School Uniform Argumentative Essay

Great Essays
Are Uniforms Beneficial? Over the last decade, the debate over the implementation of school uniform policies in school systems has been seen widely across the United States. The decision of uniforms being implemented in school systems is based off the state or the individual schools policy. The school either can make uniforms mandatory or voluntary. Schools have policies that involve student expectations of acceptable appearance, such as going to school in a properly dressed manner. In 1996 the percent of schools that had uniforms was 3%(Gentile). As a result of this low number, President Clinton and the Department of Education encouraged the belief that uniforms make “schoolrooms more orderly [and] more disciplined”(Gentile). This caused …show more content…
In many schools, trespassers are a problem and can be difficult to identify in a large school setting. An elementary principal states “If I see some shenanigans in our parking lot with no uniform. I don’t know if they’re our kids. But at this point, if there are kids walking across our campus, I know they’re ours, which address the safety issues”(Jafeth). School safety is the foremost mission in creating the best learning environment. Uniforms direct improvements in safety by making it easier to detect unauthorized visitors in a school. People that are not in uniform stand out and easily can be identified as a criminal or someone who plans to cause violence. Violence can take away from a students learning environment where as with uniforms it can decrease the chance that students become affected by it. More students are aware of violence that happens in school systems that can factor into their school achievement. Uniforms also restrict student to express gang emblems or colors on their clothing. The Los Angeles Times argues, “In gang-plagued areas were wearing a certain color is enough to set off a fight, uniforms create a more neutral atmosphere on campus”(Sanchez). The lack of uniforms implemented in schools can affect a learning environment. The massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado reveled a dress code where students could wear what they wanted. The lack of dress …show more content…
School uniforms should be required in school systems because they increase attendance, create a safer learning environment and resist peer pressure; that all play a role in benefiting ones academic achievement. School uniforms are not enforced as a punishment to students, but instead are benefiting them in ways they might not see. Attendance has been higher in schools that implement school uniforms, which shows people are more passionate in their learning. Uniforms also create a safe environment for students to learn and not worry about gangs and violence because of administrators being able to pin point suspicious activity. An unsafe school environment could interfere efforts towards improvement in student achievement. Uniforms also reduce peer pressure on students for those who worry about fitting in. 54% of schools in the United State enforce a dress code amongst students. That’s more than half of the schools in our country. This goes to show uniforms are a major component that puts a student in the best position to strive in their academics. All the data that was found in supporting the schools in favor of uniforms simply state that the change of clothing they wear to school positively impacts students

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Strict Dress Code

    • 511 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the article school uniforms sociologists David L. Brunsma and Kerry A. Rockquemore conducted a survey on, "the effects of uniforms on attendance, behavior, substance abuse, and academic achievement. Brunsman and Rockquemore concluded that uniforms did not significantly improve any of these criteria and noted a several-point decrease in the standardized test scores of students required to wear uniforms (pg. 2, 2017). " Brusma and Rockquemore show that the uniforms do not help with a lot of issues administrators where most likely trying to solve. Brusma and Rockquemore also state," any positive change brought about by mandatory school uniforms could be a result of the community making a concerted and collective effort to improve the academic environment, and that the uniforms themselves were inconsequential to the positive outcomes (pg. 2, 2011). "…

    • 511 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    According to the organization, dress codes and uniforms can help reduce risks by “reducing conflict stemming from socioeconomic status and reduce ways in which gang members can identify themselves with” (Daniels par. 7). For teachers, uniforms help school administrators identify outsiders, or someone who may cause harm to the school (Daniels par. 7). Most importantly, dress codes do not infringe on students’ rights. Daniels mentions how in January 2001, “the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the plaintiff’s argument that uniforms do not improve the academic environment, dampen student expression, and infringe on religious rights” (Daniels par.…

    • 1168 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Department of Education stated that many parents, teachers, and school officials saw uniforms as one way to make schools safer. Prior to requiring students to wear uniforms, in many schools, teachers often had to report their students for not wearing appropriate attire, such as baggy jeans that were torn, or gang-affiliated clothing. Those situations sometimes led to gang conflicts and conflicts between teachers and students. Instituting mandatory uniforms removed many of those issues from the school environment. There have been many studies done on the effects of mandatory school uniforms.…

    • 1169 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Strict Dress Codes

    • 1434 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Effects of Uniforms and Strict Dress Codes on Schools Throughout the last half-century, dress codes and uniforms in schools have been a big topic of debate. They were introduced in many urban schools to help stop the rise of gang affiliation and in private schools to help create an inclusive environment for students. Implementing dress codes and uniforms were not always welcomed, as some students and parents feel that dress codes force every child to fit into a mold and take away the right of a child to be individual. Even though critics think strict dress codes and uniforms in schools do not allow children to be individual, uniforms and strict dress codes are beneficial to a positive learning environment because they have lowered violence…

    • 1434 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    I believe that uniforms have a positive effect on our school systems and society. The US Department of Education says that 84% of teachers say that uniforms help promote a sense of safety in learning and teaching environments. If there were more schools with uniforms, the risk of a predator or intruder within the school would be lowered.…

    • 249 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Some may say uniforms are dull, uncomfortable, and have a lack of creativity, but uniforms should be worn in school because they will keep an educational environment, allow students to feel comfortable, and create a professional image for the school. First, uniforms should be established in schools to establish a learning classroom environment. Some people say that uniforms affect the classroom learning environment, but actually, uniforms increase the learning atmosphere. To start, students who wear khakis, plaid skirts, navy blazers, navy or white collared shirts are less likely to be distracted by colorful shirts, shorts, or pants.…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A recent study by the U.S. Department of Education suggests that school uniforms can help reduce theft, violence, and the negative effects of peer pressure caused when some students come to school wearing designer clothing and expensive sneakers. A uniform code also prevents gang members from wearing colors and insignia that could cause trouble and helps school officials recognize intruders who do not belong on campus. ”The reason why this is important because it states that The department of US Department of education has done research and has found that school uniforms help stop gang recruitment and theft. The quote supports my perspective by showing that other people are considering uniforms to stop or slow crime in schools. Uniforms are a great way to stop crime and Gang recruitment in…

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Pro School Uniforms

    • 1700 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Fifty-four percent of students say their school uniform does not compromise them of their identity, and forty-one percent say they noticed fewer disruptions in the classroom (Lake). The amount of school districts switching to school uniforms is on the rise; however, it is a hot debate right now. A school district is either extremely for or against their school switching to uniforms for many reasons. The school districts that are for switching to uniforms think it will benefit their school by cutting down on discrimination against the low-income students and create equality. They also believe uniforms can help lower the amount of cliques between students, and make the classroom a better learning environment.…

    • 1700 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    But, with uniforms, everyone is wearing the same thing, preventing bullying. In conclusion, I believe that uniforms will bring positive effects to the…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Wardrobe Freedom

    • 1080 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Wardrobe freedom Why should kids wear school uniforms? If I were to walk into a school where everyone is wearing the same clothing, I would think that this is a prison. Prisoners wear uniforms, not kids at school. Wearing uniforms are a huge controversy all around the world.…

    • 1080 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For many schools around the United States, there is a recurring dilemma of student expression of individuality and school dress codes. So the question superintendents must ask themselves is, should schools implement uniforms for students? Schools should implement uniforms because uniforms promote a sense of safety and security, they create a sense of unity and belonging, and uniforms will help students focus on learning instead of name brands. A primary argument in favor of school uniforms is, the implementation of school uniforms promotes a sense of safety and security at school. According to the data, “Since they began requiring uniforms, crime in the school district has dropped by 91 percent, suspensions have decreased by 90 percent,…

    • 1511 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    School Uniforms Mandatory

    • 1007 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Ranging from classroom disruptions to gang violence and physical attacks on others. Educators have found, in 38 North Carolina high schools, that “61% of the responding principals and assistant principals believed that there was a reduction in cases of misbehavior on campus when school uniforms were introduced” ("Does Wearing A School Uniform Improve Student Behavior?"). In Long Beach, California, a report was done after two years of a district-wide uniform policy. Reports of assault and battery went down by 34%, assault with a deadly weapon by 50%, fighting by 51%, sex offenses were cut by 74%, robbery by 65%, and the possession of drugs decreased by 69% (Stanley). If there are no distractions and no bullying, then there shouldn’t be any reason for a student to misbehave or cause…

    • 1007 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Mandatory uniforms will help provide a safer environment for students, increase attendance rates and therefore improve overall academic performance. It is imperative that schools across America provide a learning environment for students that is as safe as possible. Mandatory uniforms will help provide a safer environment by decreasing student victimization, such as bullying. Bullying threatens the emotional and physical safety of students. Although dress codes are enforced, students are at…

    • 532 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Graduation is a very important milestone for students. Recent studies suggest that requiring uniforms may increase the amount of students that earn their diplomas. In one certain study, the graduation rate increased by at least eight percent. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing. Uniforms makes getting for school easier, and will increase punctuality.…

    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    If kids weren’t required to wear a certain dress code, they would’ve the total freedom to come however they feel like. Many people argue that schools who required uniforms are taking the right of the students to express themselves in a unique way; however, schools who don’t require uniforms are promoting students to express themselves by the way they dress and not by who they truly are and their personality, so this makes them feel pressured to dress a certain way to be able to be accepted. This then becomes a social issue that creates competency among them of who wears the best outfit. Some kids may feel superior to others because they might feel “richer” by the way they dress, and the “poor people” start to become excluded from the society. This issue affects parents as well as they don’t want their kids to feel excluded, and be bullied simple because of what they are wearing on the…

    • 711 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays