School Uniforms in Public Schools: Pros and Cons

Introduction: The Rise of Uniform Policies in Public Schools

Uniforms were once the trademarks of private and parochial schools. Nevertheless, the number of public schools that have either adopted or are considering imposing uniforms has been increasing steadily over the last decade. Many large public school systems are adopting either mandatory or voluntary uniforms as part of a set of policies aimed at improving school safety. According to a 2000 National Association of Elementary School Principals survey, approximately 10% of respondents reported that their school had a uniform policy, and a similar percentage was considering adopting one. The main argument that principals offered in support of the uniform policy was that it brings only benefits to students. The same survey showed that principals who had adopted this policy noticed that students were able to focus more on their studies, and that student attendance improved (NAESP Survey in Eppinger 2001).

As with any major issue, there are both supporting and opposing views. In most of today's public schools, students are allowed to wear whatever they want as long as it is not indecent or provocative. In reality, this is a very thin line, and what is considered indecent by some can be perfectly acceptable by others. The restraints are mostly theoretical because, in practice, dyeing one's hair pink or wearing visible body piercings, for example, are widespread fashion trends found in most American schools. Supporters of the uniform policy claim that such behavior is not conducive to learning and that schools must be grounded in firm discipline and morality. Others, who argue that the uniform policy infringes upon students' individuality, contend that personal style is merely a form of expression. In order to formulate a valid opinion, it is important to consider all the facts, both inside and outside the school system.

Arguments in Favor of School Uniforms

Thesis: This paper strives to illuminate both points of view by analyzing their arguments with respect to the uniform policy.

Uniforms, Peer Pressure, and Economic Equity

The main argument made by supporters of the uniform policy is that adopting uniforms from elementary school through the final year of high school would increase student safety by limiting gang membership and activity. Supporters argue that standardized school clothing reduces the rate of violent acts and that students are more inclined toward learning and following school rules. They point to statistics they consider positive and encouraging — for instance, the drastic decrease in school assaults recorded by the Long Beach Unified School District in California after the district implemented a system-wide mandatory uniform policy in 1994, as reported by Education Week (Knowles 2000). They also claim that school intruders would be more easily recognized when all students wear a standard uniform (Forbes 1994 in Eppinger 2001).

Another argument is that uniforms would reduce peer pressure among students. This argument is based on the idea that in schools — and especially in high school — clothing trends tend to create fashion cliques that may pressure students who either cannot or do not wish to conform. There is also a financial dimension that cannot be overlooked. Given the high cost of fashionable clothing, children from economically disadvantaged families are prone to feeling marginalized and discriminated against by their peers. By contrast, the cost of uniforms is generally more affordable, and a standard dress code reduces the pressure to purchase expensive name-brand clothing.

Conclusion: Discipline Beyond the Dress Code

Students need protection in school with or without uniforms. To say that imposing the same outfit on everyone greatly improves the present school situation is both false and hypocritical. Violence, low attendance, and poor academic engagement cannot be solved merely by forcing students to wear the same type of clothing. Discipline does not reside in uniforms, but in mutual respect between students and educators — and in students recognizing that educators have their best interests at heart. Schools do need discipline in order to function, but that does not require a rigid dress code, since such a measure cannot replace the meaningful relationships that should exist between students and teachers. Moreover, matters of discipline and adherence to school rules ultimately involve students' choices; if educators fail to motivate students to follow those rules, compulsion alone will not succeed. Educators and parents must work together to find solutions that genuinely improve both the academic performance and the safety of children in schools.