that require uniforms require dark slacks and a white (or other school color) shirt. A survey of 5,500 school principles showed seventy percent thought school uniforms decreased violence (Tousignant). They believe this because of their personal opinions and because they have read many so called success stories. The most publicized success story is about the Long Beach, California school district. In January of 1994 they adopted a mandatory uniform policy. Since then they have had a 70% decrease in school crimes (Fertig). They have also had a ninety-one percent decrease in assaults, thefts, vandalism, weapons, and drug violence since 1991 (Ritter). Juvenile crimes off school ground decreased about thirty percent. Police attribute this to many factors, one of which is the uniforms (Ritter). School district officials report a district wide decrease of up to 54% of student assault and battery reports (Noble). Its odd that only one school can be found with such amazing results. This school’s results were greatly publicized in the booklet mentioned earlier. In other schools the results were not so promising. In Cleveland, Ohio “a study of Miami-Dade County schools found that fights nearly double at middle schools that went to uniforms, while uniforms seemed to have stopped an alarming rise in elementary school incidents” (Ritter). This shows that uniforms are less effective for older students than for elementary students. I believe this is partly due to age. Once students are in secondary schools they have their own dressing style. Once a person is old enough to dress him or herself they should get to choose what they want to wear. One of the most enticing advantages for administrators is that they don’t have to do as much. Long beach’s decrease of 91%, if it could work in other schools, would mean a large decrease in administrative action. Faculty and administration report a more disciplined...
