FREE ESSAY ON UNIFORMS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL?

UNIFORMS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL?

Final Draft
Quality education is critical to the future of America's children. However, we cannot
educate our children in schools where weapons, gang violence, and drugs, threaten their
safety. Many local school districts have made uniforms an important part of an overall
program to improve school safety and discipline. Students resort to violence and theft
simply to obtain designer clothes or name brand shoes. This instills a fear among the
students and teachers.
It is no secret that violent behavior has become a problem in public schools. For this
reason more and more public schools are entertaining the idea of uniforms to get the
minds of their students off of fashion and onto their education. Many parents and
students
support the uniform issue because they feel it makes all the students equal in the eyes
of
their peers and teachers. However, many parents feel that just like installing metal
detectors, uniforms are a simplistic solution to a far greater problem. Some experts
believe 
uniforms promise to cut down crime and reduce violence, but only if we take away that
students individuality and freedom of expression. What does this promise?
Uniforms have been used in an effort to try an reduce crime, and at the same time,
remove peer pressure amongst students to try to "fit in" so they can concentrate on
their
school work. President William Clinton agrees with this saying "If uniforms can help
deter
school violence, promote discipline, and foster a better learning environment, then we
should show strong support to the parents that try them".(21) By mandating uniforms in
public school, school officials hope to see a reduction in crime and violence. According
to
statistics, there are notable decreases in school violence and illegal offenses after
the
enactment of a school uniform or standardized dress code policy.(Lewis) 
Can uniforms really help in deterring violence and crime? Many parents and teachers
say yes. Supporters of uniforms say social and economic classes would no longer be
revealed by students' clothing and the school system will have more of a sense of
community.(Nittel) Providing that a child's clothes does make a difference in school
violence, then uniforms are exactly what our children need. Some parents feel uniforms
will put the students' emphasis on schoolwork instead of dressing "cool", and they will
help to lower school violence. 
Almost five years ago, the Long Beach School District made headlines when it became
the first school district in the country to make uniforms mandatory for its elementary
and
middle school students. According to Phoenix school officials in Long Beach, California,
attendance and test scores improved, incidents of students fighting decreased by 50%,
student crimes decreased by 36% and student suspensions decreased by 32% after they
enacted a uniform policy.(Will) Also other there were other steps to improve student
behavior. Increasing the number of teachers patrolling the hallways during class
changes,
were also taken by the district around the same time the uniform policy was introduced. 
Dress codes were initiated in private schools as a standard. As violence, competition
between students, and distractions from the educational system increased in public
schools, administrators began to consider uniforms as a solution to the problem.
In Baltimore, Maryland, school administrators found a 44% drop in assault and battery
charges, a 50% reduction in assault with a deadly weapon, a 41% cut in occurrences of
fighting and a 74% drop in sexual offenses. They also found drug abuse to be down by
89% and vandalism had dropped by 8%.(Stacey) These results and others caused many
school districts to consider uniforms for their own schools.
Uniforms seem to give students a sense of responsibility. It says that clothing is not
that important. With this realization the students began to forget about their clothes
and
refocused their attention on education. Consequently their test scores and attitudes
improved. One teacher stated that " I have never seen so many children change their
overall attitude in the classroom in just a matter of a few weeks." 
Studies show school uniforms are more successful in elementary schools, where
students are not so intent on their individuality.(Stover) And, experts recommend 
placing students in uniforms at a young age so they become accustomed to a program.
This allows there to be no focus on material items and the children's focus remains on
education from the start. Stover(1990) states that most supporters of uniforms agree the
program will not succeed unless school officials gain the support of a large majority of
parents from the beginning. President Bill Clinton endorsed school uniforms in his 1996
State of the Union Address, and this endorsement was followed by the distribution of a
United States Department of Education Manual on School Uniforms to the nations'
16,000 school districts.
This manual is used as a guide to help schools incorporate uniform policies and
standardized dress codes into their extensive safe school programs. The decision whether
to adopt a uniform policy is made by states, local school districts, and schools. For
uniforms to be a success, as with all other school programs, the parents and teachers
must
be involved. The following information from Time Magazine, provides parents, 
teachers, and school leaders in whether to adopt a school uniform policy.
1. Get parents involved from the beginning.
2. Protect students' religious expression.
a. A school uniform policy must accommodate students whose religious
beliefs are burdened by a uniform policy.
3. Protect students' other rights of expression.
a. A uniform policy may not prohibit students from wearing or displaying
expressive items, as long as they do not disrupt the rights of others.
4. Determine whether to have a voluntary or mandatory uniform policy.
5. When a mandatory school uniform policy is adopted, determine whether to 
have an "opt-out" provision.
a. This means parents give their children the consent to "opt out" of the
school uniform requirements.
As a result of this manual, many local communities are deciding to adopt school
uniform policies. California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New York,
Tennessee, Utah and Virginia have enacted school uniform regulations Many large public
school systems -- including Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dayton, Los Angeles, Long Beach,
Miami, Memphis, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Phoenix, Seattle, and St. Louis --
have schools with either voluntary or mandatory uniform policies, mostly in elementary
and middle schools.
Many educators say that uniforms are more cost effective than regular clothing
(LaPoint). The average cost of uniforms is $65-75 per year for a set of three uniforms. 
They can be purchased at discount stores, department stores or uniform suppliers. 
Besides saving parents hundreds of dollars, school uniforms help to erase the lines
between social classes. The uniforms help to create an equality between the have and the
have-nots.
However, there are a number of parents, teachers, students, and agencies that strongly
oppose the concept of standardized dress codes and uniforms. Unnecessary disciplinary
actions on students often become counterproductive, creating rejection and sometimes
rebellion against school officials. For these and other reasons the American Civil
Liberties
Union have sided with parents and students in the fight against uniforms in public
schools. 
The American Civil Liberties Union(ACLU) adamantly criticized Bill Clinton's school
uniform "experiment" because "it like virtually every other uniform policy in the
country,
applies only to elementary and middle school students, and not to teenagers (Siegel)".
Their argument is that adolescence is a time when the student wants to express his or
her
individuality and therefore uniforms should not even be considered in the high school.
According to Loren Siegel, Director of the Public Education Department, and the
American Civil Liberties Union, " implementing mandatory school uniforms is dangerous
because it gives the community a false sense of security. It is like putting a small
bandage
on an enormous wound, instead of attempting to find ways to truly deal with the
bleeding." By instilling a uniform policy, the ACLU feel that, students will become
agitated by the uniforms and find other ways of expressing their individuality. 
The Supreme Court ruled in 1969 that clothing is a mode of self-expression and as
such, protected under the First Amendment. Therefore, say experts, public schools must
offer parents the right to decline to have their children wear uniforms. Those students 
that do not wear them cannot be punished. "For a public school uniform policy to be
legal, it has to have an opt-out provision (Siegel)". This means that every child has
the
right to a public school education, and that right must not be unconditional without
compromise of a school uniform policy of standardized dress code.
Lack of group identification is considered one of the significant reasons opponents of
the school uniforms and standardized dress codes use. Lewis(1996) argued that "uniforms
prevent students from finding membership with other students with similar identities." 
Critics complain that the uniforms will lessen children's individualism and creativity, 
which infringes on his or her rights. If given a choice, it is hard to imagine that most
or
even many teenagers will opt to wear the uniforms. 
With all the wonderful statistics about how uniforms are helping to improve violence 
, is there another side? Yes, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts
reported that due to the new release of uniforms in Laurence High school, attendance of
students has dropped rapidly and 600 students have been given detention and 200
suspended. This did exactly the opposite of what uniforms are "suppose" to accomplish. 
If policy makers are serious about finding solutions to the problem of school violence,
maybe they should ask the real experts: the students themselves. The ACLU recently
conducted a series of focus groups with high school students asking them what would help
reduce violence in school. Uniforms did not make the list. Their suggestion:
1. Since school violence mimics that of society at large, schools should seriously 
confront and discuss issues of racism and cultural conflict.
2. School entrances should be secured.
3. More extracurricular activities and clubs should be established.
4. Open-mike assemblies should be held to give students the opportunity to 
express themselves.
5. Conflict resolution programs should be taught.
6. Programs to help students find part-time jobs should be established.
7. "Safe corridor" programs should be supported to protect the safety of students
as they go to and from school.
Political leaders seem to be adamantly promoting uniforms. They are doing this while
there are crumbling school buildings, overcrowded classrooms and decreasing education
funds. Attractive, modern and safe school buildings, small class sizes, schools with
well
stocked libraries, new computers and an assortment of elective courses like music,
drama,
and art are the kinds of changes that would produce long lasting and dramatic
improvements in student achievement. But by doing this that would require the
government to get involved more than they want. So they next possible source is
uniforms.
The ACLU argues that the government is trying to find a "quick fix" to problems in the
schools with the use of uniforms. They say that the solutions of the problems of school
violence, low morale and low self-esteem, inappropriate appearance and more, should be
found with the students themselves (Siegel). Also, by adding increased police officers
and 
teachers patrolling the hallways, the students would be better behaved. Adolescence is a
time when young people want to express their uniqueness and individuality in many
different ways, the most influential form of expression for them is fashion. "While
younger children may be amenable to uniforms -- might even like them -- teenagers are
different." (Siegel)
Norman Isaacs, the principal of Millikan Middle School in Sherman Oaks, California.,
has voiced opposition to uniforms, saying that "students need to learn to make choices
and
decisions based on internal values, rather than functioning with arbitrary rules that set
the
limits for them." Only then, he says, "can they learn to think for themselves and
develop
self-discipline." Others also argue that student dress serves as a "barometer" of what
is
going on with the student and can signal problems such as drugs, gang membership, or
sexual abuse. Uniforms would eliminate a warning system that lets teachers and
administrators identify and rescue students who need help. Lastly, a uniform policy
penalizes everyone instead of focusing on the small percentage of kids causing the
problems. 
Most reports on the uniform issue indicate that the elementary and middle schools are
showing great improvement, however, by not using them in the high schools, where crime
is worst, do uniforms help at all? There are no statistics on how uniforms are doing in
high school. This is because no one is using them in public school. Townsend (1996, p?)
explained that "the older students get the less they will like the uniforms." This is
what
kept the principal of Long Beach High and the board of education from instituting
uniforms in the high school. "We feared it would be an invitation to open defiance and
civil liberties." 
It's well-known that adolescence is a time when young people want to express
individuality. So the thought of wearing uniforms in high school is one to be avoided.
Seigel(1990, p ?) states that "of course as several political cartoonist have pungently
observed, teens are already in uniform -- baggy pants, T-shirts and baseball caps worn
backward." But these types of "uniforms" are clothes that the teens' chose themselves,
and are not chosen for them. For these reason says Seigel, (1990, p?) school
administrators and teachers know that teenagers will rebel against uniform policies; that
is
why they have been reluctant to put them in the high school level. 
Required uniforms present a real dilemma. If the junior or senior high school is a
place that the students genuinely like--a place where they are respected, where they are
proud of their achievements and those of others, and where they are consulted about the
value of uniforms, they may well accept them. (Howe II) In the earlier years, little
children, who have not yet learned to question adults, will almost certainly accept them.

But students in secondary schools without are likely to find ways to rebel against the
enforcers of required uniforms. 
Could uniforms work in the high school? According to Kate Dunnagan of Broughtan
High this is not true. According to Dunnagan "student bodies are developing and
changing constantly. Students wear what is flattering and comfortable. It could be
embarrassing to wear the same outfit as everyone else and look bad in it. The shape or
design of a standard uniform may not be right for every individual."
It appears the reasons for not implementing uniform policies in the high schools are
simple. Teenagers will reject them. No longer young enough to be persuaded, teenagers
express themselves on how they feel, and to them uniforms feel wrong. Adolescence is
when they discover who they really are, and what styles they like. They can not discover
this by looking like each other day in and day out.
So what does this then say to the elementary and jr. high students? That once they
reach high school they won't have to wear uniforms, and they can go back to their old
ways? How does this help? It doesn't. With this attitude crime and violence will only
get
worse. High school will become a place of freedom of uniforms, instead of the learning
environment that uniforms are suppose to provide.
Conformity helps students to behave better, learn, and achieve more in and out of the
classroom (Forbes, Malcolm, p26). The self esteem of a child is increased when he or she
learns and feels equal to his peers. Little information was found regarding the thoughts
and views of students themselves. However, last year students at Briton Middle school in
New Jersey polled 5 senior classes, asking them how the felt about uniforms. One student
responded saying " This is just another tactic to try and remove more of our
privileges."
(New Jersey Times, p23) In addition to parents, school officials and governments
authorities having input, so should the students that will be wearing the uniforms.
Problems at home, at school, at church, and public places occur when attire worn by
children become a distraction and a disruption in their environment. When this occurs
other methods must be devised to get the student's mind off of material things and back
to
school work. These methods must begin with the parents. If parents monitor what their
children wear then they can solve many problems that may occur.
Are uniforms a good idea for your district? According to Dr. Hilfer, strict dress codes
are not for everybody " Some schools thrive on permissiveness and individuality, while
others have to be more restrictive to contain a restless student body". Before making a
uniform decision, he suggests that schools carefully consider their unique populations;
what kind of message they want to send to their students; and whether or not the think
their children will go for it. Dr. Hilfer warns, "By instituting a uniform policy,
schools are
taking away kids' individuality -- schools need to decide if that sacrifice is really
worth
making.
It is apparent that no single program or action alone, will solve the problems facing
public schools today. School uniforms and standardized dress codes must be a small part
of a larger program to eliminate violence, competition, and distractions from education.
Schools must incorporate dress codes along with other programs to help remove violence,
and at the same time build self-esteem and school pride among the students and teachers.

Finally, it will take the cooperation of parents, students, and school officials to make
this
program work. Ultimately, the goal for all us is to put the minds of students off of
clothes and back on education.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Polacheck, Karin, (1995, September 28). Uniforms Help Solve Many School
Problems. Long Beach Press-Telegram, (Online) 13 paragraphs. Available:
http://www.lbusd.k12.ca.us/uniform/uniformp.htm.
Stacey, Julie, (1995, August 22). Today's Debate: Dressing For School. USA Today
(Online) 15 paragraphs. Available: http://www.lbusd.k12.ca.us/uniform.uniformg.htm.
Siegel, Loren. Point of View: School Uniforms (Press release online). American Civil
Liberties Union web page, http://www.aclu.org/issues/student/pres.html
U.S Department of Education, (1996). Manual on School Uniforms. (Government
document).
U.S. House of Representatives. House Bill Number 2532 (Online). Available:
http://www.dos.state.fl.us/fgils/feds.html (No date).
Associated Press, (1995, September 9). New Dress Code, Rule Shake Up
Memphis School. The Chattanooga Times (Newspaper article), 18 paragraphs.
http://www.hcrhs.hunterdon.k12.nj.us/english/willie/uniform3.htm
http://www.bcsd.org/bhs/trap/oparts/march02.htm
http://www.kidpub/School_Uniforms-Chelle.html http://inet.ed.gov/updates/uniforms.html
http://www.aclu.org/congress/uniform.html 
http://inet.ed.gov/PressReleases/02-1996/whpr26.html