Lesson seven was about school uniforms and our approach to the subject. Some feel as if school uniforms stop bullying and stop distractions in class. Some also feel as if they make behavioral problems cease. Whereas some people that oppose school uniforms feel as if they limit individuality.

 

What is a school uniform? Describe.

                A school uniform is an outfit that is required by all students to meet and wear. School uniforms are meant to establish an orderly school and a professional looking atmosphere for visitors and the school itself. School uniforms have been a subject that has been debated for years and years and some of the arguments suggest that school uniforms limit individuality and some argue that school uniforms establish unity and organization.

•What are the potential benefits of having school uniforms?

                Some potential benefits that can be reaped from having a school uniform policy is less dress code violations, a uniform school, order and organization, less distractions for students, students will have more obedience, and a more professional atmosphere. There would be less dress code violations because if all students are required to wear a certain attire then there will be less dress code problems, a uniform school would be a benefit because every child would be wearing the same attire in consistency and it will be orderly and organized. They can also create less distractions for students because there will be less room for wild and crazy outfits that can be distracting. School uniforms often represent obedience so some may feel that school uniforms could mean achieving an obedient school is possible, less disciplinary action will have to be taken. School uniforms can create a professional atmosphere because a uniform often is associated with professionalism. School uniforms have lots of benefits that can be reaped from having a policy but there can also be some potential problems faced as well.

•What are the potential problems with having school uniforms?

                Some potential problems with school uniforms could be less individuality and creativity expressed from students, money would be affected for both the school and families, and some feel that school uniforms are just an idea to achieve something like obedience and discipline which is not always true. Less individuality and creativity would be expressed from students because they would all be wearing the same thing and there would be no individual style expressed from each student. Money could be a potential problem when facing who is providing these uniforms. If a parent is providing the uniforms they might complain about having to spend a certain amount of money on uniforms, or the students may come from low income families that cannot afford school uniforms. If the school provided school uniforms then money could be an issue for the school also when the school faces budget cuts or they have less money available. The idea that school uniforms could enforce discipline and obedience is often viewed as just an idea, some people do not believe that an outfit worn by all students can enforce something like obedience. Alfie Kohn’s article on school uniforms expresses the idea that school uniforms are viewed as good because they represent obedience, but the administration themselves have to enforce obedience not the outfit.

•How can you get parents and students to buy-in to the idea of school uniforms?

                Parents and students could be swayed to buy-in to the idea of school uniforms when they are showed the true benefits and positive things school uniforms are offered. If parents and students are told that school uniforms prevent distractions they will see how school uniforms can make their academic journey a bit more successful because all students are in uniform and not distracted by clothing.

•What does the Supreme Court have to say on this issue?

                The Supreme Court feels that school uniforms can increase student’s safety and enhance their learning. The Supreme Court, other legislatures and educators feel that school uniforms decrease school violence and actually help students to do better in school. The Supreme Court has always had an impact on education and have always felt that there needed to be more tactics used to make schools safer and better environments and they feel as if schools uniforms can take that dream and turn it into a reality.

•Are school uniforms truly effective?

                School uniforms are only effective if the school is effective. If there is a strong administration that wants to enforce school uniforms for professionalism and obedience then yes I feel as if they would be effective but only if the men and women behind these ideas are strong in their standpoint and their rules and actually enforce them. Uniforms can be a very good thing if they are presented in the correct way and enforced in the right manner. If school uniforms are going to be effective then teachers, administration, parents, and the school board will all have to be on the same page. In other words the only way school uniforms can be effective if there is effective communication among all authority figures.

 

Research Question:

Do schools uniforms really affect violence levels in school?

Research References:

http://www.teenviolencestatistics.com/content/school-uniforms-and-violence.html

http://www.abusivekids.com/uniforms-for-safer-schools.html

Research Analysis:

According to the research schools uniforms actually decrease school violence. School uniforms make it more difficult for students to show gang affiliation, which may reduce gang violence and gang activity at school. If the uniform is properly designed, they make it more difficult for students to hide weapons on their bodies when entering the school. They can also create a more level playing field for students of different social or economic classes, which may help reduce bullying. School uniforms make it easier to spot an intruder who should not be on campus and may be there to harm students, sell drugs, or engage in other disruptive or dangerous activities. In some cases school uniforms seem to help create a sense of belonging and school spirit for students, increase students' self-esteem, and decrease discipline problems. All of those things seem to correlate with school uniform policies and that is why this resource feels as though school uniforms to help to decrease violence but it is also hard to tell what the real cause of the violence decrease is because the schools have also enacted other nonviolence strategies.

According to the research there are many benefits that come from school uniform policies. Some of these benefits include decreased violence and theft that is usually the result of clothing and shoes problems, reduced need for teachers to have to pay so much attention to dress code when there are other issues that need focus, students are less distracted a sense of community is instilled into the students, it is easier for school employees to recognize when someone doesn’t belong on campus and also gang colors are restricted. With all of these things taken into consideration the research says that school uniforms really do cut down bullying, and school violence.

 

Research Summary:

                I was not at all shocked by the research. I actually expected these results but the reason I was so interested in this topic is because I have always wondered how people believe a simple outfit can change the entire behavior of a school of students. School uniforms do seem to be a positive tactic used by schools but in my opinion I do not agree that uniforms can make or break behavior. I do not feel like school uniforms will stop violence enough to make it a significant change because to me it is just an outfit. I do think that it does bring a sense of community and unity amongst students but the truth is some children are just mean. There will always be some students that aren’t as nice as others and because of this violence will always be present in some form. I believe that school uniforms can help to change some attitudes but I don’t think they have that great of an impact.