The Reasons for Mandating School Uniforms

The Reasons for Mandating School Uniforms and the Effects on Students and Society

The Reasons for Mandating School Uniforms and the Effects on Students and Society
The need to mandate school uniforms in public schools has been a heated debate for some time. This has a chance of becoming a very big trend in public schools today, especially with all the bullying, violence, school shootings and gang related incidents. Numerous studies have been conducted to see whether mandating school uniforms will help reduce the number of violent incidents in public schools. Educators have said that doing this improves the safety of the students, increases attendance and provides a more enhanced learning environment. Those against it say it causes the students to lose their individuality and is forced uniformity. Providing a safe environment for students should be the biggest concern in today’s society and should be more important than what students wear to school.
Opponents argue, that if schools mandate school uniforms, that this will take away from the student’s individuality. The question that comes with this statement is does what a child wear really take away their individuality? After all, clothes don’t make a person right? The child has a lot more than clothes to be an individual. The schools still have sports, arts and music to show their individuality.
Another big argument is this is the government’s way of a forced uniformity. This comment is just way off base. Before a school can make this kind of decision it usually requires the school board to vote and approve. Then it could possibly go to a local vote. Either way, neither is the government, they are the people of the community.
Some studies have shown that there was an increase in some high schools with an implementation of school uniforms. According to John W Donohue’s article “There’s something about a uniform” (1996), studies showed that some violence did increase but it was only at the high school level and at the elementary levels, violence and bullying was dramatically decreased by the implementation of uniforms.
Educators say that by mandating school uniforms, it will provide an enhanced learning environment for all students. Students will be more interested in learning and not as much about what everyone else is wearing and trying to keep up with fellow students.
With all the bullying in schools today, uniforms will help put students, regardless of income on a more level plane. Most of the bullying is brought on because another student can’t afford or don’t fit in because of the way they have to dress. This way everyone will have the same outfit and will be the same which will cut back on the amount of bullying in a significant way.
According to Education Week 31.02 (Aug. 31, 2011): p4, there is an increase in attendance associated with the schools implementing uniforms. This is because more students are not worried they will not fit in if they cannot afford the latest clothes. Also, the amount of bullying decreases which makes more students want to go to school every day. Children who are bullied every day just don’t want to go to school or they are afraid to, remove that threat and more want to return and enjoy school. Long Beach, California was one of the first school districts to mandate a school uniform for the entire school system. There has been a 91 percent drop in assaults, thefts, vandalism, and weapon and drug violations since 1991 according to an October 15, 1998, USA Today report. When they decided to implement the uniforms on a big scale it was a big decision that had a lot of opponents, but with the studies that have been done shows that there are major improvements in all problem areas. Seems like Long Beach may have made the right decision. Several schools have implemented school uniforms since Long Beach and have had the same, positive outcomes. Long Beach has become a model of the good that can come out of mandating school uniforms. Mandating students to wear uniforms when attending public schools has been and will always be a heated argument between educators and parents. But with the school shootings that happen, having a school uniform could be a big help, after all if someone is in the school and is not in the correct uniform they will stand out pretty quick, which should cause faculty to investigate the individual. This is just one of the ways that it could help in keeping students safer during school time. With the studies that have been done and more that should be done, opponents of this issue should see that mandating a school uniform isn’t a bad option. This will make for an enhanced, more productive environment, improve safety for students and teachers, and could increase attendance at most schools. Problem behaviors will decrease and students will be more worried about studying instead of what they need to wear to fit in. In the end, it will just make for a better experience for the children and may produce more productive graduates for society.

References

Viadero, Debra. “School Uniforms; ‘A Mandatory Uniform Policy in Urban Schools: Finding From the School Survey on Crime and Safety: 2003-04’.” Education Week 17 Nov 2010: Opposing Viewpoints In Context.

Wilkins, Julia “School Uniforms” The Humanist Mar, 1999: 19. Opposing Viewpoints In Context

References: Viadero, Debra. “School Uniforms; ‘A Mandatory Uniform Policy in Urban Schools: Finding From the School Survey on Crime and Safety: 2003-04’.” Education Week 17 Nov 2010: Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Wilkins, Julia “School Uniforms” The Humanist Mar, 1999: 19. Opposing Viewpoints In Context