By Marian Wilde, GreatSchools Staff
It's a Big Issue
A new trend is the mounting pressure to establish dress codes for teachers. Apparently the same casual mind-set toward revealing outfits is cropping up in the ranks of our teachers.
The debate over uniforms in public schools encompasses many larger issues than simply what children should wear to school. It touches on issues of school improvement, freedom of expression and the "culture wars." It's no wonder the debate rages on.
Additional Resources
Books:
The School Uniform Movement and What It Tells Us About American Education: A Symbolic Crusade, David Brunsma. Rowman & Littlefield Education, 2004.
School Dress Codes: A Pro/Con Issue, Barbara C. Cruz. Enslow Publishers, 2001.
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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.'"

