Why School Uniforms Should Be Mandatory - Research Paper Example

Why School Uniforms Should Be Mandatory Most people would agree that schools should have the freedom to decide what kind of ethos and style they wish their staff and students to represent. Some schools have very strict rules, with mandatory uniforms, while others advocate a free dress code. The question of whether or not to introduce mandatory school uniforms has been widely debated with a wide range of opinions being expressed in the United States in recent years. Arguments against and for this policy are therefore considered in the light of some recent studies of this issue.

This paper proposes that school uniforms should be mandatory because they foster team spirit and self- respect in a culture which too often promotes selfish individualism and rebellion. One of the most common arguments cited against the use of mandatory school uniforms is that of the right of the individual to freedom of expression. This right is guaranteed in the First Amendment (Isaacson, 1998, p. 1) and is designed to allow equal opportunities for people who have different cultures, religions, and personal convictions to distinguish themselves.

It is argued that school uniforms can impose one particular style upon students, and that this is not fair to those who come from a minority group which does not share the beliefs and taste of the dominant group. Other criticisms include the study Brunsma which reviews over 100 articles on the topic of school uniform policy and concludes that mandatory school uniforms have no clear benefit for schools or students and may in fact encourage both students and parents to feel excluded from key school policies and decisions.

(Brunsma, p. 186) Any perceptions that uniforms encourage safer schools with better academic achievement is written off as a “halo effect” which has more to do with perception than reality. (Brunsma, p. 36) Factors like the inability of poorer families to afford expensive uniforms, and the ability of non-uniform items like backpacks, shoes and technology items to create social differences within the school environment are also mentioned in arguments against mandatory school uniform policies.

An important study by Cohn has shown that when mandatory uniform codes were introduced in Long Beach, there was an immediate and positive result on many performance markers, including reductions in suspensions (by 32%), school crime (by 36 %), fighting (by 51 %), and vandalism (by 18%). (Cohn, 1996). This evidence shows that the introduction of school uniforms influences the whole culture of a school, and reduces negative behaviors by a considerable amount. The objections relating to the different abilities of students and their families to pay for expensive school uniforms are valid and they need to be considered by school authorities when introducing a mandatory policy.

It is important here to distinguish between the principle of mandatory uniforms, and the practicalities of implementation. If the principle is good, but unaffordable in some cases, then the correct procedure is to deal with the affordability issues in order to enable all students to participate equally in the uniform policy. So for example reduced cost uniforms, subsidized sales mechanisms, and a moderate cost outlay are mechanisms that can be used to keep the uniforms within the reach of all students and their families.

Families need to provide clothes in any event, and so a competitively priced and reasonable selection of goods which conform to the policy can actually help less wealthy families to manage their budgets. It makes no sense to throw out the principle of mandatory uniform, and all the benefits that go with it, when the practical objections can be so easily overcome with a little forward planning. The first amendment objections are often used as a cover for deeper concerns about dominant ideologies and the suppression of individuality.

The truth is that mandatory uniforms set students on an equal footing, within a regulated and hierarchical system in which students learn both to conform to group norms, and to develop confidence in individual expression. Students have multiple opportunities in the classroom and in their lives outside school, to develop individuality as often as they wish. Opportunities to develop team spirit and acceptance of corporate responsibility are much rarer, especially for teenagers. Mandatory uniforms help to create a positive team spirit, and a collective identity which in turn influences behaviour for the better.

In conclusion , therefore , the introduction of mandatory school uniforms has proved to be both popular and successful in many districts of modern America. The most common objections can be overcome with consultation and goodwill, offering support for those who find practical difficulties in meeting the demands of the policy. References Brunsma, D.L. (2004 ) The School Uniform Movement and What it Tells us About American Education: A Symbolic Crusade. Maryland: ScarecrowEducation. Cohn, C.A. (1996) Mandatory School Uniforms.

The School Administrator 53 (2), 22-25. Isaacson, L.A. (1998) Student Dress Code. Eric Digest 117, pp. 1-5. Available online at: https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1794/3340/digest117.pdf?sequence=1