School Uniforms Gain Popularity In the Face of Criticism
School Uniforms Gain Popularity In The Face Of Criticism Nationally, there is a rise in the number of public school districts are requiring their students to wear uniforms or abide by a strict dress code. As more and more public schools start using uniforms, debate over uniform usage, the reasoning behind it, and uniforms' overall effectiveness continues. One public school system, Long Beach Unified School District in California, has lead the way by becoming the first urban school system to require students to wear uniforms (Spatt 52). Uniform supporters including former President Clinton have used the Long Beach system as proof that uniforms work (King 33). These supporters have started a wave of uniform adoption across the nation, which over the past five years has only grown stronger (Wingert 72). The Long Beach system is not without its opponents and as uniforms gain in popularity so does the number of people who oppose them. The American Civil Liberties Union contends that uniforms not only restrict freedom of exp!ression, but that they are a trivial non-constructive attempts to solve much more serious problems (King 34). Critics of school uniforms and the Long Beach system from all around the country, incl
When the movement first began in Long Beach each principle was given the option of having his school switch to uniforms or remain with the current school dress code. The school district found overwhelming from its parents and over 80% support in the community. This includes some 250 schools citywide (Bruchey 27). Keith King writes "Violence among today's young people, especially at school, has been labeled by many health professionals as a potential threat to the overall health and academic success of children" (King 32). Some parents think uniforms reduce pressures on kids who can't afford the latest expensive fashions and inspire discipline. Long Beach officials contend that in the first year of the school district wide mandatory uniform code implementation overall school crime decreased by 36%. Some provisions included are that school districts must consult with parents, teachers, and principals before adopting a uniform code and that they give parents six months' notice before they enacted any such code. Ultimately opponents of the Long Beach system think that uniforms are a "band aid" for more "serious problems" that require multifaceted and multidisciplinary solutions (King 33). Once each school put its uniform policy into practice, those who did switch to traditional uniforms found their students were getting better grades, had less behavioral problems, and attended school more regularly. They claim uniforms make it very easy to spot intruders (Wingert 72). The next issue pro-uniform principles faced was how traditional each school uniform would be. They contend heightened security and stricter rules were implemented along with local community policing programs (King 34). He is quoted as saying "If it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear uniforms"(Wilkins 19).
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