Uniforms: A Distraction or Beneficial?

Uniforms: A Distraction or Beneficial?

Chloe Poltonavage

EDUC 323

Professor Smolleck

Bucknell University
Uniforms: A Distraction or Beneficial? 2

Abstract

The implementation of uniforms in early childhood schooling, not just public schools is

pushing the advancement of education back tremendously. When addressing the concerns about

the conformity that is instating uniforms, findings suggest prevalent investigations, arguments,

and research against the application of uniforms. Many of these findings concern the ignorance

of the culture and the SES of the children who attend schools. Another issue that must be

addressed with the implementation of uniforms is how it affects religious expression. Educators

must work on creating a non-gendered schooling environment or eliminating strict constraints of

gender binaries, embrace diversity, and encourage children to express themselves in as many

ways as possible and the first step is getting rid of uniforms. Uniforms inhibit identity

development.
Uniforms: A Distraction or Beneficial? 3

Uniforms: A Distraction or Beneficial?

Both public and private schools across the United States are turning to uniforms to try to

solve problems which are taking time away from bettering childrens education. In efforts to try

to minimize distractions, school are turning to implementing specific guidelines in which

students must follow day in and day out. However, in efforts to try to reduce bullying, drug use,

discrimination and behavior problems, is learning being put on the back burner? According to

research, uniforms have no direct effect on substance use, behavioral problems, attendance, and

academic achievement (Brunsma & Rockquemore, 1997) After careful consideration and

research, the statistics of implementing uniforms do not solve the problems that some schools try

to fix by enforcing uniforms, but rather educating students on the issues and offering guidance to

the students who could benefit from it.

Literature Review

Through many concerns of uniforms, the legal concerns are rather frightening. For

example, violating childrens individual rights and disconcerting the right to a free education in

public schools (Gentile & Imberman) Legal concerns specifically target students Fourteenth

Amendment Rights. The Fourteenth Amendment describes rights to wear clothing of choice.

Similarly, the First Amendment describes rights to express views and religious beliefs through

attire (McCarthy, 79) Uniforms are put into effect in order to conform students to eliminate

distractions, but children wearing headscarves or other religious attire are actually being

discriminated as they will stick out even more and cause more attention to the differences among

students. With the advancement of where the world is today, educators should be on the track to

embrace differences and educate other children who are not as familiar with other cultures.
Uniforms: A Distraction or Beneficial? 4

When the topic was just rising to the surface, the United States Secretary of Education,

Richard W. Riley, sent all school superintendents a guide titled Religious Expression in Public

Schools. This guide specified that: When wearing particular attire, such as yarmulkes and

headscarves during the school day, is part of the students religious practice, under the Religious

Freedom Restoration Act schools generally may not prohibit the wearing of such items

(McDaniel, 65) The article written by McDaniel offers a unique insight into life of students who

witness violence in their schools. He says, Opponents have argued that uniforms do not deter

student violence but do pose an economic hardship on low-income families (McDaniel, 166) In

2013, 47% of high-poverty public schools require uniforms and only 6% of low-poverty public

schools require them (National Center for Education Statistics) This suggests that school

uniforms emphasize the socio-economic divisions they are actually designed to eliminate. This

also emphasizes racial divisions, since schools with a minority student population of 50% or

more are four times as likely to require uniforms than schools with a minority population of 20-

49%, and 24 times more likely than schools with minority populations of 5%-19% (National

Center for Education Statistics) This overwhelming segregation of lower SES students

reproduces the negative stereotyping that is continuing to surface and rise in our society

regardless of the school being private or public.

The main difference in this debate between public schools and private schools is the fact

that free education is offered to every child, and asking parents or guardians to supply the

required clothing for their child is violating that. In private schools, where parents or guardians

voluntarily pay for their childs education, funding for the actual education comes primarily from

donors and alumni whereas public education is government funded. Recently in York County,

Pennsylvania, a local NBC affiliate reported in September of 2014 that some children were
Uniforms: A Distraction or Beneficial? 5

missing class because their families could not afford to purchase the required uniforms (WGAL,

2017) This news article was advertising for viewers to be able to donate to The United Way by

dropping of khaki and navy blue pants along with white and navy blue shirts. If each child is

guaranteed a free education, the school district should be advertising for monetary donations for

textbooks or volunteers who have their clearances to come into the classroom and volunteer. If

children missing school, resulting in lower scores and achievement, is more of a priority to

educators rather than a quality education according to administrators and school boards, there

must be workshops and learning sessions for them to attend and educate themselves in regards to

the overall goals of schooling.

In addition to legal concerns, uniforms restrict childrens opportunity to express

themselves through clothing. According to research conducted by Gentile & Imberman (2012),

No statistically significant on disciplinary infractions, achievement, grade retention or student

movements between schools. Hence, overall we conclude that the effects of uniforms are

minimal Often times, the rulebook states that girls are required to wear skirts and boys are

required to wear khakis. This is restrictive in terms of gender expression and leaves very little, if

any, room for students to find their true identity. Some research has suggested that uniforms may

actually reduce self-esteem as it restricts the ability of students to express themselves (Gentile &

Imberman, 2012) Because of the fact gendering is more prominent now than ever before, it is

extremely common for transgendered, gender-fluid, and gender-nonconforming students to feel

out of place and ostracized. Often times students turn to school a place where they can be and

express themselves regardless of their home life.

Bullying and school violence rates are increasing at a rapid speed as time progresses.

Crediting bullying and violence in an educational setting is simply just putting a Band-Aid on
Uniforms: A Distraction or Beneficial? 6

this issue. With the children in these schools becoming the next face of our country, we must be

taking extreme measures to be offering these children the assistance they may need, specifically

in low socio-economic status areas where violence is more prominent and resources to educate

children on these issues is simply just not an option.

In an article written in 2011, What the United Kingdom Can Teach the United States

about School Uniforms, Walmsley writes:

Targeting school uniforms to high-poverty areas in the United States is a mistake. While

the benefits of school uniforms are reaching these schools, were creating a culture where

only the wealthiest (private schools) and poorest (high-poverty public schools) wear

school uniforms. Most high-poverty schools suggest school uniforms because they

believe that will reduce the threat of violence. While this seems to be working for these

schools (Wade and Stafford 2003; White 2000), were creating a culture where parents

think that a public school where children wear uniforms is an unsafe place to send their

child. In other words, school uniforms in public schools are becoming associated with

schools facing violence problems. If we want the true benefits of school uniforms to

reach all children, we must create a culture where it is not only accepted but expected in

all schools.

Due to the overwhelming support of third parties to push the topic out of consideration, one must

conclude that the cons outweigh the pros. In efforts to dismantle the suggestion to create a safe

space for all students, support must begin from administration and school board then have a

ripple effect down the chain. Those high up in power must make the decisions to allow room for

education toward bullying, school violence, different cultures, etcetera in their schools. This will

give students the opportunity to learn what it means to be sitting next to someone who does not
Uniforms: A Distraction or Beneficial? 7

share the same religion, characteristics, or physical similarities as you. By working to create an

environment where students feel safe to practice originality and self-expression, this generation

is going to be able to grow as people and lean how to respectfully understand and respect

everyones differences.

Discussion

Giving students the opportunity to demonstrate self-originality, embrace their culture,

educating children about different backgrounds and cultures, and offering different workshops or

speakers to inform students about how to respond to and embrace diversity will dramatically

increase self-esteem scores, lower school violence rates, and eventually increase success rates

among all socio-economic statuses. Public primary and secondary schools, as well as public

colleges and universities, should be open to all members of the public, regardless of their faith.

Students should not face discrimination or harassment because of their faith background, their

beliefs, their distinctive religious dress, or their religious expression. Every child is promised a

free education and will remain receiving this promise as parents and guardians are not expected

to buy their child uniforms. Let us spend more time giving students education they are promised

and guaranteed and less time implementing rules, such as uniforms, that take away time and

resources from giving each child a quality education.

Uniforms: A Distraction or Beneficial? 8

References

Brunsma, D.L. (1997, November 30) Effects of Student Uniforms on Attendance, Behavior

Problems, Substance Use, and Academic Achievement. Retrieved November 15, 2017,

from https://eric.gov/?id=EJ576443

Gentile, E., & Imberman, S. Z. (n.d.). Dressed for Success? The Effect of School Uniforms on

Student Achievement and Behavior. Retrieved November 15, 2017, from

http://www.nber.org/papers/w17337

Inc., H. T. (2017, October 06). Students skipping class due to cost of school uniforms. Retrieved

November 15, 2017, from http://www.wgal.com/article/students-skipping-class-due-to-

cost-of-school-uniforms/6233388

McDaniel, T.R. (n.d.). Making the School Uniform Decision: Is It Right for Your School?

Retrieved November 15, 2017, from

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00228958.2013.845504

School Uniforms: Pros and Cons Information and Resources (n.d.). Retrieved November 15,

2017, from http://www.booksinformationandmore.com/schooluniforms.html

Viadero, D. (2016, April 30). Uniform Effects? Retrieved November 15, 2017, from

https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/01/12/18uniform.h24.html
Uniforms: A Distraction or Beneficial? 9

Wade, K. K. & Stafford, M. E. (2003). Public school uniforms effect on perceptions of gang

presence, school climate, and student self-perceptions. Education and Urban Society, 35,

399-420.

Walmsley, A. (2011, February 28). What the United Kingdom Can Teach the United States

about School Uniforms. Retrieved November 15, 2017, from

https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ920084