Informative analysis of school uniforms - Essay Example

The president said in his 1996 state of the union address that schools should adapt to compulsory school uniforms if it means that teenagers can stop killing one another over designer clothing (Julia, 2012, p. 2). Since that time, school uniforms have been used as the long awaited policy for solving school violence crisis. In October of 1998, uniforms were supported by the United States conference of mayors, and the USA today of 15th October 1998 reported a significant decline in crime and an increased performance for students in schools that have implemented the policy.

It specifically cites 91 percent drop in theft, vandalism, assaults and drug violation since 1991 in Long Beach (Julia, 2012, p. 4). Although the article neglects other steps that can improve students’ behavior, like increasing the teachers patrolling school hallways at class changes, taken in Long Beach around that same time and the nationwide concentration given to school uniforms, parents became more aware of their vital need to take part in their children’s lives. Students also identified the higher anticipations attached on them.

The policy being in effect since 1994 suggests crime was already declining. The two opposing claims can be whether uniform policy alone is sufficient to end school violence and lead to improved performance, as suggested, or if uniform support is just an economical solution designed to disguise the actual weight of the problem (Julia, 2012, p. 3). For school uniforms There are arguments in support of the school uniform policy, firstly they assist school administration identify strangers who can visit the school.

The uniforms adopted country wide can be similar. The school administration should, therefore, be able to identify strangers wandering around the school. Every other time, students are supposed to be in their classroom. An intruder might stick out since he/she might be wandering around at a time when students can be expected to be in classrooms studying. The intruder can easily be identified by the mode of dressing which is different from that of the students (Julia, 2012, p. 10). Uniform policy can also assist students in concentration with their school work.

The idea here is that if students lack thinking about what to wear to school on a daily basis, they will put more effort on learning. The USA today dated October 15th 1998 reports that most teachers felt uniforms contributed to increased academic improvement because students cannot be distracted by their classmates clothing (Julia, 2012). This is an essential skill that students are supposed to learn since no employer can accept shady work due to distraction by clothing. Another reason is uniforms prevent gang members from insignia and gang colors.

Some adornments will still be seen as gang- affiliated even if all students wear uniform. It is simpler to have a general rule on gangs in schools e.g. by forbidding accessories that cannot be essential, like pagers and bandannas, but abolishing the “gang” look may be rather difficult (Kevin Ryan, 2012, p. 160). Uniforms on the other hand, can help in decreasing violence over expensive clothing. When in England, the author purchased uniform from any store. However, some students purchased sweaters with designer logos.

The distinction based on those logos was widely acknowledged and formed the basis of cliques in school.