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Do Uniforms Make Schools Better?

Yes and no, say the experts. The heated debate over school uniforms shows no signs of cooling off.
By Marian Wilde, GreatSchools Staff
 

For the past decade, schools, parents and students have clashed over the issue of regulating student attire. In 2007, cases involving an anti-Bush T-shirt in Vermont, an anti-gay T-shirt in San Diego and Tigger socks in Napa, California, made their way through the courts, causing many to wonder whether this debate will ever be resolved.

Meanwhile, researchers are divided over how much of an impact - if any - dress policies have upon student learning. A 2004 book makes the case that uniforms do not improve school safety or academic discipline. A 2005 study, on the other hand, indicates that in some Ohio high schools uniforms may have improved graduation and attendance rates, although no improvements were observed in academic performance.

Why Do Some Public Schools Have Uniforms?

In the 1980s, public schools were often compared unfavorably to Catholic schools. Noting the perceived benefit that uniforms conferred upon Catholic schools, some public schools decided to adopt a school uniform policy.

President Clinton provided momentum to the school uniform movement when he said in his 1996 State of the Union speech, "If it means teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms."

The Pros and Cons of School Uniforms

According to proponents, school uniforms:

  • Help prevent gangs from forming on campus
  • Encourage discipline
  • Help students resist peer pressure to buy trendy clothes
  • Help identify intruders in the school
  • Diminish economic and social barriers between students
  • Increase a sense of belonging and school pride
  • Improve attendance

Opponents contend that school uniforms:

  • Violate a student's right to freedom of expression
  • Are simply a Band-Aid on the issue of school violence
  • Make students a target for bullies from other schools
  • Are a financial burden for poor families
  • Are an unfair additional expense for parents who pay taxes for a free public education
  • Are difficult to enforce in public schools
 
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Comments from GreatSchools.org readers

12/17/2009:
"I personally think that kids should NOT wear uniforms. Why?? you ask, Well kids need to express themselves in various ways. Here are some. The colors like very bright or even dark i`m not suggesting gangs and stuff like that but just really uniforms do not Matter no kids want to wear them. Wearing uniforms make kids want to rebel. They would wear whatever they want. Goodbye."
12/17/2009:
"School uniforms are what children act out. We should express our self we are old enough to make our own decesions. Yes there are some good point to uniforms but its a no no!"
12/9/2009:
"i think school uniforms should not be in the school policy due to the fact thats students have the right to wear what they want to make them feel comfortable. maybe that will help them learn better, if they wear what makes them feel happy.certain studnets have thier own personality that they love. the clothes that they wear relate to their backgroung.i think studnet from each country and state should have a say in what they should wear for school. and im out !!!!"
12/9/2009:
"I also wear a uniform to my school since the 4th grade now im in eighth grade and i learned how to deal but now teachers at my school forced it and are giving out IR's (incident reports which are detentions) for students who dont tuck in their shirts or who jackets. Uniforms are alright i just get annoyed when its taken to the next level."
12/7/2009:
"I think school uniforms are a great idea. There is just too much pressure and teasing that is circulated around what you're wearing. Some kids don't have the money to buy whatever's trendy at the moment. I hate when I hear someone being teased because of that or when you see you're being scrutinized head to toe! Everybody is just as important as everybody else! And uniforms send that needed message. Too many kids ego are getting bigger than what their heads can hold! Also, school is not meant to express yourself, its meant to learn- you're there to LEARN!-not express yourself, you can do that AFTER school. It's not like they're making you wear those uniforms for the rest of your life! Just goes to show how some of us just need to grow up and DEAL! And focus on what's really important. And there is- in EVERY public school w/out uniforms- teasing that is on clothing. You just may not be apart of it or don't pay attention because you have clothes from the latest fads, so it doe! sn't bother you, but this isn't just about you-its about everyones education-so grow up all of you saying you need to 'express' yourselves. Like I said before, school isn't there for that reason- and there's plenty other oppurtunities to express yourself w/out school. If you can only express yourself through clothes in the first place or your style, that's pretty sad! Your personality is what you should use! And you can't put a uniform on that! So stop worrying! Geez!"
12/3/2009:
"there should NOT be school uniforms. they are against kids expression rights. uniforms will just cause issues with angry people, not less disipline. "
12/3/2009:
"I hate school uniforms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have to wear them everyday."
12/3/2009:
"at my school nobody judges you on what your wearing. so what is the big deal of them? they are dumb and useless "
12/1/2009:
"Why make children wear uniforms? What's the point anyway? This is not going to stop bullies from doing what they do. This violates freedom of children's rights. Uniforms are going to make students more negative and they will never, ever help."
12/1/2009:
"I'm kind of neutral on the subject. For one, school uniforms do help with bullying and gangs. But on the other hand, school uniforms are down right wrong. We want to express ourselves, so let us."
12/1/2009:
"Uniforms are important for disipln reasons! More good behavior= waaaaaaaaaaaay more happy kids."
11/24/2009:
"i realize that the need for school uniforms is esstenial then how come we all dont have them at our schools?"
11/24/2009:
"well... for starters.....i personally dont think uniforms help anything because, what do they relly help?? nothing.exactly my point. in some cases they make things worse, becuase, if you dont wear the right color it could be gang related, and you might get....lets say..injured. This really shouldnt be an issue, but the school townships have made it an issue, and we are the ones who have to deal with it. yes i am a student. and i believe uniforms are retarded."
11/24/2009:
"take a chill pill,uniforms don't do anything."
11/24/2009:
"we dont wear uniforms and we dont need to they are ugly REALLY UGLY"
11/19/2009:
"no i think alot of that junk is ridiculous and just doesnt make any sense at all to me.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
11/19/2009:
"i think all school should reqier uniforms to put a stop to gang voilence in schools"
11/18/2009:
"i would rather get uniforms . i get tierd of hearing poeple complaning that they cant buy the most expencsive clothes and with uniforms would be beter because then we will have things to wear instead of saying 'i have nothing to wear'."
11/17/2009:
"I really like your idea about dress codes because i ask the same thing."
11/17/2009:
"This lists helped me establish a clear understanding and also provided me with clear, appropriate reasons to ponder upon on an up-coming essay for school. Thanks!"
11/17/2009:
"i am in a school with uniforms, and i dont really liek them at all. our unfifoms are a little different then most, since i go to an alternative school. we have a blue shirt with our school logo and sweatpants. ack! our shirts must be tucked in. our school has also eliminated other ways to express ourselves, like makeup and jewelry. expressing yourself is what helps you find out who you really are! so i am personally objected to unifoms in schools."
11/12/2009:
"Yeah, I def. don't think that students should be required to wear school uniforms. A big part of teenagers life is there own style of clothes. You have a life, and they enjoy expressing who they are. It's bad enough for them that they're forced to go to school until the age of 16, in Michigan anyway, so they should atleast be allowed to express their selves. "
11/10/2009:
"I go to a school with uniforms and i personally think they are needed because they improve the attentiveness of students. Everyone who thinks the students cant express themselves with uniforms are wrong becasue dressing up in the latest styles of clothes is going with the crowd and not being an individual. The teachers then should also have to follow a not as strict dress code, but still a dress code so the students are not distracted by the teachers."
11/10/2009:
"I remember back when i was a kid and i would always complain to my friends and family that i have nothing to wear at school because i didnt have the nicest of the name brand clothes. i think that wearing uniforms helps you keep focused on important stuff like school and although you can't express yourself by the way you look, sometimes what really matters if how you express yourself from the inside by letting others know what person you really are. "
11/9/2009:
"School uniforms are stupid if you ask me they won't let you express yourself. I should know I go to a uniform school I don't believe it is fair. It isn't our fault that they're gangs that go by certian colors. But schools act like it is our fault but you look around and teachers wear whatever they want. I say let the students decide we are the ones having to go though not the one putting these rules on us. It should be our choice not there's."
11/9/2009:
"school uniforms are good ,, student should think about their studying insted of thinking about clothes.... "
11/9/2009:
"nice....a lot of help"
11/9/2009:
"School uniforms may elmiate individuality but they can promte safety, raise academics and less peer pressure. "
11/9/2009:
"i think that unifroms just make school feel more like a prison... we already have to be at school at a time and eat at a time also leave at the time the tell us. now some schools want to make it feel like prison by making us wear uniforms... uniforms won't even solve anything they just make more problems becase if you dont wear it you cant even enter the school so you well be denyed a education just becasue your not wearing a uniforms and it has to be worn a certain way! so do uniforms help? ask yourself that because while you wear your uniform you well still be the same person and it wont make you smarter so if you were dumb before you well always be dumb. it wont stop violance and drug use. so how do uniforms help? well they only pro about it is that it well save you time in the morning. and also make you look like every one else.. erg uniforms should be banded becus if you cant afford one you well have to wear a loaned one and that well just make kids feel even more poor.! . well i have alot of other things to say but i think i already wrote to much but before i submit SAY NO TO UNIFORMS THEY ARE A WAST OF MONEY AND MAKE SCHOOL FEEL MORE LIKE A PIRSON ERG...."
11/9/2009:
"--they asked you why u WERE NOT wearing skinny jeans.. .. those arent your friends just because of that if u ask me.. lol.skinny jeans= g- ...not cool. I would love it if my school has uniforms. I go to a public school and their is always pressure to have the nicest designer clothers. Last year wasn't very good because even people who I thought were my friends would ask me why I didn't wear skinny jeans, and I would have to lie and say my mom didnt allow me to wear them. When I went to a private school, I loved wearing uniforms. I didn't think that they suppressed my creativity it made feel just as good as the next person. I really hope that school uniforms become enforced at my school, but unfortunatly I don't think they will be.'"
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