School uniforms and their effects on student performance

School Uniforms

Those against school uniforms mainly argue that they violate a student's freedom of expression and may interfere with religious clothing preferences (Kelly). However, evidence suggests that the benefits far outweigh these disadvantages. Educators, students and parents alike should view school uniforms as a good thing for a variety of reasons.

Isaacson (1998) compared two middle schools in Charleston County, S.C., one with a uniform policy, the other without. The researcher found that mandatory uniforms made schools safer by reducing gang influences by preventing gang members from wearing particular types of clothing to signify their association in a gang. Discipline referrals from the uniformed school were down 51% from the previous year without uniforms. Yet other schools have discovered that uniforms decreased violence and theft because of clothing and shoes and helped staff quickly recognize those who do not belong on school grounds. In Long Beach, officials found that the year after their mandatory program with parental opt-out was implemented, overall school crime decreased by 36% (Kelly). In Seattle, Washington, a mandatory uniform policy resulted in a decrease in truancy and tardiness (Kelly).

On the student side of the equation, uniforms help raise student self-esteem and reduce peer pressure by placing kids on an even playing field so that they don't feel inadequate when comparing themselves to the way others dress (School uniforms: What's so good about them?). Students can turn their full attention to their school performance rather than how they look. School uniforms also have the extra benefit of saving parents money on school clothing. And, students are no longer subjected to teachers and administrators who have to serve the role as the "clothes police," deciding on what dress is inappropriate.