HOME | FUNNY ARTICLES | TOP NEWS REPORTS | SUBMIT
|
July 31, 2010 Summer—at least for kids—is nearly over. Soon, parents all over the country will be gearing up to spend great amounts of money in perhaps the second-most expensive event of the year (just behind Christmas): shopping for back-to-school supplies. Included in the expenses, and perhaps taking the lion’s share of available funds will be new clothes. And more and more parents will find themselves required to buy school uniforms. This year, as in the past, more schools will subscribe to the idea that uniforms are the best answer to their growing problems. And what used to be seen as a trend in larger cities will be taking effect in rural areas, too. In such towns as Red Bank, New Jersey (http://www.app.com), Cheraw, South Carolina (http://www.thecherawchronicle.com/view/full_story/8841086), and even being seriously considered for the following school year in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania(http://www.publicopiniononline.com/localnews/ci_15609468), proposals have been passed by school boards to require uniforms in at least a few of their district’s schools for the upcoming school year. Clearly, parents and educational leaders are finding much-needed hope in the idea that school uniforms will settle student discipline issues. Yet the debate as to the efficacy of uniforms rages on. Why? If more and more school districts are adopting the uniformity of school dress, shouldn’t that be the obvious choice for all districts nationwide? The problem isn’t that easily solved, it seems. The Pro and Con camps are still pressing their agendas, trying to rally more followers to their sides. It appears that there is still room for discussion and ultimate resolution. Statistics have been gathered in the last decade or so concerning school uniforms, and those statistics have been cited in many forums, especially by the pro-uniform side. The problem with the statistical studies is two-fold. First, only one long-term study has officially been done, by Notre Dame University’s Sociology Department in 1998 (http://712educators.about.com/cs/schoolviolence/a/uniforms.htm). They found that in a study of 10th grade students, the wearing of uniforms “had no direct effect on attendance, behavior problems, or substance abuse.” Not exactly a resounding victory either way. Second, less scientific, more localized studies have been done by administrators, with conclusions not entirely reliable. Statistical “data” from at least one area (Long Beach, California) states a reduction in disruptive (and, to an extent, violent) behaviors of percentages ranging from a high of ninety-one percent to a low of just thirty-six percent, depending upon the source of the reporting. So, statistics alone are not enough for a final verdict. On a more emotional level however, both sides come out with all barrels blazing (guns in schools, though, is another issue altogether, and not covered here). It appears that neither side is wishy-washy about their convictions. Both groups have their points, and are adamant in defending them. For the sake of clarity and brevity, below is a chart of the main points of each side. The reasons are cited from an internet article on the website Education Bug, which is an online clearing house for articles pertaining to educational issues nationally (http://www.educationbug.org). Pros
• It is easier for administrators to set a specific uniform code, than to rule on so many variations of independent clothing choices
Cons
• Self-expression of students’ individuality is suppressed
So, as can be seen, both sides of the issue have valid points. And both sides are still looking for new converts. What usually seems to be happening, though is this: a scattershot approach. It appears that many district superintendents, due to busy schedules and/or political agendas, leave the uniform decisions to principals. And, because principals only govern their individual schools, school districts as a whole are not uniform (no pun intended) in their policies on this issue. Too often as well, schools themselves cannot come to a complete consensus, as uniform policy is voluntary, rather than mandatory. If some do and some don’t, then how can one tell if uniforms are really effective or not? Sitting on the proverbial fence will not deliver a definitive answer. As a classroom teacher, I must confess that I have really seen no difference one way or the other. I have found that regardless of whether or not a student wears a uniform, the mischievous ones will still continue to engage in their shenanigans, and the more serious-minded students will still be attentive and perform their assigned tasks. In other words, for me, when it comes to school uniforms, it’s all still a dress rehearsal.
Works Cited
|
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
