StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

School Uniforms and the Results of Students - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "School Uniforms and the Results of Students" states that generally, there is a need for a viable option that allows our children to be independent individuals whilst at the same time receiving maximum protection in their learning environment…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98.1% of users find it useful
School Uniforms and the Results of Students
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "School Uniforms and the Results of Students"

?Introduction In today’s world of kidnapping and human trafficking a reliable means of protecting our children is vital to our continued safe existence. We can no longer bury our heads in the sand and hope that our children are safe once they have been left in the care of teachers and administrators. There is need for a viable option which allows our children to be independent individuals whilst at the same time receiving maximum protection in their learning environment. Whilst the use of school uniforms offer the opportunity for students and non students of an organization to be easily identifiable, does covering every child with the same fabric allow for students to express themselves as an individual who has the right to choose a preferred type of clothing. The school uniform controversy although around for decades is still quite vibrant in our public arenas. Although politicians and certain administrators claim that the wearing of a uniform reduces the level of violence at school and improves academic performance there is a resounding lack of empirical evidence to support this viewpoint (Brunsma and Rockquemore, and Northern).The author of this paper intends to demonstrate that the wearing of a uniform is but a drop in the bucket of methods of reducing the negativity associated with poor academic performance and behavior problems. In addition, claims of improving academic performance through the implementation of a uniform policy have strongly been refuted by researchers and educators alike (Brunsma and Rockquemore, and Northern). There are several other justifiable means of improving the overall conduct and performance of students at school and on the streets. In 1998 Brunsma and Rockquemore conducted a scientific research to investigate the claims made by proponents of the use of school uniform. The researchers examined assertions that the wearing of school uniforms reduces the abuse of drugs by teenagers as well as the problems in their behavior. In addition, they investigated the likelihood of the use of school uniforms causing an improvement in school attendance and academic achievement. Initially, Brunsma and Rockquemore acknowledged that Long Beach Unified School District was the first urban school district to operate with a mandatory uniform policy. In fact, advocates of the uniform policy at Long Beach insisted that the uniform policy was the only factor involved in the positive outcomes at the school district. Contrastingly, the authors noted that opponents to mandatory school uniforms were adamant that the use of school uniforms encountered ‘legal’ and ‘financial’ problems. Further, they noted the ‘questionable effectiveness’ of the wearing of these uniforms (53). Thus, the researchers in their attempt to test the relationship between uniforms and the four major outcomes made by advocates of the uniform policy utilized data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study conducted in 1988 with 8th grade students. Their results were astounding for in all four cases the researchers discovered that the empirical evidence did not support the claims made by the advocates. Instead there appeared to be the need for alternative thinking on the cause of the positive effects of the use of uniforms at the Long Beach Unified School District. Brunsma and Rockquemore were quick to note that there was other ‘reform efforts’ implemented at the same time as the uniform policy at the Long Beach District (60). The researchers concluded that the negative correlation between the mandatory uniform policy and academic achievement was perhaps asymptomatic of the ‘quick fix nature’ of reform policies at schools. Interestingly, in her article entitled, “School Uniforms, Academic Achievement, and Uses of Research”, Bodine highlighted possibly erroneous conclusions in Brunsma and Rockquemore’s article. In fact, Bodine contrasted the results obtained by Brunsma and Rockquemore with the results of an Educational Testing Service article. Bodine emphasized the differences in the reasons put forward for the use of uniforms in the late 1800s with the varying reasons in the late 1900s. She noted that in the 1894 Winthrop Normal and Industrial College insisted on the use of uniforms in order to decrease the level of social disparity amongst their students. By 1990s the discourse on uniform had moved from social disparity to the use of uniforms to temper gang violence. Bodine noted: early discourse on uniforms in U.S. public schools focused on their leveling effect, whereas common dress was also advocated for simplicity, practicality, and frugality. Reflecting changes in social climate, the egalitarian theme has been muted in post-1980 public discourse on school uniforms, although “leveling the playing field for kids” remains the predominant theme of private discourse in some communities … In post-1980 research and policy discourse, relations of school clothes to gangs and violence, school safety, school climate, shoplifting, peer pressure, family stress, self-expression, esprit de corps, individual versus community needs and rights, truancy, competitive dressing, and commercial influences on the young. (Bodine 67) Brunsma and Rockquemore, who Bodine claimed were the first researchers to incorporate academic success in the uniform discourse, came in for harsh criticism from Bodine. She noted that in her reexamination of the data used by Brunsma and Rockquemore her findings suggested that the two researchers’ results of uniforms being correlated with lower test scores were inaccurate because there was ‘misleading use of sector analysis’ (67). She also emphasized that both Brunsma and Rockquemore and the Educational Testing Service article were written in 1998. However, Educational Testing Service found no correlation between uniforms and academic success whereas the Brunsma and Rockquemore study resulted in a positive correlation between the uniform and academic achievement (68). Bodine noted that although the data showed a positive correlation between uniforms and academic achievement, Brunsma and Rockquemore continued to claim that there was a negative correlation between the two variables. Thus, Bodine concluded by cautioning parents, teachers and fellow researchers from adopting stances which are erroneous and causing the entire society to be mislead. Not only was there debate in the public forum but Brunsma and Rockquemore and Bodine continued the uniform debate in the research arena. Brunsma and Rockquemore did not allow Bodine to have the last say. In 2003 they published a scathing article in response to Bodine’s criticism. In this article, “Statistics, Sound Bites, and School Uniforms: A Reply to Bodine”, the researchers chided Bodine for confusing causality with correlation. They defined correlation versus causality and suggested that Bodine was mistaken in her interpretation of causality and correlation. They also highlighted Bodine and other researchers’ obvious neglect of analyzing their results in context. What is more, Brunsma and Rockquemore maintained that Bodine was not only inaccurate about their findings but about the Educational Testing Service as well. They believed that the Educational Testing Service study was not about correlation but about the process. Thus, Brunsma and Rockquemore concluded by agreeing with Bodine in her observation that often researchers cannot prevent their findings from being misinterpreted (76). They believed that Bodine had lost sight of the greater importance that of the relationship between uniforms and academic achievement. They decided to remain with their original findings that school uniforms will not increase academic achievement (76). Consistent with the conclusion of Brunsma and Rockquemore, the author of this paper believes that although the use of uniforms may be one of the factors which contribute to academic success it does not cause the success. In the Long Beach positive results researchers noted that there were many other policies implemented simultaneously with the school uniforms. The introduction of different teaching methods was one such policy ((Brunsma and Rockquemore). Further, Northern highlighted Anthony Gell in the United Kingdom who refused to make uniform mandatory at his school. Gell along with other educators found the uniform issue to be highly political, complex and divisive (Northern). The uniform initiative should not be a ‘quick fix’ rather other initiatives such as ‘aggressive truancy reduction initiatives, drug prevention efforts, student-athlete drug testing, community efforts to limit gangs, a zero tolerance policy for weapons, character education classes, and conflict resolution programs’ can be used to improve behavioral problems at schools (Northern). Works Cited Northern, Stephanie. “School uniform does not improve results – discuss.” The Guardian., 18 Jan. 2011. Web. 30 June 2011. Bodine, Ann. “School Uniforms, Academic Achievement, and Uses of Research.” Journal of Educational Research 97.2 (2003): 67-71. Web. 30 June 2011. Brunsma, David , and Rockquemore, Kerry. “Effects of Student Uniforms on Attendance, Behavior Problems, Substance Use, and Academic Achievement.” Journal of Educational Research, 92.1(1998) 53-62. Web. 30 June 2011. ---. “Statistics, Sound Bites, and School Uniforms: A Reply to Bodine.” Journal of Educational Research, 97.2(2003) 72-77. Web. 30 June 2011. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“School Uniforms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/education/1426663-school-uniforms
(School Uniforms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words)
https://studentshare.org/education/1426663-school-uniforms.
“School Uniforms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/education/1426663-school-uniforms.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF School Uniforms and the Results of Students

School Uniforms for American Public Schools

Parents and the society at large depends on the teachers to instill discipline in their children but they do very little to support teachers, who are sometimes overwhelmed by the large number of students constantly demanding their attention.... It is ironic that parents and the society at large depends on the teachers to instill discipline in their children but they do very little to support teachers, who are sometimes overwhelmed by the large number of students constantly demanding their attention (Hamilton 31)....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Should schools require student uniforms

Review of Related Literature In a study written by Gentile and Imberman, the authors examined the effects of wearing a prescribed school uniform on the behavior and academic performance of students in a large urban school district in the southwest portion (LUSD-SW) of the country.... For schools, particularly primary and secondary education, the decision to prescribe school uniforms depends on diverse factors.... In this regard, the aim of the current essay is to propose to the school administrators, parents and students that school uniforms should be prescribed....
5 Pages (1250 words) Term Paper

School Uniform Policy

The school management carefully selected the uniform to contribute to the health and safety of students when involved in the school activities.... From the paper "School Uniform Policy" it is clear that a lot of money that parents save by buying school uniforms can be used for getting fashionable clothes for their kids.... School uniform policy 1 It is a requirement that schools review and document school dress requirements in consultation with other stakeholders as well as developing strategies for wearing of school uniforms....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

The Benefits of Wearing a School Uniform in High School

The clothes only serve to create a divided class of students on campus.... There seems to be a growing clamor for school uniforms in the public schools for some matter.... Thus school uniforms can actually help the kids get to school on time and the parents also get a few extra minutes everyday with which they can do other things in the process.... (Whelan, Brittany “school uniforms Save Money, Avoid Problems”) As anybody who ever attended high school knows, these students are judged by their peers at this level primary through first impressions....
9 Pages (2250 words) Research Paper

School uniforms

Critics have claimed that school uniforms have impacts on neither academic performance nor behavior of students both at school and in their homes.... Some researchers have found out that these attires have a considerable impact on the academic performance of students and their behavior as well.... Critics have claimed that school uniforms have impacts on neither academic performance nor behavior of students both at school and in their homes.... Proponents of the adoption of school uniforms in public schools emphasize the importance of these outfits....
13 Pages (3250 words) Research Paper

Effect of School Uniform on Students Life

Critics question whether there is any valid relationship between uniforms and the performance of students in class.... This result was appreciated by the community at large with only 600-700 out of the 70,000 students in the district preferring to be exempted from wearing uniforms, which mean a whopping 99% of students preferred uniforms (Cohn and Cohn).... Opponents of the school dress code, on the other hand, claim it will infringe on the first amendment rights of students to freedom of expression, their religious rights and will contribute to dampening of student expression rights....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

Role of School Uniforms in Public Schools

In such a context, there are would not be numerous moments touching aspects of inappropriate clothing of students and consuming a lot of time for clarifications of the questions instead of its beneficial applying for gaining of new data. ... According to Mathison & Ross (2008) some of the clothing-related conflicts arise from difference in socio-economic status of students that is determined by the brands of clothes that they wear.... Such a sad reality has entered students' life to the extent that repeated situations of their peers' indignity in classrooms, corridors, and lavatories are not surprising for them and they are just not astonished at seeing such horrible manifestations of abuse and pass by without any attempts to protect the oppressed (except rare cases of students' interference into conflict situations when they want justice to be met, in their almost useless attempts)....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper

Why Students Have to Wear Uniforms

For the most part, research has shown that dress policies have a significant impact on the learning of students.... This has been particularly so in areas and schools with broad diversities of students meaning that the students have little commonalities if any, besides education that unites them all (Ebert and Culyer 21).... Definitely, gangs would suddenly crop out of students when the students are given the choice of selecting their own dress codes (Ebert and Culyer 11). ...
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us