Essay on School Uniforms
Over the past few years, schools across the country have reported increasing amounts of violence, thefts of accessories and clothing, and gag related activities. Many of the school officials, who are responsible for providing a safe school environment for students have concluded that uniforms, or strict dress codes, help prevent these occurrences. Administrators, educators, parents, students and other members of the public are all divided over the school uniform issue. Arguments that the mandating of school uniforms violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments have become more frequent in cases brought up in the Supreme Court. Others feel that reasons based on religious and racial issues lead to additional opposition to school uniforms. Some people say that school dress codes discriminate against student’s racial, ethnical and religious beliefs and freedoms. Uniforms seem to have taken much of the focus away from the traditional purpose of going to school: to learn and receive an education.
Supporters of school uniforms argue that uniforms help students to concentrate on their lessons during class. While these supporters are not completely wrong, they are not looking at the situation fairly. Comfortable clothes will and do make it easier for a student to concentrate in the classroom. However, not all students have the same preferences when it comes to clothes. What may be comfortable to one student could be totally uncomfortable to another. So, by not looking at the situation in its entirety, the supporters have not been able to make a valid point.
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How can someone honestly believe a dress code will be easier on students? Using a strict dress code or uniforms could inevitably cause more stress on the students than before because students must then worry more about whether or not their attire complies with the dress code than what the teacher is teaching. One of the pushing forces behind the installation of school uniforms is to attempt to eliminate gangs and gang related violence. While most gangs are recognized by the color of the clothes that particular group wears, the students could just as easily be recognized by a piece or jewelry or a hairstyle. Once the school bells ring, the students go back to their lives, their clothes, and sometimes their gangs; a school uniform really cannot prevent a student from being part of a gang or that gang’s activities. Uniforms supposedly add more discipline to students during school hours, but many schools are reporting increases in the number of detentions and suspensions due to dress code violations. Now students are missing even more class time because of the school-mandated dress code. There may be a good trade-off with dress code violations as apposed to being reprimanded for violence. But, how much attention do teachers need to be taking away from their lessons to discipline students for not wearing the proper attire?
Most people do not realize the impact that mandatory school uniforms have on each person. Children of less fortunate families are by law given their uniforms instead of having to purchase them. Who picks of the tab for these mandatory uniforms? This burden will fall to the taxpayers of course. At Penn-Delco Middle and Penn-Delco High schools it was reported that over two hundred students were eligible for a new uniform because of their parent’s financial status (Harding, 2002). These same students have been adequately clothed for years before by their parents who find alternative ways to clothe their children. Then schools must pay lawyers expensive fees to fight lawsuits brought against the school debating the constitutionality of having uniforms.
The First Amendment gives every person the freedom of self-expression. By limiting a student’s First Amendment rights, a school will also be limiting a student’s individuality and identity discoveries that most high school students experience. By making dress codes mandatory, the schools have not only began to trample over the Fourteenth Amendment, but they have stepped out of the school’s boundaries into parental territory. Not allowing students to wear religious affiliated apparel such as a head-dress or religion promoting tee shirt have allowed schools to create their own form of discrimination. Many pros and cons must be brought out when discussing this controversial issue and both sides need to be acknowledged. When all side have weighed in it seems that the cons far outweigh the pros of having school uniforms.
Supporters of school uniforms argue that uniforms help students to concentrate on their lessons during class. While these supporters are not completely wrong, they are not looking at the situation fairly. Comfortable clothes will and do make it easier for a student to concentrate in the classroom. However, not all students have the same preferences when it comes to clothes. What may be comfortable to one student could be totally uncomfortable to another. So, by not looking at the situation in its entirety, the supporters have not been able to make a valid point.
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How can someone honestly believe a dress code will be easier on students? Using a strict dress code or uniforms could inevitably cause more stress on the students than before because students must then worry more about whether or not their attire complies with the dress code than what the teacher is teaching. One of the pushing forces behind the installation of school uniforms is to attempt to eliminate gangs and gang related violence. While most gangs are recognized by the color of the clothes that particular group wears, the students could just as easily be recognized by a piece or jewelry or a hairstyle. Once the school bells ring, the students go back to their lives, their clothes, and sometimes their gangs; a school uniform really cannot prevent a student from being part of a gang or that gang’s activities. Uniforms supposedly add more discipline to students during school hours, but many schools are reporting increases in the number of detentions and suspensions due to dress code violations. Now students are missing even more class time because of the school-mandated dress code. There may be a good trade-off with dress code violations as apposed to being reprimanded for violence. But, how much attention do teachers need to be taking away from their lessons to discipline students for not wearing the proper attire?
Most people do not realize the impact that mandatory school uniforms have on each person. Children of less fortunate families are by law given their uniforms instead of having to purchase them. Who picks of the tab for these mandatory uniforms? This burden will fall to the taxpayers of course. At Penn-Delco Middle and Penn-Delco High schools it was reported that over two hundred students were eligible for a new uniform because of their parent’s financial status (Harding, 2002). These same students have been adequately clothed for years before by their parents who find alternative ways to clothe their children. Then schools must pay lawyers expensive fees to fight lawsuits brought against the school debating the constitutionality of having uniforms.
The First Amendment gives every person the freedom of self-expression. By limiting a student’s First Amendment rights, a school will also be limiting a student’s individuality and identity discoveries that most high school students experience. By making dress codes mandatory, the schools have not only began to trample over the Fourteenth Amendment, but they have stepped out of the school’s boundaries into parental territory. Not allowing students to wear religious affiliated apparel such as a head-dress or religion promoting tee shirt have allowed schools to create their own form of discrimination. Many pros and cons must be brought out when discussing this controversial issue and both sides need to be acknowledged. When all side have weighed in it seems that the cons far outweigh the pros of having school uniforms.
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