School Uniforms: Good Only for the Lower Grades Essay Example

The National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 to test the claims made by uniform advocates and found no improvement in overall academic experience.

The research suggests that student uniforms do not have a direct impact on substance use, behavioral issues, or attendance. However, contrary to popular belief, the authors discovered that uniforms actually have a negative effect on student academic achievement. The implementation of uniform policies may indirectly influence the school environment and student outcomes by serving as a visible and public symbol of dedication towards school improvement and reform (Brunsma and Rockquemore 53-62). Apart from the only rigorous scientific investigation that opposes their effectiveness, there are other criticisms against school uniforms.

The high cost of uniforms may be too expensive for many parents. However, the Supreme Court decision in Tinker v Des Moines Independent Community School (1969) safeguards students' right to express themselves, stating that a student's freedom of expression should be preserved as long as it does not significantly disrupt the school's disciplinary needs (Kelly). Implementing a compulsory dress code would greatly hinder this right. Teenagers, particularly in high school, are actively working towards establishing their individuality, and attempting to enforce conformity often proves ineffective.

Some educators believe that school uniforms have benefits, especially for lower grade levels, but they overlook other important policies and the increased focus on discipline by parents and educators. These factors can have a greater impact on outcomes. Supporters argue that uniforms can reduce distractions, violence, peer pressure, and improve student concentration. Conversely, opponents claim that uniforms only address superficial issues and are ineffective unless underlying problems are addressed. Both sides agree on the importance of effectively educating students in our

education system. Despite differing opinions, many parents and educators believe that uniforms facilitate increased parent involvement in their children's education. However, critics remain doubtful about their effectiveness.

The ongoing debate in the United States centers on whether school uniforms should be implemented. Supporters argue that uniforms can improve attendance, behavior, and academic performance by promoting unity and equality among students. In contrast, critics argue that uniforms restrict individuality and self-expression, advocating for student choice in clothing to encourage creativity and independence. Ultimately, is this dispute truly about expressing one's identity through attire or rather about fostering a sense of community spirit through uniformity?

Both supporters and detractors of school uniforms hold contrasting opinions regarding the impact they have on students' education. Advocates contend that dressing in a professional manner, akin to entering the workforce, will enhance students' commitment to their education. On the other hand, critics argue that uniforms suppress students' uniqueness and infringe upon their rights protected by the first amendment. They also posit that uniforms do not discourage misbehavior in the classroom. Nonetheless, the question persists: does adopting school uniforms enhance students' educational journey? Equally important is acknowledging shared values among both factions in this ongoing discourse.

Both parents and educators have a common objective of ensuring academic success for students, while also acknowledging the significance of fostering self-expression and creativity. Nevertheless, there is unanimous agreement that prioritizing children's safety is paramount within schools. This leads to the question: Does the ongoing debate about school uniforms primarily revolve around safety? To address this adequately, it is essential to examine it in conjunction with the earlier mentioned concept of enhancing the educational experience.

When writing your essay, ensure

that you focus on discussing shared values and the reasons why both sides of the uniform debate hold these values. To support your arguments, utilize sources from the textbook or other authoritative materials such as the article "Pros and Cons of School Uniforms" (http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/pros-and-cons-of-school-uniforms-182.html), which highlights the importance of creativity and individuality in this debate. Additionally, remember to cite any relevant information from the textbook that backs up your points. Overall, you are doing an excellent job so far in presenting a well-balanced perspective on school uniforms.

In order to make your next draft stronger and more effective, consider some suggestions. *KELLY 2990679 wants a response to the Content Development: Your essay includes helpful examples of supporters and detractors of school uniforms, Kelly, and the transition between these groups is clear. Great job. However, the connection between your essay's body and conclusion could be clearer. Please see below. *KELLY 2990679 wants a response to the Use of Resources: Kelly, please refer to my comment in the body of your draft regarding a common citation error.

In both MLA and APA style, it is important to remember that final punctuation typically comes after parenthetical citations. Some critics argue that television news often lacks depth and substance because of television's inclination towards fast, trivial, and entertaining content. According to Postman (92), "the nature of the medium requires the suppression of the visual content of ideas to cater to visual interest, or rather, the values of show business." Ensure that your citations and works cited entries are both accurate in form and content before completing your essay.

Introduction/Conclusion: I had doubts about the conciseness of your conclusion, Kelly. Hence, my

proposal is to allow parents and children to voluntarily withdraw from the program, introduce a relaxed uniform such as jeans and a knit shirt, restrict the program to lower grades where there is favorable anecdotal evidence, and provide financial assistance for lower-income families if necessary. Nevertheless, I have some reservations regarding the notion of "opting out." If individuals retain the option to decline participation, can it still be considered a true "uniform"?

Can you please provide clarification on your stance regarding the anti-uniform movement? Remember to use commas when listing three or more words, phrases, or clauses, such as visiting the store and buying milk, bread, and cheese. Students must read books, write papers, and study for exams. Without electricity, we would be unable to browse the internet, send emails, or make popcorn. Also, make sure to include a comma between the second-to-last and last items in a series of three or more.

It is common for many writers to exclude the "serial comma" or "Oxford comma," but I advocate for its inclusion as it aids in clarifying a list of items. To improve the distinction between thoughts, consider including an "Oxford comma" in your closing sentence. When it comes to grammar and mechanics, remember to use a comma to separate most introductory elements, which modify words in the subsequent main clause and can take the form of words, phrases, or clauses.

Yesterday, in the morning, before I had breakfast, I watched the sunrise. Consider sentences like this one: While both sides are equally strident in their views a consensus is possible. Would a comma be helpful here—to set off the introductory clause more clearly? What do you

think? For more on commas and other common writerly concerns, visit our handy online Writer’s Handbooks; there are links at the bottom of this form. Summary of Next Steps:

Kelly, your work so far is commendable. Here are some areas to focus on during your review and revision process:

• Consider making your conclusion more clear
• Ensure that your documentation adheres to the correct form and content
• Take note of my embedded comments for additional concerns

I appreciate the opportunity to review your essay, and if you require assistance in the future, please feel free to reach out again!--JohnW

For further resources, explore SMARTHINKING's online library:

• MLA Style: http://www.smarthinking.com/static/Document_Library/docs/writeman/3_15_01.cfm
• Comma Usage: http://www.smarthinking.com/static/Document_Library/docs/writeman/5_09.cfm

For comprehensive information on writing, grammar, and usage, consult SMARTHINKING's student handbooks such as the SMARTHINKING Writer's Handbook or the SMARTHINKING ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) Writer's Handbook.

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Please refer to the comments below for additional feedback on your essay. Thank you for choosing SMARTHINKING; we encourage you to submit future essays with us.
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Kelly Payton

Dana Peck ENC 1102 – Final Draft 24 November 2010 School Uniforms: Good Only for the Lower Grades The ongoing debate over school uniforms in the United States has proponents who argue that individuality is not determined by clothing style and that uniforms foster a sense of community. These proponents also believe that dressing students as if they are heading to work, rather than play, will increase their dedication to education. However, opponents argue that uniforms suppress individuality and violate students' first amendment rights. They also believe that uniforms will not deter disruptive behavior in the classroom. Is requiring students to wear

school uniforms beneficial to their educational experience?

School uniforms are believed to have numerous benefits according to Carleton Kendrick Ed. M., LCSW in his article titled "Reviewing School Uniforms." These benefits include socioeconomic equalization, decreased student violence and theft related to clothing, improved attendance, limitation of gang activity, better identification of school intruders, reduced peer pressure, improved ability to focus in class, and higher grades (Kendrick). These advantages are appreciated by both parents and educators. The Long Beach Unified School District in California conducted a highly referenced study on the benefits of school uniforms. The study examined data from 56 elementary and 14 middle schools during the 1993-94 school year and found significant reductions in various crimes, including drug use, which was attributed to the implementation of a school uniform policy (Kendrick).

Anecdotal evidence from different schools supports the implementation of uniform policies. Anthony Poet, assistant principal at Pueblo Del Sol Middle School in Arizona, acknowledges a decrease in discipline problems as a result of the uniform policy. Though unpopular among students, one student stated, "Uniforms make the school safer, but I don't like them." (Svensen) Similarly, Rhonda Thompson, a middle school official in Baltimore, Md, has observed a "sense of seriousness about work" after introducing their voluntary uniform policy. (Kelly)

On the flip side, critics argue that there is insufficient scientific evidence to back the use of school uniforms. This echoes my thoughts as I went through the aforementioned material. In a comprehensive study conducted in 1998, it was found that uniforms did not enhance students' academic experience. The abstract summary states, "The claims made by uniform proponents were empirically tested using tenth grade data from The

National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988."

According to Brunsma and Rockquemore (53-62), the research demonstrates that student uniforms do not have a direct impact on substance use, behavioral issues, or attendance. However, it does reveal a negative influence of uniforms on student academic achievement. The authors propose that uniform policies indirectly influence school environments and student outcomes by serving as a noticeable and public symbol of dedication to school improvement and reform. (Kelly: Should lengthy quotes like this be formatted differently, such as being indented from the left margin as a block quote?)

In addition to the only scientifically rigorous investigation that dismisses their effectiveness, there are other objections to school uniforms. The cost of uniforms may be too high for many parents. The Supreme Court decision in Tinker v Des Moines Independent Community School (1969), which guaranteed students the right to express themselves in school unless it significantly disrupted discipline, would be significantly hindered by a mandatory dress code.

School children in high school are attempting to establish their individuality, and attempts to impose conformity upon them often prove unsuccessful. Although a handful of educators' experiences appear to endorse the implementation of school uniforms, these viewpoints mainly pertain to younger students and fail to acknowledge the additional policies implemented alongside uniforms or the increased emphasis on discipline by both parents and educators, which likely contribute more significantly to the observed outcomes. Supporters of school uniforms desire to utilize them as a means to decrease distractions, violence, peer pressure, and similar factors, in order to aid students in maintaining focus.

The critics argue that school uniforms merely serve as a superficial solution to more deeply-rooted issues. They highlight

the importance of addressing these underlying problems, as uniforms alone have been shown to be entirely ineffective. Both sides of the argument express the shared concern that our education system must find strategies to fulfill its primary objective of providing education. Although both sides hold firm opinions, reaching a consensus is feasible.

Many parents and educators hold the view that uniforms are effective in education and that implementing a policy encourages parental involvement. However, there are skeptics who doubt their effectiveness. As a result, it is suggested to allow parents and children to choose not to participate in the uniform program. Additionally, a more relaxed uniform option, such as jeans and a knit shirt, could be introduced. The program could be limited to lower grades, where there seems to be anecdotal evidence supporting the policy, and financial assistance may be provided for lower-income families.

In the text "Effects of Student Uniforms on Attendance, Behavior Problems, Substance Abuse and Academic Achievement" by David L. Brunsma and Kerry A. Rockquemore, it is discussed the impact of student uniforms on various aspects including attendance, behavior problems, substance abuse, and academic achievement. This article was published in the Journal of Education Research in 1998, with a page range of 53-62.

Additionally, Melissa Kelly's article "School Uniforms: Supreme Court Rulings and Effectiveness" on About.com explores the rulings made by the Supreme Court regarding school uniforms and their effectiveness in addressing issues related to schools. This article was accessed online on November 18, 2010, through the website About.com. The URL for the article is http://712educators.about.com/cs/schoolviolence/a/uniforms_2.htm.

Kendrick, Carleton, Ed. M., LCSW. "Reviewing School Uniforms." Family Education. FamilyEducation.com, 29 jun 2010. Web. 18 Nov 2010.

<http://school.familyeducation.com/educational-philosophy/individuality/38675.html>. Svensen, Ann. "School Uniforms: Pros and Cons." Family Education. Family Education, 19 Nov 2008. Web. 18 Nov 2010. <http://school.familyeducation.com/educational-philosophy/individuality/38676.html>.