Uniforms and Violence in Schools

Uniforms and Violence in Schools

Dress codes decrease school violence and improve learning. It is necessary for schools to provide a secure and obedient surrounding for students to learn. American values are the importance of unblemished rights and privileges as a citizen. With violence becoming more prominent in our schools, uniforms have become a direct and constructive reducer of mental or moral training problems. Uniforms have also created an increase of safety in schools. Uniforms have been worn only in private schools in the past, but discussion of implementing school uniforms into public schools has begun. School uniforms are being looked at as a way to improve the surroundings of learning students and a way to help students to be better achievers. When students wear uniforms in schools there are positive effects on safety and it raises the esteem of the educational surroundings. Dressing alike in schools deters the wearing of certain colors that can be interpreted as gang colors. Being allowed to wear baggy pants in schools makes it easy to carry weapons onto school grounds. School “uniforms are attributed to decreasing behavior problems by: increasing attendance, lowering suspension rates, and decreasing substance abuse among students” (Gurskey, 1996, p. 46). Students have an increase in spirit, self-esteem, and a feeling of being a part of a group when uniforms are worn in schools (Thomas et al, 1992, 1994). School uniforms will help lighten any stress on students to fit into a certain group. There will be no competition with fashion and everyone will feel equal. Those who oppose the idea of school uniforms bring up the concerns of “uniforms being a legal violation of individual rights” (Thomas, 1994: Virginia State Department of Education, 1992, p. 10). Implementing mandatory uniforms in schools will allow students to express themselves in other ways, such as art, music, communication and letting their true personalities to show. Some parents may be uneasy with the costs of uniforms and may feel that the uniforms will not be affordable enough to purchase. Families who are worried about the cost of uniforms can contact local businesses or charitable organizations that provide help with purchasing school uniforms. Uniform costs are kept to a minimum with the help of uniform recycling centers and school education funds. Purchasing school uniforms will cut the cost of clothing that is purchased for school. The cost will be the same for everyone, rich and poor. Nathan Joseph maintains that clothing is what defines an individual, sending a message to others about ones values, beliefs and emotions (Joseph, 1986). School uniforms serve as a symbol of belonging to a school and can divide the students who wear uniforms and students who do not wear uniforms. School uniforms will stop the focus students have on fashion because all students will be dressing more alike. Students will feel more accepted by peers if everyone is wearing a school uniform. Opponents of uniforms in schools claim that no evidence exists to support the claims that uniforms are a factor in the behavior of students (LaPointe et al, 1992). Mandatory uniforms in schools help to maintain social control and student behavior within the schools. Stanley suggests that “school uniforms are one of several strategies being used by this nation’s public schools to restore order in the classroom and safety in the schools. Uniforms help students to focus more on their studies, have less concerns about the clothing they are wearing and helps to lesson crimes in public schools. Uniforms in schools can be an agent in making change and giving opportunity to students to have a safe environment to learn in and reduce the need for discipline for inappropriate clothing worn in schools. Crimes that include gangs and gang colors will be prevented. Schools will be safer, by allowing students to know if a new person belongs in the school or if the person does not belong there. Implementing uniforms into schools, at a low cost to parents, can give every student a sense of pride and belonging. The conflict over gang colors and symbols can be avoided, thus riding schools of violence. Students will then be learning in a safe educational environment and will be allowed to be better achievers.

References

Gurskey, D. (1996). Uniforms Improvement? The Education Digest, March, 1996, 46-8. Retrieved February 2, 2011, from wps.ablongman.com/wps/medial/objects/3545/3631009/ pdfs/06.

Joseph, N. (1986). Uniforms and Nonuniforms: Communication through Clothing. New York: Greenwood. Retrieved February 2, 2011, from www.sociologyindex.com/fashion_and_ consumer_culture.htm.

LaPointe, V., Holloman, L. & Alleyne, S. (1992). The Role of Dress Codes, Uniforms in Urban Schools. Retrieved February 2, 2011, from NASSP Bulletin, October 1992, 20-6.

Stanley, M. Sue. (1996). School Uniforms and Safety. Retrieved February 2, 2011, from Education and Urban Society. 284, pp. 424-435.

Stover, D. (1990). The Dress Mess. American School Board Journal. 177: 26-9. Retrieved February 2, 2011, from www.members.tripod.com/rockqu/uniform.htm.

Virginia State Department of Education. (1992). Model Guidelines for the Wearing of Uniforms In Public Schools: Report of the Department of Education to the Governor and the General Assembly of Virginia. House Document No. 27. Retrieved February 2, 2011, from www.eric.ed.gov./ERICWebPortal/recordDetail?accno=ED348760.

References: Gurskey, D. (1996). Uniforms Improvement? The Education Digest, March, 1996, 46-8. Retrieved February 2, 2011, from wps.ablongman.com/wps/medial/objects/3545/3631009/ Joseph, N. (1986). Uniforms and Nonuniforms: Communication through Clothing. New York: Greenwood LaPointe, V., Holloman, L. & Alleyne, S. (1992). The Role of Dress Codes, Uniforms in Urban Schools Stanley, M. Sue. (1996). School Uniforms and Safety. Retrieved February 2, 2011, from Education and Urban Society Stover, D. (1990). The Dress Mess. American School Board Journal. 177: 26-9. Retrieved February 2, 2011, from www.members.tripod.com/rockqu/uniform.htm. Virginia State Department of Education. (1992). Model Guidelines for the Wearing of Uniforms In Public Schools: Report of the Department of Education to the Governor and the General Assembly of Virginia. House Document No. 27. Retrieved February 2, 2011, from www.eric.ed.gov./ERICWebPortal/recordDetail?accno=ED348760.