dress code for school uniforms should look at the difference of violence and see that it has decreased with them. “Reports have placed pressure on schools and politicians to act quickly before the situation gets out of control” (Wilkins 1). In 1994 CA Long Beach Unified School District voted 81% (4,079 votes) said yes that school uniforms help prevent gang violence (Hamilton 32). While the rest of the school district said no and that students should be allowed to express themselves through their clothing (Hamilton 32) People say the only down fall with having the uniform are the students can not express themselves with their own clothes they want to wear. Unfortunately many children today wear baggy clothes to

The argument whether uniforms should be implemented in school has been debated over the last few decades. By 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 that children have to have name brand clothing would decrease drastically. However others are worried that this policy would infringe on students First Amendment Rights with expressing themselves. Many parents are worried that the uniforms will cost too much and they will only

Most often school uniforms are used at private and religious schools. However uniforms are getting incorporated into US public schools in increasing numbers. One in five US public schools required students to wear uniforms during the school year of 2013 through 2014, up from one in eight in 2003-2004.In favor of school uniforms , the reasons that follow establish the positive effects that the uniforms have for schools, decrease the bullying rates, provides solutions to high-poverty schools, creates a spiritual and prideful environment for schools. Mandatory uniform policies in public schools are found more commonly in high-poverty areas.

School uniforms can reduce bullying, as well as gangs, and fights because it won’t put pressure on students to dress trendy like other kids at other schools. Even President Clinton 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.” School uniforms can easily help find out if there are intruders

School uniforms are a big situation for parents, students, and administration. Uniforms are a good idea but at the same time they do not help students with their work, or to graduate, and they are uncomfortable after a certain age. Uniforms do not help a student in class because they do not make a student smarter or more engaged. It all depends on the student’s decision if they want to try in class and if they want to be involved at school. Secondly, when it comes to graduation rates and discipline incidents, school uniforms do not play a role at all. Schools that do not require uniforms and schools that do require uniforms have similar statistics of graduating students and discipline. It really depends on the parents and the way the teacher teaches, which impacts the student’s life. In order for students to succeed in school, they need to feel comfortable so they would focus more on their work instead of their clothes. In addition, each person has a different style and uniforms do not let students express themselves. After intermediate school, students should be able to decide what to wear as long as they follow the dress code. In conclusion, school uniforms should not be required because the clothing does not help a student get better grades, or graduate, and they are uncomfortable to wear.

Uniforms help to create unity and diversity by encouraging values of tolerance and respect. Uniforms allow kids and adolescents to grow in a surrounding where everyone is equal since elementary. Uniforms make students to focus more on learning and less on socioeconomic status (“Junior Scholastic”).We live in an era where most adolescents are worried about the “good looking” and they are less worried about their academic achievements, with uniforms this serious problem can be reduced in a great percent, for example, In 1994, Long Beach became the first U.S public school district to require school uniforms. Their results have been astounding, they saw 51-percent drop in fights, 50 percent drop in weapons and a 32-percent drop on suspensions (“Junior Scholastic”). The drastic changes in this campus have been advantageous for the understanding of the use of uniforms in schools.

The idea of school uniforms has been a vital point within school districts for a long time now. As a parent with two kids within the school system, it is a popular trend amongst schools as both my children’s schools require for their student to wear uniform. However, more recently, students as well as parents are beginning to disagree with the enforcement with school uniforms as they believe uniforms are possibly taking away the right of self-expression for students. Although this is a valid complaint, uniforms are intended to be looked upon as a positive effect as they limited the amount of teasing amongst students, discrimination due to amount of income, and keeps the school looking united. Therefore, I believe school uniforms are not a

As my dad told me when I was little, “Schools should be schools, not fashion shows.” The debate as to whether there should be uniforms at school only began in the 20th century. In 1994, Long Beach California School District integrated school uniforms for all elementary and middle school students, in order to address safety issues challenging the district. According to the school district data, within one year of the implementation of uniforms, crime rates dropped by 91%, school suspensions dropped by 90%, sex offences dropped by 96 %, and vandalism dropped by 69%. (School Uniform Statistics). School uniforms may deny a student’s right to freely express themselves, however they have been proven to be beneficial. School uniforms are beneficial because they provide a safer, more successful and unified environment.

     Going to public schools all my life, I heard the gossip of "fashion" and "whose wearing what,"pretty much everyday; at least in the four years of high school where it seemed that looks mattered the most. As people grow up, the way they present themselves becomes more and more important. Leaving a good mark in high school means a lot to some people, and some are ready to do whatever it takes to make that mark, whether it be putting someone down for their clothing or being an individual and not caring what others think of you or what your wearing. Having friends from middle school that branched out and went the alternative route; private schools, one of the first things that came back

The issue of whether or not school uniforms are a necessity in today’s society has been a long standing debate. However, it did not come onto the national scene until 1996 when then President Bill Clinton spoke of the matter in his annual State of the Union Address. Citing the Long Beach city school district in California, Clinton spoke of the positive effects of uniform implementation, including: decreased drug cases, sex offenses, violent crimes and fights.

Uniforms should be essential to all schools around the world. Uniforms will provide a more organized school unit. Our public school systems are in a dispirited and discouraged state. Violence, poor attendance, disruptive behavior and disheartening attitudes stand in the way of a child’s education today. Certain changes are needed to return our educational standards to a worldwide competitive level. Our schools should once again become the safe havens and community centers for the education and the development of our students that they once were. Children need the self esteem, purpose, hope and security associated with growing up in a healthy learning environment. A school uniform program can help meet these needs and do students some