School Uniforms – Helpful or Hurtful?
Requiring all students to wear school uniforms, including in public schools, became a significant topic of interest after President Bill Clinton gave his opinion on the subject during his 1996 State of the Union Address. Clinton stated, “if it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms.” His judgement was strong and his words were effective. Once President Clinton advocated mandated school uniforms in his 1996 address, the subject became a matter of public debate, and not just centered around Clinton’s desire to prevent violence. There were other issues as well, such as whether mandating school uniforms diminished students’ rights to express themselves, and whether the effect of requiring uniforms could take away a major distraction and lead to students’ greater academic and personal success. School uniforms …show more content…
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. They have been shown to reduce behavior problems and improve safety. For example, a study of Ohio public high schools that was conducted by Virginia B. Draa, an assistant professor of human ecology at Youngstown State University, found that schools that required uniforms generally had lower suspension rates and fewer discipline issues than schools without that
Requiring all students to wear school uniforms, including in public schools, became a significant topic of interest after President Bill Clinton gave his opinion on the subject during his 1996 State of the Union Address. Clinton stated, “if it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms.” His judgement was strong and his words were effective. Once President Clinton advocated mandated school uniforms in his 1996 address, the subject became a matter of public debate, and not just centered around Clinton’s desire to prevent violence. There were other issues as well, such as whether mandating school uniforms diminished students’ rights to express themselves, and whether the effect of requiring uniforms could take away a major distraction and lead to students’ greater academic and personal success. School uniforms …show more content…
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. They have been shown to reduce behavior problems and improve safety. For example, a study of Ohio public high schools that was conducted by Virginia B. Draa, an assistant professor of human ecology at Youngstown State University, found that schools that required uniforms generally had lower suspension rates and fewer discipline issues than schools without that