Should Students Have To Wear School Uniforms

The debate on school uniforms has been ongoing in the United States since the mid-1980s. Long Beach, CA was the first community to create a district wide uniform policy in 1994. Supporters of school uniforms say uniforms are beneficial and create an even playing field for socio-economically challenged students. Opponents of school uniforms say they are unnecessary and stifle students. Uniforms are more common in urban and higher poverty schools than suburban and low poverty schools.
Long Beach Unified School District was the first in the nation to adopt a district wide mandatory uniform policy in 1994 (Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms?, 2014). The district was facing increases in crime and gang activity. Student enrollment numbers …show more content…
They say uniforms do not allow students to express their individuality. They say choosing clothing is a basic life skill that children must practice. The problem of designer clothing and shoes is not solved by mandating uniforms, because even uniform clothing displays designer labels, and sneakers must be worn in P.E. classes. Uniforms can be expensive and place a burden on families with lower incomes. Uniformity could result in increased bullying by making children less tolerant of differences. Uniforms could create a sense of rivalry between schools.
Nationwide, the number of public schools requiring students to wear uniforms is increasing. During the 2011-2012 school year, about 20% of public schools had a uniform policy in place. That number is up from 13% for the 2003-2004 school year (Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms?, 2014). The majority of schools requiring uniforms are located in cities and high-poverty areas (Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms?, 2014). Uniforms seem to make the biggest difference in these areas. The pressure to compete with other students in the name of fashion is removed when uniform policies are put into