What Every Middle School Teacher Should Know: Article Analysis

The topic of whether or not school uniforms should be allowed has always been highly debated. The reason why it is such a hot topic is because it pertains to a student’s individuality and the possible benefits they may bring. This is something that has sparked a bit of friction in the education world. Hours and hours of research have been poured into this subject in order to find a definitive answer. If the research has proved anything, it is that school uniforms are ineffective and they restrict self-expression. Contrary to popular belief, school uniforms do not provide the benefits that many claim they do. School uniforms simply don’t work in the real world.

This article was about the result of a survey that was conducted to 1,765 sixth-grade students in language arts classroom in 23 different schools in northeastern United States. The students were the primary informants about what motivates them to read in their language arts classroom. They concluded that students enjoy independent reading the most in their language arts classroom. The students also enjoy when the teacher does a read aloud. Finally, the main reason why students are motivated to read at school is because they enjoy the quality and diversity of reading material and that the classroom setting and other people do not have the biggest effect on them.

Some people believe that having kids dressing the same way, is fitting for the students, and maturely appropriate. Yet, most kids can disagree otherwise. Having students wear the same clothes every single day, with limited options, forces the students to not think creatively when they are choosing clothes to wear. Especially, when most kids don’t like wearing uniforms. “ Kids like choosing what they would like to wear because, the clothes they wear help suit their personality. Students don’t have to feel insecure or in denial about what they are forced to wear.” (Smith 14, “The Horrors of Uniforms”)

Instead of continuously having to keep up with clothe trends and by new clothes you only are going to have to buy on or two clothes and then you are set for school wear. It makes the students not feel left out and it doesn’t give them that urge to try and fit in by changing the way the dress. So instead of changing the way that they dress to match the look of others they can express themselves through communication. “According to a national 2013 survey, over 90% of US school leaders believe school uniform or formal dress code policies ‘eliminate wardrobe battles with kids,’ make it ‘easier to get kids ready in the morning,’ and create a 'time saving in the morning.’ Tracey Marinelli, Superintendent of the Lyndhurst School District in New Jersey, credited the district's uniform policy for reducing the number of students running late. (“Should Students Have to Wear School

Kendrick, Carleton, Ed.M., LCSW. "Reviewing School Uniforms." Family Education. FamilyEducation.com, 29 jun 2010. Web. 18 Nov 2010. <http://school.familyeducation.com/educational-philosophy/individuality/38675.html>.

Students are often in a position where they are forced to wear whatever they have. In some instances, students cannot afford the uniform attire. In other instances their bodies will make wearing the uniform uncomfortable. There are more negative effects of being forced to wear a uniform. An example is being dressed in clothes that are disliked adds to the lack of comfort a student feels during the school day. In this regard, school officials should reconsider their uniform policies because of its effect on student self-esteem. Furthermore, uniforms extremely affect young adults who are trying to find out their personal identity. School officials who mandate students to conform are forcing them to show little to no individuality. As a result of uniform policies, student self-expression is stifled and stagnated, their natural creative growth is discouraged, and students’ families are forced to incur additional expense, and inadvertently cause student defiance.

Americans spend large amounts of money every year on clothes, when their children return to school. Students want name brand clothing that comes with a high price tag, and not all parents can afford these expensive brands; due to this, it leaves their children to be ridiculed by the students who parents can. The mocking from peers affects students emotionally. Another issue with students being able to decide for themselves what to wear is their choice to wear inappropriate attire. There is much controversy within schools when determining what clothing is considered appropriate or inappropriate. The argument has been made that by requiring students to wear uniforms it takes away their individuality. This encourages the students to focus on their outward appearance more than their inner characteristics. In the past attitudes toward school uniforms has been negative, but according to West, Tidwell, Bomba, and Elmore, “This practice is changing as more U.S. public school administrators have become interested in the use of school uniforms” (pg.92). Students should be required to wear uniforms to school because it reduces the cost of school clothes, makes everyone equal, and removes the issue of inappropriate attire.

Most educational institutions all across the country implement restrictions on what students wear when they are on school grounds. These restrictions include dress codes that address what students can and cannot wear. The argument with dress codes and uniforms is that it helps students perform better in school by limiting distractions, while others claim that restricting what a student can wear at school can limit their freedom of expression. The immediate answer to the question “Should schools be able to control what students wear?” is a yes, all schools must have control over what students wear in the school premise within the bounds of a dress code to establish an appropriate learning environment. Moreover, educational institutions must enable school communities to take a more active role in updating the dress code by voting.

Students following a school uniform policy are “less likely to focus on clothing as a means for determining status) and may experience less stress from being judged by the type or cost of clothing they wear (Campbell, n.d.; Cascio, n.d.). All too often society is judged and defined by the clothing of an individual from its style to cost to fit. By removing this outward factor as a labeling status, students are placed on a more even playing field leaving competitions for the sports fields rather than the classroom runway. Less classroom completion in fashion allows more time to focus on studies.

The world has changed dramatically since the creation of social media sites around the year 2000. Today, people communicate face to face or on the telephone less frequently. Fewer individuals obtained knowledge or information through books, newspapers, or television. With the creation of social media sites like Facebook, society has moved into the digital age where information and communication are just a quick click or search on our phones. Children born after 2000 will only know of a world with social media, a primary example being Facebook. One in seven people have a Facebook page and one of every four minutes on the internet is on Facebook. Left unchecked, Facebook can have grave consequences on a teenager’s physical, psychological, and social development and can lead to cyberbullying.

In School Uniforms and Discourses on Childhood, Behling’s drive to look into the effects uniforms have on children was the fact that everyone has rights, no matter their age. Her views on how the school systems are just simply masking the problem rather than trying to solve them are similar to mine. Bodine also uses her past conversations with students who feel they’re stuck in the middle of this whole battle. One of the children admitted to feeling like a ping-pong ball being bounced between their parents and their school (Behling 423). Studies which survey clothing have shown that what someone wears is a critical factor of person perception

School uniforms are school approved wardrobes that dictate what students wear to school. In today’s society, school systems’ deciding to implement uniforms has become a controversial issue among students, parents, and teachers. The use of uniforms by a school system is often an effort in branding and developing a unified image, but also has substantial effects on the students that are wearing uniforms. Some people believe that clothing is an expression of a person, while others believe that clothing can be a distraction. Implementing school uniforms has a variety of advantages and disadvantages, but school uniforms do not solve all problems within a school system.

On no occasion should a person be defined by what they are forced to wear. Young teenagers and students struggle with identity and individuality on an everyday basis. Some students are banned from supporting their religion, just to fit the interests of others who bear shame on the younger generations. It is time for school districts to realize that they’re view of “success” should not be represented by forcing young students to wear what they think is “appropriate”. The author of “Strict Dress Codes Have Gane Beyond Safety Concerns” has stated that, “Let’s exert our energies toward preparing our kids to become the independent thinkers necessary for a democracy rather than the subjects of seemingly arbitrary rules.” Dress codes seek an educational environment, but instead are diverting their attention by fetishizing the inches between the hem of a skirt and the top of the knee. This is not what society

Social Media has been quite an issue in today’s society. Social media has become an issue with people of younger generations, especially those in school. Schools today have the biggest problem with controlling their students and the way they use their social media both on their own time and during school hours. Authors Steven Anderson and Bradley Shear have both addressed this problem in today's society in their articles that deeply describe what can and should be done to resolve the issue in schools. Anderson explains a way that a school can create their guidelines for device usage in schools while Shear explains how schools have illegally and legally prohibited social media and device usage in schools. Both authors have written their articles for mainly adults and especially for those who work for middle and high schools. Anderson’s article is the most informative article of the two as it has a better writing style and gives schools a better point of view as to how to resolve the social media problem in today’s society.

Over the years, there have been many debates over the implementation of school uniform policies in our schools. Opinions are formed about the appearance of uniforms powerful effects on the way in which a student should dress. This significant role of attire relates to how students could relay a message to themselves and others. In addition, uniforms are one of the most serious administrative concerns in our public school system. I strongly favor the fact that school uniforms are perfect because they assist in helping students reach their full potential, increase social acceptance, and enhance the focus on student achievement.