School Uniforms in Public School Has Been

School uniforms in public school has been a subject of national debate. Private and Parochial schools have a long history of school uniforms. Its implementation in public schools has been met with sharp criticism, it came to gain momentum in the late 1980's and it has been increasing steadily throughout the years. In some past few years the subject has gotten various boosts. The biggest boost was when in January President Clinton endorsed the use of school uniforms while addressing the Union. From his statement he said that if it means that the teenagers were going to stop killing each other because of a de-signer jacket then there is need for the public schools to wear uniforms. He also emphasized this across the country when he was emphasizing about the need to get violence out of schools and the need to instill discipline and learning back in schools. Another support was also from the National Association of Secondary School Principals during their national conference in February, 1996.

Use of uniform portrays an atmosphere of uniformity, loyalty, equality and pride among the students, (Caruso Peter, 1996). Uniforms as well show an image of professionalism. It makes learning to be more of businesslike; it removes some of the distractions that students face when they are in a dilemma of having a latest fad that is sweeping the country at that moment, or latest designer fashions. School uniforms make students to be more involved, making them to be part of a community or team when they are in the school, (St.John Parish, 1975). It does not necessarily mean that this will erase their individuality, but it is an act of including everyone to be of the same level in terms of image and dress code.

School uniforms are important because they reduce the cost of spending on students wear. As fashion constantly changes every time and seasons, this pressure is always left to the parent since they have to provide their children with what they need to make them feel the same as others, (Mary Beth Adomaitis 2012). Therefore they have to be bought for the latest peer-pleasing designs. But when uniforms are used, they never change unless the school administration want to change the uniform for certain reasons, however it takes a long duration of time before the administration decides on changing the uniform. Therefore the cost which will be incurred by the parents on uniform is cheaper as compared to the amounts of money being spent every time for the latest fashions.

When schools use uniforms, it acts as a tool that prevents ridicules, abuse or embarrassments that might come from the other fellows because one doesn't have what the other has. This will avoid conflicts that may arise due to confrontation on clothing hence creating peace among the students. Though there is still long debate that exists and will exist on this issue, there is already a long and proven history about school uniforms. It has as well produced positive academic results and its launch has proven to be successful across the country. The trend is still gaining support and as time goes there is much possibility that every stakeholders will come to embrace the idea of implementing school uniform, the students, parents, administrators and the public.

By 1996, seven states had already passed laws that allow public schools to implement uniform policies. From that time more states are have considered implementation of the same law and many local school districts are continuing to institute their own policies. The nationwide efforts to implement school uniforms is part of strategies of assisting in restoring order within unruly classroom, to try to instill discipline and portray a higher feeling of school pride,(Brunsma, D.L. & Rockquemore, K.A. 1998). The idea is that it is not just a matter of wearing uniform but it is trying to make the schools to look a better place.

Some of the successful programs that have been implemented include Long Beach, California program which has been the most widely reviewed and written about. The program started in the fall of 1994; it required uniform for 70,000 students in Kindergarten through eighth grades. The compliance rate was 98%; the first year result proved the much effect a successful school uniform policy is capable of having on a school system. The first year had 43% reduction in suspensions, 70% reduction in substance abuse, 54% fewer fights, 50% fewer cases of battery against employees and 20% fewer cases of weapons possession and robbery. Some other school systems also reported a more similar statistical change.

Even though introduction of the school uniform is of great importance, there is some precaution which has to be taken in its implementation. For example, the school should be careful when selecting the school uniform. Some parents and children may resist the uniform because the introduction will have to restrict style of dressing and this causes loss of autonomy, (Isaacson Lynne, 1998). It should also be put as a requirement when the school is trying to set a uniform standards, enforcing the requirement the school has to use school rules and consequences for the those who fail to comply.

Precaution should also be taken when the school wants to select the uniform style and color. Since the parents are the ones who are to incur the cost, they should have a say in the selection. For them not to raise several complex questions and resist the uniform, the selection of the style and color should be left in the hand of the parents or board of trustee members as some schools have been practicing, (Anderson, Wendell, 2002, Fall) .

Schools should not put unnecessary restrictions on the parents. For example restricting parents to only buy school uniforms from specific stores should not be the case, for some parents may give this instruction a wrong perspective, as a way of making money between the school and that particular store. It should open for the parents to buy the uniform from any nearest store that they can access. All what the uniform should be up to is to dress alike and that is what the school should focus on, and the more the student dress the same with no distraction of street clothing, the more the learning environment remain conducive.

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