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School Uniforms Should schools require students to wear school uniforms? This issue of whether or not students should wear uniforms is far from over. School uniform has proven to be an enormously complicated question since the fall of Berlin Wall. More interestingly, this debate often touches on the essential core principles rather than a serious theoretical research. Those who approbate and deprecate of school uniform generally bring up the following arguments. This has been an increasing concerned of both parents and students whether or not school uniforms should be invoke. Which in today’s society, students have become much more concerned with the clothes they wear and the interest to popularity. In spite of this controversial, older students generally object to the idea of wearing the uniform. That is to say it’s difficult whether school uniforms will soon be required in American public schools. Therefore, the school uniform policy should be required in public schools because it would lead to less violence, safer environment, to promote good discipline, encourage higher education, and lower cost to parents. School violence is defined as any physical or verbal attack on a person while on school grounds or school property. Violence in schools destroys such an environment and can negatively affect student motivation for learning. Many health professionals have labeled violence in schools as a potential threat to the overall health and academic success of children. Perhaps what is most alarming is that these violent acts are not only occurring on the streets, but in the schools as well. The youth crime could get even worse because of the expected increase in the under age 18 bracket from 295 million Americans in 2006 to 400 million in 2010. (Barbour 3). In recent years, schools across the country have experienced violence, gang activity, and thefts of clothing and accessories. A memory that still haunts a twelve-year-old student from Detroit’s Woodward Elementary was when he was chased by a gang of boys from school that had the intentions of robbing his snazzy new T-shirt. Marcus Sheffield said, “It was only a white Nike shirt with an emblem of Air Jordan on the front. I had to run four or five blocks to get away. I was petrified.” Another incident came when a student the same age was stabbed to death for refusing to give up his leather jacket (Can Students Dress for Success and Safety, par.1). If the violence in schools have increased, the parents, teachers, and school officials have led to see school uniforms is a positive and creative way to increase school safety. In 1996, the United States Department of Education, the potential benefits are decreasing violence and theft, helping students to concentrate on academics, preventing students from wearing gang related colors to school, and aiding in the recognition of intruders (“Manual on School Uniforms”, par.2). Dress codes and uniforms allow school officials to distinguish students from nonstudents on school grounds, and preventing trespassers who might cause harm to the school. Others believe that dress codes decrease the student to student sexual harassment that can help prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow. In March 1996, President Clinton speech said that, “If it means that the school rooms will be able orderly and more discipline, 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 student to wear uniforms.” One of the positive ways for school uniforms is the ability to makes school safer. By enforcing school uniforms is a good way to solve problems at school. The public school system would benefit greatly if this policy were to be adopted. Of which helps minimize the violence. Many gangs wear particular types of colors and clothes to signify their membership to a certain gang. Therefore, the color of clothing that student’s wear can result in becoming intentional or unintentional targets of violence. If students wear school uniform, gang members will not be able to establish a competition with the school. Uniforms will also make it easier for trespassers to be identified. The Long Beach School District stated since mandating uniforms, it has experienced significant decrease in student fighting, vandalism, drug use and theft. Public school uniforms became popular 1994, when the Long Beach, California school district became the first to require uniforms. A year later, according to the district, school fights and muggings there went down fifty percent and sexual offenses declined seventy-four percent. Students feel more involve when wearing a uniform. With uniforms, everyone looks the same. Returning to Marcus Sheffield, a student from Detroit’s Woodward Elementary said, “I like wearing the uniform. It’s safer. We don’t have to worry about somebody trying to steal our clothes. And it also forces us to concentrate more on our school work than on what everybody else is wearing” (Can Students Dress for Success and Safety, par.2). Another potential benefit of school uniforms is to promote discipline inside the classroom. This structure creates a strong learning environment and improves the students’ behavior and attitude towards schooling. Students are able to stay more focused and disciplined throughout the school day. According to the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) survey, principals reported that children often feel less social pressure when everyone in the school dresses the same way. In 2000, a study done by The National Association of Elementary School Principals discovered that schools with an active uniform policy had almost twenty percent better discipline rate that that of a non-active uniform policy. It also reported that student achievement was increased by ten percent. Now, because of the school uniforms, students are more likely to concentrate on their schoolwork and strive for better grades. The third beneficial for school uniforms is to take pressure off students to pay top dollar for clothes. Parents spent an average of $235 per child buying non-uniform clothing in 2002, compared with an average of $114 spent per child to purchase uniforms (“Information and Resources: Public School Uniform”, Costs). Uniforms eliminate the distractions of designer clothes. It’s much cheaper for parents to provide a school uniform, because they are no longer pressured to buy the latest fashions. All students are equal in the eyes of the school and each other. It also creates an environment in which students will judge on personality rather than style. A school uniform is a great idea, not only are they cost effective, but also not to worry about what to wear tomorrow? However one of the most common arguments against wearing uniforms is the violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Nothing is more basic and precious for Americans than the freedom of speech and expression. The court ruled that in public schools, which are run by the government, students are not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression at the schoolhouse gate. According to the federal courts, the school officials could legally regulate students’ personal appearance if there is a reasonable basis such as maintaining safety or discipline for doing so (Hudson 66). For example, dress code policies adopted to combat gang activity are likely to be upheld if facts show that a gang presence that will disrupt the education process and that is a connection between the dress code and the potential for disruption. As a result, the schools are not infringing on the First and Fourteenth Amendment, and do have the right to implement their own policy as long it is in reason. Uniforms can stifle individuality and cause teachers to spend much time checking out details such as correct shoes, pants, polo shirt, pants, jewelry, etc. The lack of regard of wearing the uniform may not show individuality, but rather a lack of maturity. However, uniforms make it easy to check that every student maintains a smart appearance and is dressed appropriately for their classes. School uniforms allows for equality amongst the students. An attractive uniform promotes school spirit and good self-image. Being identified with a particular institution may make students more aware of their behavior while traveling to and from the school, leading them to act more considerately. Considering all the points above, there is more evidence that requiring students to wear uniform has its advantages and disadvantages. We need to adopt a school uniform because the public schools are in a bad shape. The results of school uniforms are clear; it allows equality amongst the students, a decrease in violence and theft, and restoring students’ academic achievement. Some schools have already brought the introduction of uniforms into action and some students love the idea. School uniforms could solve problems among not only the children but also to the parents and teachers as well.

Work Cited

Barbour, Scott, Ed. How Can School Violence Be Prevented. 4th ed. Vol. 1. San Francisco: Bonnie Szumski, 2005. 3-15.
Cole, Kenneth. “Can Students dress for success and safety?” Google Search. 30 NOV 2012

Hudson, David L, N. (2010). Rights of Students. Maclean’s, 123(11/12), 56-59. Retrieved from EBSCO host .
“Manual on School Uniforms.” US Dept. of Education. (February 2000). 25 NOV 2012. .
“School Uniforms Why & How.” NAESP Principal Online. (24 July 2000). 26 NOV 2012 .

Cited: Barbour, Scott, Ed. How Can School Violence Be Prevented. 4th ed. Vol. 1. San Francisco: Bonnie Szumski, 2005. 3-15. Cole, Kenneth. “Can Students dress for success and safety?” Google Search. 30 NOV 2012 Hudson, David L, N. (2010). Rights of Students. Maclean’s, 123(11/12), 56-59. Retrieved from EBSCO host . “Manual on School Uniforms.” US Dept. of Education. (February 2000). 25 NOV 2012. . “School Uniforms Why & How.” NAESP Principal Online. (24 July 2000). 26 NOV 2012 .