Uniforms: Pros and Cons
We are doing a history project to research whether or not school uniforms respect the founding fathers and the first amendment. Although School uniforms offer many advantages, they also provide many disadvantages. Do they allow students to express their independence and individuality? Or do they completely disobey the first amendment? Throughout this paper we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of school uniforms in private and public schools.
School uniforms will provide a controlled, safe, friendly environment. According to the LBUSD results in their 1994-1995 study, there were decreases in many different areas that needed improvement. In the assault and battery side of things, the percentage of decrease was an 86%. The amount of sex offenses decreased 96%. The amount of robberies and extortion’s came down to a 91% decrease. Weapons and look a like’s were decreased to a 92%. Vandalism was found much less and had a great decrease of 93%. With a 100% decrease, dangerous devises vanished! Over all, Long Beach realized the district crime reports went down an average of 92%. Imagine everyone at a school in uniform. This would make it easier to point out dangerous outsiders. School uniforms will keep the initial focus on learning and school not boys/girls, and fashion. No gang related apparel is tolerated or worn when using uniforms, and self-esteem levels are greater according to the LBUSD studies, since you don’t have to worry about getting picked on for what you are wearing. There will be an overall crime rate decrease in the district due to less bullying by picking on kids who are wearing goofy things. Behavior is sufficiently better in the grades K-8 that were studied in the over all LBUSD. Also, a child attending a private school knows he/she must wear a uniform as part of the rules.
On the other hand, there are the many disadvantages. There is less independence shown, because you are wearing what you are told to wear. Some might become rebellious due to this lack of freedom or _expression. In the LBUSD they only studied grades K-8, and failed to get high school results. This is wear drug and alcohol abuse becomes more apparent. Also, in high school is where most “gangs” form, and more dangerous activity takes place. The schools should provide more safety pre-cautions. For example, safe corridor programs are developed to keep students safe to and from school and also extracurricular activities before and after school help keep kids out of trouble. Students should be aware of ways to resolve conflict, and know where to go if they are having a problem. You will always be the same person no matter what you are wearing. For example, forcing kids to wear uniforms can not solve racism. School uniforms eliminate the possibility of judging weather a child is struggling emotionally through perhaps depressing black clothes, etc. gangs will continue to have a gang mentality no matter what clothes they are wearing. Kids will always find a way of labeling someone, whether it’s the way they dress, the way they act, they way they do their hair, or the way they look, uniforms only eliminate one factor of labeling.
Well, whether or not school uniforms will provide a better environment is up to you to decide. Do the clothes really make the student? Do you think it is constitutional to make a child dress according to uniform? Does this respect the first amendment, which states you have freedom of expression? You be the judge.