School uniform policies have been enforced in many schools over the past few decades. These policies are enforced based on school administrators beliefs that students are ready to learn when they arrive dressed for success (Adams, 2007). However, school uniform policies have become controversial in relation to their potential benefits and impact on student achievement. On one hand, school uniforms are said to impact school safety and academic success through establishing a positive, beneficial learning environment. On the other hand, student achievement is viewed as a construct influenced by various factors including behavioral issues and class attendance/participation rather than how a student dresses. While school uniform policies have become relatively controversial in the recent past, many schools have established dress codes that guide acceptable and unacceptable dress attires in the learning environment. This study examines the benefits of school uniforms on student learning and whether establishing such policies would lessen discrimination and enhance learning among the student body.
Educational Problem
School uniforms have become mandatory in many school districts across the nation as administrators consider them to be critical in the learning process. The US Department of Education reports that wearing school uniforms is linked to decreased risks of violence and theft, instills discipline, and help school administrators identify any intruders who come to the school (DeMitchell, 2015; Ordway, 2018). Many school administrators opine that school uniforms help improve discipline among students and in turn contribute to better student outcomes and academic achievements. Moreover, many administrators believe that establishing dress codes help to ensure students are ready to learn when they arrive at the school and are dressed for success. Given these believes many schools have already established policies to guide approved and disapproved dress codes.
However, the idea that school uniforms have positive impacts on the learning process and student outcomes/achievements has generated numerous concerns among policymakers, parents and the public. It is believed that student outcomes and achievements is a by-product of many factors that go beyond how the student is dressed. Some of these factors include individual discipline, behavioral...
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