School Uniforms: Unproven and Unnecessary Term Paper

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Additional arguments against school uniforms are the violation of free expression and students' rights and the stifling of student individuality (Schachter 48-49; Wilkins 22). These arguments for and against school uniforms do not have enough sway to decide the point alone. If research implied a link to academic or behavioral changes one way or the other, it is likely that such minor matters would fall in line or become only an undercurrent caused by a few students or families (Schachter 49).

Reports and what limited research has been done do imply a partial link to positive results from uniforms. However, these positive results are not worth the amount of time and effort needed to institute and support a uniform program. This is especially true where many American schools are currently under supported and understaffed in libraries, computers, music, drama, and art (Rockney 16). It simply cannot be justified that schools and districts would go out of their way -- often creating more problems -- to institute a uniform policy with little or no research backing. At a time when there are not enough teachers in some schools and students are using books that should have been replaced years ago, this seems ludicrous. Though the ACLU is against uniforms as a first amendment rights violation, their point is well taken that money for schools has much better options than the implementation of uniforms (Rochney 16).

When considering whether a school uniform policy is necessary, educators and parents should look at two things.

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Is there proof of a uniform policy alone benefiting a school or district? If so, does the benefit merit the substantial concern, effort, and organization needed to make a uniform policy work? In this paper both benefits and criticisms of uniform policies have been presented. While there do appear to be minor benefits -- at best -- to uniforms in public schools, there does not seem to be enough evidence to support the major claims. If academics and behavioral problems could be addressed through uniform policy, the prospect would be exciting. In truth, it is not (Schacter 48).

Schools with uniform policies should credit their successes to their other changes and divert energies into more worthwhile programs.

Though proponents see what they want to see in uniform schools, there is no current research to show that their claims are anything more than wishful thinking. It would be nice, after all, to be able to address the problems in America's schools with something as simple as a uniform policy. Perhaps research will be done to show that some schools in some places have improved through the adoption of uniforms alone. However, uniforms without policy reform do little beyond homogenizing the student body and, at best, making teachers and parents a little happier. Rather than spending administration effort and funds to institute a uniform policy, districts should focus on the real problems behind behavior issues and poor academic performance, and stop trying to find a shortcut to fixing them......

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