The Effectiveness Of School Uniforms In Public Schools

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.

School uniforms are beneficial to students at all grade levels and can be a contributing factor in improving test scores, attendance and the graduation rate, while decreasing school violence and behavior issues. Research has proven significant connections between school uniforms and the success of public schools. In 1996 approximately three percent of all schools in the United States had a school uniform policy (Gentile & Imberman, 2009) . In 2015 23% of schools reported a uniform policy (Statistic Brain Research Institute , 2015). Inner city schools are more likely than suburban, town, and rural areas to have a school uniform policy, because urban schools often struggle with violence, failing school districts, and attendance policies (U.S Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences) and uniform policies have been proven to benefit such schools.

Reports from The Journal of Educational Research reflect the belief that school uniforms have no direct effect on substance use, behavioral problems or attendance issues after analyzing data from the National Educational Longitudinal study of 1988. (Brunsma & Rockquemore, 2001, p 92) The authors of the article go on to make a bold claim that contrary to current discourse there may be a negative effect of school uniforms on student academic achievement. This research revelation was considered breaking news in its day of discovery.

Since the late 1990's many public schools across the nation have opted to implement a stronger dress code policy which have involved the addition to a specific mandated uniform policy. While some critics of mandatory uniform policies believe that there is no justification for change, school uniforms offer educational benefits, improve student behavior, social interaction, and are more cost effective and durable than traditional street clothes.

Uniforms have been used for centuries for things like sports, military affairs, and to help identify someone that is affiliated with a group or an organization. One place they should not be used is in public schools. In this day in age uniforms are still being argued and could still appear is school around the country causing problems. When I was in middle school I had uniforms for about four years and it made me hate school even more. None of the benefits that administration said we would get from uniforms ever materialized. They said it would put an end to bullying and we would still have some kind of freedom when it came to picking accessories. The uniforms were costly for my parents and as a student it made it hard for me to express myself. With that being said middle school students should not be required to wear school uniforms.

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.

School uniforms help create a disciplined atmosphere that is necessary for success in academics (Brookshire 01, 02). Brookshire states that in this study it was realized that, “schools implemented uniforms in an attempt to reduce clothing costs for parents and to help curb social pressures.” (Brookshire 01) Meaning that, school uniforms bring forth more than just one advantage. As the uniforms help

According to a national 2013 survey, over 62% of US school leaders believe school uniforms or formal dress code policies impact students in a beneficial way. Many people look to school uniforms as a way of enclosing students and taking away their self expression, but many people do not know the true impact of a school uniform on society. A decision to make school uniforms mandatory would be the most effective conclusion for students since school uniforms promote learning, allow students to express themself, and create a “better environment” for all students.

In 1994, the school district of Long Beach California was one of the first to enforce school uniforms in the grades Kindergarten through 8th, and crime rates in the district dropped 22% soon after. School attendance also improved after the uniforms were introduced. Although this one statistic shows there are positive outcomes from school uniforms, there is one question that remains: Do school uniforms help or harm the students and environment at school? The controversy among this topic is that some people believe that uniforms improve the way kids act in class, however, others believe that school uniforms make their behavior worse. Another thing that certain people don’t like about uniforms is that they are very costly. A woman in Indianapolis was interviewed and said that she has five kids that all need uniforms, and with all the costs combined she had to pay almost $700. She found it was an outrage because she has a son who was a senior at the time and she had to pay for his uniforms as well. Even though she believed that uniforms are not an advantage, other people have the belief that uniforms have a positive outcome. In fact, some people think that the students’ behavior becomes subsequently better in the classroom setting; this is proven in the Long Beach study. There is also proof that school uniforms save people lots of money. This is because parents in one

Marian Wilde, in text one provides a myriad of reasons as of why uniforms should not be instituted in public schools. In paragraph three, she states, "...a 2004 book makes the case that uniforms do not improve school safety or academic discipline..." The following evidence authenticates that academic achievement and the institution are a

Since the 1990s, the practice of having public school students wear uniforms--like their private school peers--has been credited with some amazing results. School uniforms, proponents have said, can lead to improved discipline and classroom behavior, increased school attendance, respect for teachers, better school performance, higher student self-esteem and confidence, lower clothing costs, promotion of group spirit,

“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

This would most likely help students achieve better grades and be more successful in school. Several schools in the United States have turned to uniforms to, “help students get better grades”. But his will not be as effective as the new and improved resources. As teachers are often too worried about enforcing dress codes and uniform policies, crucial learning time is taken away from other students. Kathleen Modenbach, a teacher at a school with uniforms, believes that when schools try to enforce uniforms, it is a, “...waste of time. The staff should focus their energy on teaching students.” (Hamilton, 24) Also, it was be nearly impossible to make every single kid focus, because they are human. As humans, we may be easily distracted. Sybil Renick, a high school student comments, “Do not think that by forcing students to wear uniforms, that you are going to get the to concentrate more on their studies.” (Cruz, 42) Most people can relate to being distracted and unfortunately, there is not really a way to stop it from happening. Another argument that experts fight, concerning academics and uniforms, is that uniforms improve test scores. David L. Brunsma, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Missouri-Columbia, recently began a study regarding this matter. Brunsma found that uniforms did not improve the student’s test scores, attendance,

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.

In America, there are about 49 million students enrolled into public schools of kindergarten through twelfth grade. Plus, six million students attend private schools. In that 55 million of students that attend school 47% to 57% wear school uniforms. Schools believe that it helps with discipline and attendance. But they don’t realize the negative effects to students wearing the uniforms. Schools shouldn’t enforce kids to wear the uniforms.