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Supporting
School Uniforms
Julie A. Barnes
With school violence on the rise, authorities are taking steps to strengthen their disciplinary measures against it. Although dress codes and zero tolerance are only the tip of the iceberg, school uniforms are being brought back up into discussion for several schools encountering problems.
Installing a better form of discipline into a school is a major reason why many schools across the country are piloting a uniform program. Reducing school violence is one action to which uniforms take. “The Long Beach Unified School District reported a seventy-six percent reduction in school crime approximately three years after enacting a uniform policy in all of its elementary and middle schools.” (Starr 2000) Improving school safety by reducing on site gang activity can keep students in a safer and better learning environment.
Gang related activity on school grounds becomes a large reason why several areas choose uniforms. However, not all forms of gang related apparel can be identifiable by teachers without help from local police. A community must decide what apparel effects their area, and what may not. Popular team jerseys from the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Kings have a gang affiliation with the Latin Kings but may not affect certain communities as it may others. For school uniforms to be effective, the surrounding community must be involved with the improvement of their area. “According to a school performance report, truancy rates and the number of school suspensions have also declined with the implementation of a peer mediation program, family liaisons, and a family focus center.” (Daugherty 2002) Without an interest in improving an entire area, school safety easily gets brushed aside which makes uniforms less successful than to those that take action. However with change comes opposition, and with the rise of uniforms being implemented in schools many may feel as though their constitutional rights are being ignored.
School uniforms do not infringe upon student’s constitutional rights for freedom of speech and religion. They are instead, needed to help students improve their self image by resisting peer pressure for cliques and gangs, thus improving total school moral. In actuality, school uniforms uphold student rights. Yarmulkes and head scarves are protected under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, should not be singled out for suppression, but subjected to the same rules and regulations that involve comparable messages. For instance, political buttons for a favorite candidate would be acceptable, while a gang related button would not because it interferes with the discipline and rights of others. “A school need not tolerate student expression that is inconsistent with its basic educational mission.” (McCarthy 2001) Another way to insure a student’s freedoms are to have a voluntary school uniform policy, or to provide an “opt out” program where students have the choice in attending a different public school instead, or having casual Fridays. A common misconception about uniforms is total cost versus normal clothes.
With a range of socioeconomic families residing in one community, the desire for less class distinction would improve the learning of students. Uniforms were proposed the principal of the Muncie, Indiana high school by “eliminating class distinctions in high school and placing the poor on an equal footing with the rich.” (Bodine 2003) Local businesses many times would gladly donate funds for school uniforms to be made available for disadvantaged students, while graduating seniors can donate their uniforms to be used by others in the future. Group discounts from uniform sellers is usually available, making costs for students go down drastically.
With both implications of school uniform and community support, school safety and awareness rises dramatically. Since many schools already use a dress code, and update it annually to accommodate new situations, uniforms could well be the next step in zero tolerance. I had never encountered students from uniformed schools until I came to BGSU. Although I care deeply for expression and non-conformity, I can understand how important uniforms can be towards a better and safer learning environment.
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