Uniform Debate
Uniform DebateThe issue of whether or not students should wear uniforms is near and dear to my heart. During my elementary and high school years I attended many schools. Two of the schools were Catholic schools, which required a formal uniform. The Lutheran school I attended had an enforced dress code. There was no dress code at the three public schools I attended.
In 1999, the New York City public school system began enforcing a mandatory uniform policy in its more than 670 elementary schools. (Knowles, 2000) In light of this, I think it is relevant to examine the various arguments presented by both sides in this debate.
In America wearing uniforms in public school got a push from President Clinton in his 1996 State of the Union address. (Evans, 1996) President Clinton believed that wearing uniforms was a necessary step to help decrease violence in our schools. This came in the wake of increasing incidents of student violence and theft because of designer clothing being worn to school.
According to the “Manual on School Uniforms”, from the United States Department of Education there are five potential benefits of school uniforms. Firstly, they believe that school uniforms will decrease violence and theft. The second potential benefit of school uniforms is that they will prevent gang members from wearing gang colors and insignia. Thirdly, wearing uniforms will instill discipline in students. Fourth, the manual states that wearing uniforms will help parents and students resist peer pressure. Lastly, uniforms help students concentrate on their schoolwork. (Manual on School Uniforms, 2000)
Scientific research regarding these claims is beginning to appear. In “The Effects of Student Uniforms on Attendance, Behavior Problems, Substance Use, and Academic Achievement” the authors, David Brunsma and Kerry Rockquemore, used data that was obtained from tenth grade students. They used this data to test the claims made by uniform advocates. They found “student uniforms have no direct effect on substance abuse, behavioral problems or attendance”. (Brunsma and Rockquemore, 1998) In fact, the study found that there was a negative effect on academic achievement when students were forced to wear uniforms. The researchers did find that uniforms fostered academic preparedness, proschool attitudes and peers having proschool attitudes. They concluded “that uniform policies may indirectly affect school environment and students outcomes by providing a visible and public symbol of commitment to school improvement and reform”. (Brunsma and Rockquemore, 1998)
The previous study supports uniform proponents who argue that wearing school uniforms creates a sense of school spirit. These uniform proponents rationalized that this school spirit will lead to academic pride, which will lead to academic achievements. (Jacobson, 2000) The previous study does not support the second claim.
According to proponents of wearing uniforms, a potential benefit of wearing uniforms is that students are easily identifiable. This easy identification is helpful to teachers during class trips....
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