School uniforms, should they be mandatory in public schools? There are so many debates on this issue and they will continue for years to come probably. Some schools have implemented uniforms and those schools have been used as research for this topic. Three of the main issues that are discussed when it comes to uniforms in public schools are higher education, less violence, and lower cost to parents. It is also stated that uniforms in public schools do not change any of these issues. The National Association of Secondary School Principals stated that "When all students are wearing the same outfit, they are less concerned about how they look and how they fit in with their peers; thus, they can concentrate on their schoolwork." (ProCon.org)
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It has not stopped at just one school having that kind of terror. According to an article in Newsweek there is an organization, Everytown, that keeps track of all the school shootings in the United States. Since 2013 there have been 142 school shootings and in 2015 there have been 45 school shootings for that year alone. The Oregon shooting made the 45th shooting in 2015. This has brought up the school uniform topic and how it might lower the violence that happens in schools. If schools had mandatory uniforms then outsiders would be identified a lot easier. Also if school uniforms were worn this would reduce the wearing of gang colors. Andrew Yoxismer, the principal at Sparks Middle School said,"The decision to switch to uniforms came after problems with gang colors surfaces...and young girls were seen wearing attire deemed too sexy for a seventh or eighth grader...both offenses that are already prohibited under a district-wide policy." (kolotv.com) Andrew Yoxsimer also discussed how another school in California switched to mandatory uniforms and had an increase of 95% in three years with no violence in the school. The uniforms also provide a sense of community and school pride which can also make students feel safer. When the students feel like a part of a community they want to take care of it and the people in it. According to a 2007 study from Oxford Brooks University in the United Kingdom found that uniforms "often directly contributed to a feeling of school pride." (dailymail.com) Others say that school uniforms actually increase violence and bullying. Tony Volk PhD, Associate Professor at Brock University, stated, "overall, there is no evidence in bullying literature that supports a reduction in violence due to school uniforms." (ProCon.org) When a study was done by a peer-review in 2007 it found that school uniforms increased the average number of assaults by about 14
It has not stopped at just one school having that kind of terror. According to an article in Newsweek there is an organization, Everytown, that keeps track of all the school shootings in the United States. Since 2013 there have been 142 school shootings and in 2015 there have been 45 school shootings for that year alone. The Oregon shooting made the 45th shooting in 2015. This has brought up the school uniform topic and how it might lower the violence that happens in schools. If schools had mandatory uniforms then outsiders would be identified a lot easier. Also if school uniforms were worn this would reduce the wearing of gang colors. Andrew Yoxismer, the principal at Sparks Middle School said,"The decision to switch to uniforms came after problems with gang colors surfaces...and young girls were seen wearing attire deemed too sexy for a seventh or eighth grader...both offenses that are already prohibited under a district-wide policy." (kolotv.com) Andrew Yoxsimer also discussed how another school in California switched to mandatory uniforms and had an increase of 95% in three years with no violence in the school. The uniforms also provide a sense of community and school pride which can also make students feel safer. When the students feel like a part of a community they want to take care of it and the people in it. According to a 2007 study from Oxford Brooks University in the United Kingdom found that uniforms "often directly contributed to a feeling of school pride." (dailymail.com) Others say that school uniforms actually increase violence and bullying. Tony Volk PhD, Associate Professor at Brock University, stated, "overall, there is no evidence in bullying literature that supports a reduction in violence due to school uniforms." (ProCon.org) When a study was done by a peer-review in 2007 it found that school uniforms increased the average number of assaults by about 14