Uniforms in Schools

By Jay Pacha

Research Tech

Research Paper

13 April 2017
 In the 21st century researchers have found more positive outcomes than negative, on

students wearing school uniforms. Statistically speaking, according to Greg Toppo from

usatoday.com (2013), Nearly one in five public schools required uniforms in 2010, up from just

one in eight a decade earlier, according to the most recent findings from the U.S. Department of

Education (2013). With that being said, school uniforms are becoming progressively more

common in today's education system, and are benefitting many public-school systems. Educators

tend to face problems with students regarding dress code regulations. With the uniform system in

place, public schools can eliminate distractions, and help gear kids towards good behavior. If

educators are spending less time reprimanding kids, they can provide the students with more

positive attention, focus solely on educating them, which helps keep kids on track for success.

The main goal of educators in the public-school system is to educate students in a way that

allows them to be successful later in life. If educators can do this, they can better the public-

school system. School uniforms need to be looked at more thoroughly and from a different

aspect within all school systems. The academic achievements not only allow for success in the

classroom, but in many other aspects as well. Grade point averages, graduation rates and positive

behavior have been statistically proven to increase because of school uniforms.

In the history of the United States many schools have taken over using uniforms as their

school dress code. In the late 1800s the U. S. brought the idea of uniforms over from Britain and

used them for only private and parochial schools. According to ProCon.org (2017), in 1987

Cherry Hill Elementary School was the first public school to adopt uniforms as a voluntary

program. Many students and parents agreed to try this. Many officials of the schools said that

they noticed a difference in students frame of mind and it sharply reduced discipline

problems. By 1988, roughly 38 public schools had adopted uniforms in the Washington D. C.
school district, and 1994, a Long Beach school district in California was the first to make K-8th

graders wear uniforms in a public-school setting (2017). As stated in the article (2017), Later

the same year, California Governor Pete Wilson signed a bill officially allowing schools to

implement mandatory uniform policies. In accordance with the new law, Long Beach parents

were given an opt-out provision, as a way of giving parents and students an option to choose

how they wanted to dress when going to school. As many know, in 1996 President Clinton gave

a speech to Congress, saying that public schools should be allowed to have an option in wearing

uniforms or not (2017). ProCon.org stated (2017), On the same day, he ordered the distribution

of a school uniform manual to the country's 16,000 school districts. The manual guided school

districts in the legal enforcement of a uniform policy. He did this in hopes that the crime rates

would decrease in many districts and which they did, and to inform many schools of the ways to

go about uniforms in their public school (2017). According to ProCon.org (2017), only one in

eight public schools had uniforms in 2003-2004, but in 2013-2014 one in every five schools

added uniforms to their school (2017). ProCon.org (2017), also expresses the amount of public

schools that have implemented uniforms in their school such as, Philadelphia, New Orleans,

Cleveland, Chicago, and Boston. Among these, Philadelphia stands at a perfect one hundred

percent use uniforms in their school systems (2017).

Behavior is not usually the first thing many people think of when it comes the effects of

uniforms, but it does show a correlation. According to Wilde (2016), uniforms prevent gangs

from forming on campus, encourage discipline, and cuts down on bullying (2016). ProCon.org

(2017) states that in 2013, almost 50% of high school students say there are gang members at

their school (2017). As the article continues, Jay Wheeler (2017), reported that the countys

schools had a 46% drop in gang activity in their first full school year with a K-12 uniform
policy (2008-09). With schools developing uniforms, it decreases the number of students

involved in gangs because they cannot wear what they used to such as bandanas or certain

colors. Based on the statistics from the National Center for Education Statistics, the percentage

of violent crimes has gone down over 50% since 1995. As of 1995, 24% of students say they

were offered, sold, or given illegal drugs on campus. In a study conducted by the University of

Houston, it found that the average absence rate for females dropped by 7% directly after

uniforms were enforced. In 2006 Youngstown State University conducted a study in Ohios eight

largest school district at John Adams Middle School discipline referrals dropped from 1,565 to

405. According to Wilde (2016), she points out the case in 2007 where students wore an anti-

Bush and an anti-gay T-shirts. This created uncomfortable situations for students who did not feel

the same way. The Supreme court upheld the decision of the lower court to suspend the student

(2016).

Bullying is a big issue in schools today and they are trying everything to cut down on the

related issues. This is one reason why schools have implemented uniforms. For example,

students who cannot afford the name brand clothes that other students may wear feel a sense of

unity by wearing the same uniforms as everyone else. The socioeconomic status of a student is a

prime target for bullies. When students are required to wear the same thing as one another, it

makes it more difficult for students to tell the socio-economic difference in each other, therefore

less bullying. Statically students perform better when they are more comfortable.

Once students start to feel more comfortable at school they can focus on what they are

truly need to be focused on. According to Daniels (2006), the study done by NAESP, 67% saw

and improvement in student concentration. When students concentrate, they understand the

information being taught better than students would if they had not been. When a student
understands, they are more likely to do the work. When a student does the work, their grade goes

up as well as their GPA. This is backed up by McLoed (2016), Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. In

Bodine (2003) states that Student uniforms are correlated slightly with standardized

achievement scores, indicating a possible relationship. Next, they presented test score

means:52.89 for the uniformed versus 50.58 for non-uniformed students. GPA and test scores

are in a direct correlation with students graduation.

Lastly, graduation rates have been shown to rise from implementing uniforms into school

districts. A recent study done in Ohios public school systems on 19 News revealed that

graduation rates increased nearly 11 percent at schools that required uniforms, compared to pre-

uniform years. With this being said Virginia Draa, the researcher of this study did say that

uniforms may create an orderly environment, which can be beneficial in their school district.

With many jobs now days asking for at least a high school diploma, if not more from students,

their academic success needs to support this. According to Daniels (2005), when a high school

diploma is the minimum credential needed, schools and districts should be held accountable for

improving their graduation rates (2005). What most people do not realize is that many schools

must meet certain standards before the state steps in and chooses what to do for you. By

implementing uniforms, this is one way to help raise graduation rates over the years and possibly

help recover schools sinking in the ground.

In controversy, there are many people that do believe school uniforms have no correlation

to academic success. The main concern is the safety and inclusiveness of all students, especially

in public schools. Many people believe it takes away freedom of expression for public school

kids if they are required to look like everyone else. According to Lemouse (2017), it could be

stifling their creativity and independence to get them more willing to work for the 'man' in later
life (2017). Many people could see this as a problem for young children who do not need to

dress nice this early in life. The purpose of going to public school is to have more freedom and

spend less money on outfits your children do not like. Along with no freedom of expression in

style, according to Brunsma in Education week (2005) he describes uniforms in school systems

as, uniform policies dont curb violence or behavioral problems in schools. They dont cultivate

student self-esteem and motivation. They dont balance the social-status differences that often-

separate students. And they dont improve academic achievement (pg. 27-29, 2005). Another

main issue that people have is safety. An active shooter can dress in a uniform and look just like

the rest of the kids, which creates a safety issue in many districts because it is harder to notice or

regulate that issue.

Although many parents may believe their child is not gaining any extra academic success

or is putting their child in an unsafe environment, there have been many studies to prove

likewise. There are many ways schools can implement uniforms in a positive and safe way. No

matter what is done to help students success rates increase, there will always be problems that

arises. For right now many states need to consider uniforms for public schools as a new way of

gaining academic success.

They United Kingdom has already gone to mandatory uniforms for all schools. In an

article written by Angela Walmsley (2011) it states that all students are required to wear

uniforms. Even though the students look like they came from a wealthy preparatory school

many of them come from low-income households. Walmsley goes on to state how all the

students have three things in common, respect for their teacher, the school, and themselves. The

article also refutes the argument that uniforms are expensive. A girls jumper costs about $6 and

for pant it is about $12. This is a direct result of capitalism, companies want to make uniforms
affordable that way their company gets most of the business. When all students are required to

have a certain type of clothing it creates demand, and they company that sell the most product

makes the most money. For companies to sell the most product they must have the most

competitive pricing.

Adding school uniforms to districts will in fact help students academically achieve

higher. By improving academically, school systems will see an increase in grade point average,

graduation rates, and positive behavior being shown. There are still many public schools facing

the problem of getting uniforms accepted in their district, but not many states will approve to

allow innovative ways forming in school. Many states, including Kansas need to look at how fast

schools are growing and to give uniforms a chance. The state needs to realize that to succeed,

and based off history, millennials like to try to new things. At their age students can become

adaptive to what is around them much quicker than other generations. By allowing public school

children the right to wear a uniform they are allowing for students to learn from a better

environment academically and socially. School uniforms have a positive impact no matter what

way people try and spin it. In every comparison, the Pros outweigh the cons. Why else would

The National Center for Educational Statistics show the number of school requiring uniforms go

up nearly 20% in the last ten years. (2012)

Bodine, A. (2003). School Uniforms, Academic Achievement, and Uses of Research. Vol. 97,

Issue 2 Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?

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Cleveland 19 News. Study says school uniforms might help attendance, graduation rates.

Retrieved from http://www.cleveland19.com/story/4356460/study-says-school-uniforms-

might-help-attendance-graduation-rate

Daniels, S. (2005). School Dress Codes Are Necessary and Constitutional. In J. Carroll (Ed.),

Opposing Viewpoints. Students' Rights. San Diego: Greenhaven Press. (Reprinted from

Findings, 2001, May) Retrieved from

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010398217/OVIC?u=empsu_main&xid=85af3a22

Lemouse, Mack. (2017). Pros and Cons of School Uniforms. Retrieved from

http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/15038/1/Pros-and-Cons-of-School-Uniforms.html

McLoed, S. (2007). Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, Retrieved from

www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

National Center for Education Statistics. School Crime. Retrieved from

https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=49

National Center for Education Statistics. Percentage of Public and Private schools with various

Safety and Security Measures. Retrieved from

https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d13/tables/dt13_233.50.asp
School Uniforms (2017, January 31). Retrieved from http://www.school-uniforms.procon.org/

Toppo, Greg. (2013). More schools requiring kids to wear uniforms despite inconclusive

evidence about their benefit. Retrieved from

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/18/more-school-uniforms/2662387

Viadero, D. (2005, January 11). Uniform Effects? Retrieved from

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/01/12/18uniforms.h24.html

Walmsley, A. (2011). What the United Kingdom Can Teach the United States About School

Uniforms. Phi Delta Kappan, 92(6), 63-66. Retrieved From

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Wilde, Marian. (2016, May 19). Do uniforms make schools better? Retrieved from

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