Katie+Johnson

School Uniforms... Harmful or Helpful?

Research Question Do school uniforms and dress codes discipline students and help prevent gang-related violence? Or do they mask student individuality? School uniforms and dress codes have sparked a lot of controversy over the years. Some people believe that uniforms and dress codes instill discipline in students and prevent them from getting involved in gang-related violence. Others, however, believe that uniforms and dress codes mask student individuality and take away students' right to express themselves through their clothing. By implementing school uniforms and strict dress codes, schools are limiting students' freedom of expression and uniforms and strict codes should be removed from all schools. This issue involves almost every student and parent in the country, and should therefore be brought to the public's attention.



Tinker v Des Moines. Digital image. Blogspot. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2012. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lL9bkHorxtg/SaQo6zqGAtI/AAAAAAAAAXE/PCRAjSXVumc/s400/marybethjohntinker.jpg.



School Uniforms. Digital image. Cartoonstock. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2012. http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/jco/lowres/jcon4126l.jpg.

Wilson, Brian, and Maureen McMahon. "Counterpoint: School Dress Codes Improve the Learning Environment." EBSCO Host. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. || * They limit students' freedom of expression by telling them what they can and cannot wear.
 * Pros for School Uniforms/Dress Codes || Cons For School Uniforms/Dress Codes  ||
 * * They provide equality among students and do not single out students of lower-income families that cannot afford "popular clothing."
 * They "eliminate wardrobe as a source of competition among students" (Wilson).
 * They serve to promote order and stability in the classroom.
 * They can prevent gang-related violence and lower school crime rates.
 * They cause students to become more focused on school and less focused on what they're wearing.
 * They cost a lot of money, which is stressful and sometimes impossible for low-income families.
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">They cause the teachers and students to focus more on dress code violations than actually learning new material.
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">They prohibit schools from being "[environments] open to diversity" (Haynes).
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">There is no proof they are solutions to the problems they were put in place to solve.

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Haynes, Charles. "School Dress Codes Limit Students' Freedom of Expression." Students' Rights. Ed. Jamuna Carroll. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "T-Shirt Rebellion in the Land of the Free." First Amendment Center. 2004. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 4 Dec. 2012. ||

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Court Cases

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Tinker v Des Moines: In this case, it was argued whether ot not the school infringed on students' First Amendment rights by prohibiting them from expressing their political dissent. The Court ruled in favor of the students, saying that students do not "shed their constitutional rights... at the schoolhouse gate" (Tinker v. Des Moines).

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier: It was argued whether the cutting of two articles from the school newspaper infringed on students' First Amendment rights. The Court ruled that the this was constitutional because the principal "had the authority to exercise and in fact exercised a great deal of control over [the school newspaper]" (Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier).

<span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">Bethel School District v Fraser: It was argued whether the First Amendment protects a student's right to give a sexually explicit speech at school. The Court ruled that this situation was different from Tinker because Fraser expressed himself in a vulgar way, and ruled in favor of the school district.

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">What I Think <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Although many people believe that school uniforms and strict dress codes are helpful to the learning environment and that they should be implemented in schools, this is simply not the case. There are far too many problems and difficulties with these practices for them to be pushed upon our students and teachers. School uniforms and dress codes infringe on students' rights of expression, cause financial burdens for low-income families, distract from the learning environment, and do not solve any of the complicated problems that students have to deal with. Therefore, the issue of school uniforms needs to be resolved by getting rid of uniforms altogether. We need to stop letting our Constitutional freedoms be robbed from us, and should take a stand for our God-given rights. <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Works Cited <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Bethel School District v. Fraser. 478 U.S. 675. Supreme Court of the United States. 1986. University of Missouri-Kansas City. Web. 27 Nov. 2012.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">"Classroom School Uniforms." Classroom Uniforms. 2012. Web. 3 Dec. 2012.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Daniels, Stephen. "School Dress Codes Are Necessary and Constitutional." Students' Rights. Ed. Jamuna Carroll. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Student Dress Policies: The Success of School Uniforms and Dress Codes." Findings (May 2001). Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Forster, Matt, and Denise B. Geier. "The High Cost of School Uniforms." EBSCO Host. DISCUS. N.p., 2011. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Haynes, Charles. "School Dress Codes Limit Students' Freedom of Expression." Students' Rights. Ed. Jamuna Carroll. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "T-Shirt Rebellion in the Land of the Free." First Amendment Center. 2004. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier. 484 U.S. 260. Supreme Court of the United States. 1988. Boston University. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District. 393 U.S. 503. Supreme Court of the United States.1969. Boston University. Web. 27 Nov. 2012.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Wilson, Brian, and Maureen McMahon. "Counterpoint: School Dress Codes Improve the Learning Environment." EBSCO Host. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">