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Mandatory Uniforms In Public Schools

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Traditionally favored by private schools, uniforms are being adopted by US public schools in increasing numbers. Almost one in five US public schools required students to wear uniforms during the 2011-2012 school year, up from one in eight in 2003-2004. Mandatory uniform policies in public schools are found mostly in poverty areas, People say that school uniforms make schools safer for students, create a "level playing field" that reduces disparities, and encourage children to focus on their studies rather than their clothes.

Others say school uniforms infringe upon students ' right to express them selves, have no positive effect on behavior and academic achievement, and emphasize disparities they are supposed to disguise. So what are the …show more content…

5. School uniforms restrict students ' freedom of expression.The First Amendment of the US Constitution says that all individuals have the right to express themselves freely. The US Supreme Court stated inTinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District(7-2, 1969) that "it can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate."In the 1970 case, which revolved around a boy refusing to have his hair cut shorter, the US First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that "compelled conformity to conventional standards of appearance" does not "seem a justifiable part of the educational process."Clothing choices are "a crucial form of self-expression," which also stated that "allowing students to choose their clothing is an empowering message from the schools that a student is a maturing person who is entitled to the most basic self-determination."Clothing is also a popular means of expressing support for various social causes and compulsory uniforms largely remove that option. In Oct. 2013, students at Friendly High School in Prince George 's County, MD, were not allowed to wear pink shirts to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So …show more content…

School uniforms promote conformity over individuality.At a time when schools are encouraging an appreciation of diversity, enforcing standardized dress sends a contradictory message.Chicago junior high school student Kyler Sumter wrote in theHuffington Post: "They decide to teach us about people like Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony and Booker T. Washington... We learn about how these people expressed themselves and conquered and we can 't even express ourselves in the hallways."Troy Shuman, a senior in Harford County, MD, said the introduction of a mandatory uniform policy to his school would be "teaching conformity and squelching individual thought. Just think of prisons and gangs. The ultimate socializer to crush rebellion is conformity in appearance. If a school system starts at clothes, where does it end?"Late satirist George Carlin asked, "Don 't these schools do enough damage, making all these children think alike? Now they 're gonna get them to look

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In the past students did not know the guidelines of what they could say at school,but the students at Des Moines brought attention to the rights of every student at school(Blacher 10). Things changed in the 1960's many students wore black armbands to school as a way of protesting the Vietnam War (Blacher 11).The Des Moines school banned them from wearing their armbands(“Case summary:Tinker”1). Mary Beth and John Tinker believed it was their constitutional right to be able to express how they feel(“Case summary:Tinker”1). They decided to take their case to the courts. case went all the way to the supreme court(“Case summary:Tinker”1).

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810 Words | 4 Pages

I’m trying to convince the Carmel Clay school board to enforce school uniforms. I believe in this claim, and there are a lot of reasons on why I do. The first reason I believe this is because uniforms are an easy way to stay focused on schoolwork, rather than what you’re wearing. The second reason is that this can decrease the amount of bullying that goes on in schools since students will all be wearing the same uniforms. The third and final reason I support this claim is because of time management, and easier organization with your uniform.

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The legal director of the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, Stefan Presser, has backed students' opposition to school uniforms, arguing that they are incompatible with teaching people how to make decisions (Anderson, 2002). These opposing points of view highlight the complexity of the debate around school uniforms and the necessity for in-depth

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First, there are many dress code rules in schools. A handful of these rules include, no hats, no illegal substances can be advertised on garments, no sunglasses, and jackets must be worn with good taste (“Student”). Rules directed at a specific gender includes, “Female student can wear unsleeved garments that adequately cover their undergarments” (“Student”), and, ”Male students have to wear sleeved garments” (“Student”). With rules comes opinions, and with opinions comes arguments. Second, Because of these rules there are many people with opinions againsts the dress code policy.

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281 Words | 2 Pages

19% of public schools in United States Of America require students to wear school issued school uniforms. Why are only 19 % of public schools in the USA requiring students to wear school issued uniforms? If mandatory school uniforms are helping this 19% of pubic schools in the US then why not have 100% of public schools in the US requiring students to wear uniforms? Schools that require students to wear school uniforms are seeing major improvement in students attendance, a Altho some students and school officials say that the uniforms are taking away an important human right in students lives. They say that this right is being taken away so early with school uniforms.

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691 Words | 3 Pages

Imagine being the same as everyone around you, doing the same thing over and over again, not being different; not even looking different. This sounds like a dystopian world, there really isn’t a difference between a school that forces students to wear school uniforms and a coming-to-be dystopian world. There should be a law in place that students should not be required to wear uniforms by schools because students express themselves by their choice of dressing, uniforms may have a negative impact on students’ self-image, school uniforms are expensive, especially for low-income families. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of

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1220 Words | 5 Pages

Any girl who has attended a public high school understands the daily dilemma of dress code. On those scorching hot days as the school year approaches summer, many girls can be found scavenging through their closet for a “school appropriate” outfit or one they won’t melt into a sweaty puddle in. Her dresses will show too much leg, her tops will inappropriately expose her shoulder or collar bone, and her shorts will be too short — at least that 's what the school says. Dress code in modern day high schools should be boycotted because they are a violation to student and parents rights, sexist, out of date, a double standard, and they disrupt a female students education. It 's fair to agree with a policy that claims stringent dress codes increase the emphasis on academics and reduce the pressure of socioeconomic status; however, these dress codes violate the students First Amendment right to freedom of expression and the parents’ Fourteenth Amendment right to raise their children in their own way.

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711 Words | 3 Pages

And So form kids wearing uniform to having free dress uniform should not be required for lack of communication. One reason students from all ages should not wear uniform is lack of expression. greatschools.org by Marian Wilde said... “when a student was sent to detention for wearing socks adorned with the image of winnie the pooh’s friend tigger, the girls family sued the school district for violated her freedom of speech.” This means that kids don 't have a say when they go to school because they have school uniform.

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We as humans, tend to make nonverbal statements simply by how we express oneself in many ways, from the style of clothes to the hairstyles, and even the latest shoes. A popular topic that has been up for discussion in many school systems nationwide and even global, is whether schools should make it a requirement for all students to wear uniforms. However, uniforms should not be a requirement for public high school students it would hinder the student’s ability to express themselves, uniforms are very costly, and student’s grades depend on their willingness to learn, not on what they have on. There are very few places that students still get to express themselves. Wearing uniforms as a requirement could be viewed as taking away from the First Amendment, the freedom

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1289 Words | 6 Pages

Over the last 20 years, many schools have shifted away from fairly unregulated student dress codes to more stringent dress codes, with some schools implementing voluntary or mandatory school uniforms. There are several positions on the dress code issue, each of which have their own persuasive arguments to support them, which can be evaluated to examine their validity. One position in favor of implementing dress codes is that these standards can improve student safety and perhaps even student performance at school. There are variations on this position that favor strict standards on what students can wear, while others want to implement school uniforms in public schools. The opposing view is that students should not be subject to any dress codes on the grounds that they restrict students' freedom of expression, and that they may place unfair cost burdens on poor families.

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1198 Words | 5 Pages

Envision waking up every morning to put on the same outfit and walk out the door, stress free. People would not have to worry about what fits, or what is fashionable at the time. Schools would not have to worry about inappropriate clothing but at the same time, that clothing may be a way for a student to express himself. Many schools view uniforms as a solution to several problems, but many schools view uniforms as a lack of self expression. School uniforms should continue, even though children may not get to express themselves, because they prohibit violence, provide cheaper lifestyles, and promote better education.

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998 Words | 4 Pages

He writes that, “Is it even reasonable to expect uniforms to solve the problems for which they are recommended? Can violence be reduced by borrowing an idea from the military?... Complex problems will not disappear just because we demand that students wear what we tell them. Relying on power to induce conformity rarely produces lasting solutions." (Kohn).

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707 Words | 3 Pages

Many students that know uniforms will be beneficially, but don’t agree with school uniforms will continue to disagree with implementing them. It can be easily agreed that school uniforms may take away their self-expression in school, but what matters more in school is the way of learning. It can also be agreed that many students do not accept the self-expression of their classmates and make fun of them. Students, parents, and school administration should be able to recognize the benefits that school uniforms come with.

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1226 Words | 5 Pages

In the article of Dr. Alan Hilfer from 2009, “Disadvantages of a School Uniform Policy” stated that “We need free thinking children of to become thinkers of tomorrow, not droned who will continue making the mistakes of previous generations”(Hilfer, 2009). Feelings on school uniforms seem to differ as much as the reasons for having them, hate it, or love it. Recent studies done in the University of Alabama states that: “Student Uniform use was not significantly correlated with any of the school commitment variables. In addition, students wearing uniforms did not appear to have any significantly different academic performance” (Brunsma & Rockquemore, 1998). The problem whether schools should still be continuously implemented is a highly debatable topic.

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1103 Words | 5 Pages

By enforcing school uniforms, schools hope that uniforms will decrease the pressure felt by students to wear the most popular trends and lessen the harsh judgement of other students. As stated by the website ProCon.org, “when all students are dressed alike, competition between students over clothing choices and the teasing of those who are dressed in less expensive or less fashionable outfits can be eliminated” (“Should”). By having students dress in uniforms, schools create a new normal that is more equal for all students. Unfortunately, not everywhere as made this change. People are still greatly pressured to fit in by others who believe keeping up with trends is a normal, important aspect of

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