PUBLIC SCHOOL UNIFORM’S OR NOT

Milagros Uresk

English 1010

THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

“ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment

of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or

abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the

right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition

the Government for a redress of grievances. ”

-First Amendment to the United States Constitution

The First Amendment gives every citizen the freedom of expression. Many believe that this amendment also applies to a person’s clothing. Most people wear what they choose to wear because they believe those items would help express their personality, mood, religion and social status to the people around them. Would mandatory uniform policies infringe on that freedom?

A PERSON’S CLOTHING IS A REFLECTION OF WHO THEY ARE INSIDE

A person with expensive designer clothing is

usually social and popular, while a person who wears

loose comfortable clothing may just be focused on

studying. A person could wear different types of

clothing depending on their mood. A person could

wear something bright and fashionable one day and

then wear something dark and gothic another. Making

uniforms mandatory in public schools would take that

choice away from students.

With recent fashions, keeping students modest at school is a trying effort for educators. This issue and how to stop school violence and delinquencies are problems that educators plan to lighten with the introduction and enforcement of a public school uniform dress code. The Board of Education has been debating as to whether public school uniforms should become policy. While assessing, a reoccurring question cycles through the topic, “Will Forcing a uniform policy in public school change anything?”

I don’t think that school uniforms will help much with bullying and violence in schools. Bullying will be a part of school life with or with out uniforms because some students aren’t raised with the proper discipline. School uniforms will only change the reasoning for a bullies actions. School boards should be more focused on the quality of their students education. However, uniforms could decrease immodesty in school and it can also improve a school’s over all behavioral weather.

P

arents

E

ducators

S

tudents

P

arents

WHO STANDS FOR WHAT?

For

the Establishment

of Uniforms in Public Schools

Against

the Establishment

of Uniforms in Public Schools

E

ducators and some parents

argue that the

establishment of uniforms

in school will help lessen

school gang involvement,

violence and improve

student academics.

S

tudents and their parents

argue that uniform policies will

not help quell school violence

and children’s misbehavior.

They argue that the policies

would encroach on their

freedom to express themselves

through their clothing.

BOTH SIDES HAVE CONVINCING ARGUMENTS TO SUPPORT THEIR POSITION

For Against

Cheaper than designer clothing

Students won’t judge others

over clothing

Increased academic scores

Possible decrease in violence

Decrease in gang involvement

Student respect towards

teachers

N

ot cheaper in U.S.

J

udging over other items will

increase

N

o freedom of apparel expression

N

o freedom of choice

M

ay not help with gang involvement

S

tudents may act out more

ARE UNIFORMS USEFUL?

Pro’s Con’s

EDUCATOR’S ARGUMENT

Experts say a school adopting a uniform dress code will

create a better learning atmosphere by removing dress related

differences among students, and increasing school safety by

preventing the formation of gangs. Educators argue that most

parent support the uniform policy. Although, the only way to

discover if the policy is accepted by the community is to conduct a

survey and base the decision on the reply. Which Laurie

McCaulley, School Board Representative for Huntsville City had

done. McCaulley made the survey available all so every one was

able to have an opportunity to give their input.

In Huntsville

Alabama, a survey was

conducted to determine

whether its districts should

establish a uniform dress

code. About 55% of all

participants voted in favor of

school uniforms. Out of all

7,000 surveys only one-third

were submitted.

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

STUDENT’S ARGUMENT

“They made me feel like I wasn’t able to express myself,

it took away from my individuality,” as quoted form Jillian Ware,

who was required to wear a uniform during her middle school

years. She describes the uniform code as unpleasant and

dislikable. No longer bound by a uniform policy in school Ms.

Ware states, “I’m happier”. A student’s view on the policy is the

most important view on the issue because they will be the ones

required to wear the uniforms and will be forced to due so if a

district makes the uniform dress code mandatory for attending

their schools.

SUPPORTING PARENT ARGUMENT

In Huntsville, Alabama parents who supported the adoption of

the uniform policy won the vote in the poll to decide the districts dress

codes and Huntsville City’s schools adopted a uniform policy. They argue

that uniforms will help their students learn faster and keep them safe

from most bullying. Angela Walmsley wrote, “I was never an advocate of

school uniforms. Having attended a U.S. public school myself, I couldn't

imagine wearing a uniform. I began to see the benefit of school uniforms

when I taught in a British school a number of years ago and later when

my own children attended English schools”. As a parent Mrs. Walmsley

knows what most parents want for and form their children.

OPPOSING PARENT ARGUMENT

“People are still going to make fun of people for where they

live or whether they have free or reduced lunch,” said Seth Haley, a

parent. “We should focus on education and books; we should be more

worried about curriculums,” he later added. Mr. Haley’s assessment

on human behavior is a bitterly true observation. The strong will still

prey on the weak no matter what they wear. They will find something

else to tease their victims about, whether its about their hair, their

face or the car they drive to school in. Educators should be more

worried about the quality of their students education and school

supplies then about what their students are wearing.

OPPOSING PARENT CONTINUED

Shaileen Morton told the Board of Education

members that the current dress code should be enforced.

“They are just clothes, they’re not going to change the

kid’s actions, work on the actions first.” Most students

should know how to behave in public and at school. Any

major misbehavior should be dealt with by the parents of

the student. Clothing doesn’t make the person it can only

describe them.

WHERE IT’S WORKED

Angela Walmsley, associate dean for graduate education and

research in the College of Education and Public Service at St. Louis

University has experienced the benefits uniforms can give to parents,

students and teachers by creating a link of respect for through the student.

In the United Kingdom, parents seem to like the uniforms because they

are affordable. Teachers appreciate school uniforms because they help

students focus on school and not each other's clothes. School uniforms are

commonplace in the United Kingdom and seem to help promote students'

respect for the teachers, the school, and themselves. However these

behaviors may have been influenced by how U.K. students are raised at

home. In the U.S. students are raised differently than students from the

U.K. and the results may end differently.

SCIENTIFIC VIEW

David Brunsma, Assistant Professor of Sociology, at the

University of Missouri-Columbia comments, “Uniforms have not

been effective at attacking the very outcomes and issues they

were assumed to aid”. So back to our troubling question, Will

Forcing a uniform policy in public school change anything?

There are many sides with strong and supporting evidence to

this argument. I think that if a district is contemplating a

uniform policy, all evidence should be evaluated as to whether

or not the policy will reduce violence and bulling in school.

Uniforms are a useful tool in creating a less distracting atmosphere in classrooms. They can help decrease bullying, violence and misbehavior at school. They may also help increase academic scores. However, students will protest the uniform dress code so that they can express themselves through their clothing. Student misbehavior at school could increase if uniforms are forced on to them.

I’m a person who loves to try on different clothes everyday and if the choice of what to wear was taken from me I would have protested and fought the policy. I think that wearing a uniform would be useful and fun at times, but it would become boring about a month after. I love being an individual and showing that I am. If a school district is considering a uniform policy they should survey both parents and students to ensure that everyone’s opinion is accounted for. Another option instead of uniforms is a dress code where certain lengths, profanity and sexually suggestive clothing are banned while still letting students exercise their freedom.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jirousek, Charlotte. Dress, Fashion and Social Change. n.d. 3 March 2011

<http://char.txa.cornell.edu/art/dress/dress.htm>.

McConville, Jim. Parents Battle over School Uniforms. Feb 2011.

<http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SSERSOL-0-

8492&artno=0000312359&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=&title=Parents%20Battle

%20Over%20School%20Uniforms&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=Y&ic=Y>.

Pinto, Amanda. School survey to gauge thoughts on Uniforms . 9 March

2011. <http://proquest.umi.com.dbprox.slcc.edu/pqdlink?

did=2286631361&Fmt=7&clientId=1677&RQT=309&VName=PQD>.

ProQuest Staff. At Issue: School Uniforms. 8 April 2011.

<http://sks.sirs.com.dbprox.slcc.edu/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SSERSOL-0-

8492&artno=0000307471&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=&title=At%20Issue%3A

%20School%20Uniforms&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=Y&ic=Y>.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Walmsley, Angela. What the UK can teach the US about school

Uniforms . March 2011. <http://sks.sirs.com.dbprox.slcc.edu/cgi-bin/hst-article-

display?id=SSERSOL-0-

8492&artno=0000312899&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=&title=What%20the

%20United%20Kingdom%20Can%20Teach%20the%20United%20States

%20About%20School%2E%2E%2E&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=Y&ic=Y>.

Ware, Jillian. Do school uniforms affect how students learn? 2 Sept.

2009. <http://proquest.umi.com.dbprox.slcc.edu/pqdlink?

did=1862007841&Fmt=7&clientId=1677&RQT=309&VName=PQD>.