The Importance of Uniforms in Public Schools Essay

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.

First, school uniforms would enhance school pride, unity, and community spirit by making everyone feel like they belong and fit in with their school. Throughout the school, teachers would increase their level of caring, respect, and trust of students. Additionally students would feel important and as if they are a part of a team by wearing a uniform.

First, uniforms help improve students focus on their education. It disciplines students to take their attention away from outward appearance such as clothing and places it on actual school work. Uniforms create guidelines for the student to follow which is an aspect of life that a student needs to learn. A study of a Long Beach school found that their was a 28% drop in suspensions, 51% drop in school fights, and a 34% drop in assaults after the

The uniform debate is one of the most hotly fought fights in the history of schools. Parents, teachers, administrators, and students seem to find it impossible to land on a middle ground on the topic. The topic of discussion is not going away, but rather growing. In 2000, twelve percent of public schools utilized uniforms. By 2013, that percentage was up to over twenty. Originally, uniforms were used as a means to set children of the upper class apart from those of the lower class (IES NCES). It was a quick way to show who has money and who was just scraping by. Recent statistics, however, indicate that they may have much more merit than merely a way to show prestige.

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 is the key to a bigger, better future. The basic clothing procedure phases out many types of harassment and creates a safe learning environment. Uniforms take away harsh borders that separate classmates and create school spirit. The positive impact school uniform have on students is an overlooked opportunity we must be informed about to create the next successful generation.

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,

In the United States today, millions of students’ attend public schools and face some sort of violence that is associated with that school. It can be gang related or just simply bullying in the school. Because of these rising issues, parents are being forced to pull their children out of public school and home school them for their safety. Is this the best action for the children? Will they be missing out on many life skills that are learned while attending schools with peers their own age? How can the schools make our children feel safe so that they are able to attend the public schools and so that schools don’t lose out on valuable funding from the state? The idea that many believe will fix the problems at school is by implementing

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.

Uniforms help save time, money, and keeps kids focused. Some people state that schools should be schools and not fashion shows. Imagine this situation a 13 year old girl in a pretty pink dress and high heels, how expensive right? In 2013 90 percent of parents say that uniforms saved tons of time and loads of money. It also helps the race among families trying to dress their kids in the best clothes everyday. Uniforms help kids stay focused on school work and not if they have the best shoes or

A study has been done by two Notre Dame University professors, they looked at how uniforms affected “attendance, disciplinary behavior problems, substance abuse, and academic achievement.” From the study the teachers’ outlook of their students with uniforms on changed immensely, they saw them as acting more responsibly, intelligent, and more prosperous. This opinion is false, the students had the same intelligence level as before and based on the results of the study the uniforms did not show a decline in absence, drug use, attitudes toward school, or achievement in the classroom. The study found that tenth graders’ success levels were adversely affected by being compelled to wear uniforms. This shows that there are negative effects of wearing school uniforms.

Pants below waist, baggy shirts with sexist signs, and piercings, this is not a good view early in the morning. That’s why the school should implement a uniform policy. Uniforms should be mandatory in school. Uniforms make the school appear more professional. Also with uniforms students won’t compare themselves with each other. Moreover uniforms can help students save time. Additionally parents won’t have to waste so much money on clothes hence will have a better budget.

What comes to mind when uniforms come up? Most would say that they are stifling and bland, yet while school uniforms may seem like a thing of the past; they are slowly becoming more popular. Recently there have been many reports of “sexist” dress codes. One teen from Collier High who started a petition has received over 1,000 signatures for changes to the dress code. This has gained much interest from the media on whether school dress codes are really worth all the trouble. As stated by Hammerschlag, an education and investigations reporter for the Naples Daily News, “If a parent is unavailable, the student must miss classes for the rest of the day” (Hammerschlag). Students who are reprimanded, even for a small infraction such as a hole in their jeans, must sit out of class and lose precious learning time. This problem could be eliminated if schools implemented uniforms. Uniforms improve the lives of students, parents, and teachers. Surprisingly, the people most against uniforms are parents; they worry about their children’s individuality and rights. Although some parents uniforms can create a safer, more productive workplace. Uniforms do this by helping students socially, mentally, and educationally.

     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.