School Uniforms: A Social Problem

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the growing tendency in public schools to adopt or impose school uniforms and assesses the pros and cons of this policy. The writer first presents the views of the supporters of the uniform policy, including the arguments that standardized school clothing diminishes the rate of violent acts and reduces peer pressure in schools. The writer then sums up the strongest arguments of the other side, and their responses to the advocates of school uniform. The writer concludes with the opinion that violence, low attendance and low grades cannot be solved merely by forcing students to wear uniform clothing, and that educators and parents must work together towards finding a solution to improve both the academic performance of children and their safety in schools.

From the Paper:

"Standardized clothing for children and teenagers is, according to the supporters of the uniform policy, conducive to learning. Children who wear uniforms are more focused on learning. Supporters also believe that students who worry about their outfit tend to become distracted and lose interest in studying which eventually leads to poor academic results and low attendance. On the contrary, students who wear uniforms are more keen on academic pursuit and do not spend time and energy planning and choosing their clothing for school, but on studying and sleeping which results in overall better academic performance. They also claim that the latter is directly influenced by a sense of belonging to a group, a team which is generated by wearing a uniform in school."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Eppinger, Russel E. "School Uniforms: Does What Students Wear Really Make A Difference?" September 2001. <http://muse.widener.edu/~egrozyck/EDControversy/Eppinger.html>
• Evans, Dennis L. "School Uniforms: An 'Unfashionable' Dissent." Phi Delta Kappan 78.2 (1996): 139
• Knowles, Bryan. "Should School Uniforms be Mandatory?" January 20, 2000 <http://speakout.com/activism/issue_briefs/1080b-1.html>?>
• Wilkins, Julia. "School Uniforms." The Humanist Mar. 1999.
• White, Kerry A. "Do School Uniforms Fit?" School Administrator 57 (2000)

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