Ad
GreatSchools: Involved Parents. Successful Kids

Print article | Back to article

Do Uniforms Make Schools Better?

Yes and no, say the experts. The heated debate over school uniforms shows no signs of cooling off.
     

    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
     
    Page 123Single Page
    Facebook  I'm reading: Do Uniforms Make Schools Better?Tweet this!    Digg 

    comment Post a comment on this article


    Yes, I agree to the GreatSchools Terms of Use and give GreatSchools permission to post my comments for other parents to read.

    Note: Your email address is required if you would like a response from GreatSchools.net.

    Comments from GreatSchools.net readers

    07/7/2009:
    "this article rocks my socks "
    06/10/2009:
    "i think they are ugly"
    06/1/2009:
    "i am also doing a debate on school uniforms and dress codes and find it to be wrong to force students to follow rules while getting dressed in the mornig! have you ever seen a teacher wearing the same thing as the students? i didnt think so !!! why limmit the creativity of other studnts!?! isnt that one of the goals through the schools? to give there students a way to express themselves? putting on a uniform in the mornig doesnt make bullies just disapear!!! its not magique!!! it can actually bring some ones ego to an altomate LOW. wearing something thats ugly unflatering and/or uncomfortable! if any thing it will distract the students from learning more then just wearing there normal clothes! but thats just my opinion! im also against the idea of a school dress code because so what if your shoulders are showing?? yes i understand that people dont want to see your butt crack, and your other cracks but that doesnt mean that you have to make all these stupid rules!!! plus it! s very hard to inforce all of them."
    06/1/2009:
    "i think that school uniforms should be allowed in the schools because its makes the school look good and safe and help prevent gangs from forming around the school and it will stop students from fighting each other and it will help students test grades and classwork and more homework will be turned in ."
    05/27/2009:
    "school uniforms dont help anything"
    05/26/2009:
    "every school is different. i know if they tryed to inforce a dress code at a highschool close to me they wouldnt be able to. they cant even inforce laws like dont deal drugs"
    05/26/2009:
    "i think that school uniform is very expensive and has no use outside of school. uniform can cause violence if your child is stuborn and chooses not to wear unifom it can teach them to break laws for the future witch could lead to crime. school uniform is often itchy and old-fashioned and unpleasent to wear. I honestly do not like uniform, most of my peers say that it lets you express your self and i feel the same we should be able to express our feelings and what we belive in like religion like if im a jew then i express myself through the clothes i wear. and that could seperate jewish students from other students witch could set bad examples.forcing children to wear uniform can hurt them becuz they like to wear whatever they want if not they throw tantrums and they will refuse."
    05/22/2009:
    "thanks for this paper it was nice it hepled me with my english paper...i reallly think that uniform have nothing to do with the school/students...schools wasted so much money on uniforms that barely noone follows the rule...i use to think that if students were made to wear uniforms that they won't come to school but i guess after reading this paper it change my mind alot and i was wrong and i was shocked....."
    05/19/2009:
    "'thanks a lot.. this website really helped me to my paper XD... but i do agree that this website says good imformation.. just not enough imformation on the negative side... and i honestly do not mind on dress code or not.. i mean i understand both sides and their pros and cons, but i think we should express our individualality however we want, when ever we want, and where ever we want, but thats just my own opinion... thanks!! ^-^'"
    05/19/2009:
    "but the nice thing about uniforms is when you get up in the morning you just put it on no need to pick it out."
    05/15/2009:
    "Honestly, I like that people might be able to see my a little bit of my personality when they see my clothes, but I understand the academic pluses of uniforms...but I'm kind of against it. After all, I'm a kid, and I like choosing what to wear. I'm fully biased...not separated from the situation at all. I'm a person, not a statistic...I don't wanna dress like a statistic in a school. "
    05/8/2009:
    "ty so much whoever wrote this it just helped me complete my persuasive essay.i was wit school uniforms and it helped me a lot"
    05/6/2009:
    "I think school uniforms are good for teenagers especiallly cuz you see all these guys with there butts hanging out and boobs all out of girl's shirts. and your body is a temple and God didnt make us to 'express ourselves' by looking like skanks and thugs soo yeah i think all school's should have unforms especially Timberview!!!!!!!!!!!! :D"
    05/5/2009:
    "Thank you soooooo much I am a student in 7th grade and we have to do a debate on dress codes and uniforms I'm against it but this was really informative for my project whoever did this is great!!!!"
    05/4/2009:
    "This is so informative!! I have a persuasive writing project, and you basically answered everything that needed to be answered!"
    05/4/2009:
    "I have a comment to what someone posted on 04/30/09 School is not for 'expressing your individuality' It's for learning. Uniforms help people keep their minds on task instead of wondering off and thinking about tomorrows outfit."
    04/30/2009:
    "I am also doing a debate paper for school on uniforms, so far I'm against uniforms and dress codes, they don't let us express our individuality. Thanks for the info!"
    04/28/2009:
    "im doing a debate paper for school on uniforms, so far i am for school uniforms :) thanks so much for the information!"
    04/23/2009:
    " i think uniforms would help students focus more because their not worried about clothing,it happens to me all the time i dont do ma homework but instead i go shopping with my friends.........."
    04/20/2009:
    "i think they should be banned because students should be able to express them selves!!!:-}"
    04/20/2009:
    "i think uniforms is a grate idea because wen students wear uniforms there no troble for the teachers teling students to wear apropeat clothe to school"
    04/9/2009:
    "I think that the teachers are conspiring with the government and the aliens and are going to come and take us all away in there space saucers. Then cats are going to take over the world."
    04/9/2009:
    "I think that uniforms are needed in some schools, but not every school. I believe that Dress codes are needed in all schools but to a certain extent. Young adults should not be allowed to wear mini mini skirts or low shirts and guys should not be allowed to wear sagging pants. It is disrespectful. You should be able to be creative, but not in a bad way. "
    04/2/2009:
    "I attend a catholic school where we wear green, white, or navy blue shirts with khaki pants or the green plaid skirt. I oppose the uniforms because our pants cannot have any outside pockets in the back and the price of the skirts continue to rise. When I was a freshman one shirt costs $22. My skirt was $48. Now I pay $40 for a pair of khaki pants. I discontinued to buy shirts or the skirt. We have a school sweater but I refuse to purchase it because it is more exspensive than my skirt. Every year our uniform changes so you have to keep purchasing more and more. I feel as though I was more than often."
    04/2/2009:
    "i think uniforms should never be used it is a waste of the schools money."
    04/2/2009:
    "'Thanks for the info i needed this info for my school report. :)'"
    03/23/2009:
    "i think they should require uniforms so it could stop all of the inmature things happenig right now"
    03/23/2009:
    "good stuff for research papers"
    03/23/2009:
    "I love this paper!!!!!!!!!!!!! It helped me with my side on the paper. So with the idea of school uniforms!"
    03/23/2009:
    "hmmmm i dont know... unifroms suck, but rock at the same time =( im so confused. Which side do i takee?? "
    AD
    tracker