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The Bandaid Solution

The Bandaid Solution School uniform policies are often referred to as a Band-Aid solution. They help hide more serious problems at the school by giving the school a nice look. Surveys of students and teachers show that in general people believe a well-dressed person is more intelligent and better behaved. Politicians like the look of school uniforms; many of them support this cause until the schools ask for more money. Uniforms are often implemented in schools that are overcrowded and have lower test scores. Many administrators think uniform create school pride; some even say that school pride increases test scores. There is a large amount of propaganda available about school uniforms; however, few articles provide hard evidence or statistics. The ACLU has disagreed with many dress codes and policies. Because most evidence about school uniforms is anecdotal, schools should only adopt uniforms in co-operation with other programs. During the 1996 presidential elections, incumbent William Jefferson Clinton introduced an intriguing scenario to the public’s eye. His plan was to offer school uniforms as a tool for the principals and parents to use to help stop crime in their schools. He offered his plan in a way to get an immediate and emotional response by talking of the “murder” of innocent children. He gave three examples of so called children getting wounded or killed for their expensive clothes. Ironically, in each of these examples older teen were the victims. One boy in Detroit was shot for his expensive shoes; another, from Fort Lauderdale “was robbed of his jewelry.” The third was from a suburb of Washington D.C.; he, an honor roll student, was “caught in the cross-fire” during the robbery of another student’s jacket (Transcript). Notice all of the examples are from larger cities. Former president Clinton continued his speech by urging the parents to take action. He had the Secretary of Education send the “Manual on School Uniforms” to each school district in the nation. Clinton wanted school uniforms to be a way for parents and schools to improve school safety and discipline, but he knew that uniforms wouldn’t solve the problems by themselves. He said uniform policies should be implemented at the same time as other programs to reduce truancy, drug use, gangs, gangs, and weapons in schools (Text). The need for other harmonious programs was not stressed in his speech. People in general like uniforms, and Clinton knew this. All professionals wear uniforms; thus, people associate a uniform with authority and knowledge. Prodigy Online polled its users to find out how well the general public supports mandatory school uniforms. The results concluded a sixty-six percent support for school uniforms; thirty percent opposed uniforms (Collie). There are many reasons why people supported uniform policies. Some people like uniforms because they wore them as children. Others like uniforms because they create the appearance that everyone is from a privileged background. In inner city schools, students and non-students can easily be located. Before schools implement uniform policies, the cost to families must be considered. Generally parents like school uniforms because they are relatively inexpensive. Cost range from thirty dollars to 150 dollars each depending on quality and quantity. This cost appears very reasonable. Some school even offer to deter costs for the less fortunate families. The uniforms are made very durable, but most children outgrow the uniforms before they wear them out. The thirty-dollar uniforms include a shirt only; the most expensive include nice slacks and a button down shirt. Unlike private school uniforms, none of the public schools include jackets in the price of the uniforms. I don’t understand why schools would mandate shirts only for uniforms. All schools I know of 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 learning atmosphere (Fleming). Schools contribute this atmosphere to a decrease in suspensions. Regrettably, uniforms can cause a “we gave you uniforms now you deal with discipline in class” attitude in some schools (Collie). Many administrators expect a large change so teachers are pressured into taking care of problem students on their own. The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, has taken some schools to court over mandatory uniform policies that are too rigid. The ACLU looks at policies to see if they are unfair or just plain wrong. One Phoenix, Arizona middle school was taken to court because several students were suspended; the student’s parents refused to dress them in the required uniforms. One family dressed their children in homemade clothing that did not meet the requirements for a uniform. The ACLU was concerned because the school did not have a transfer-out provision. Despite this, the highest courts in Arizona upheld the middle school’s policy (Noble). The ACLU wants students to be concerned that courts say, “school is not a public forum” (Zirkel). The middle School in Phoenix was a public school. “For something as silly as a uniform, their right to free speech may be infringed;” the ACLU used this statement as a reason why the school was wrong (Zirkel). As a response the Arizona courts ruled that the students could display their freedom of speech by wearing jewelry. If jewelry is used for students to express themselves, more students might end up like the boy from Fort Lauderdale. In some schools even the jewelry is restricted. Rosaries and male earrings are considered gang related material and are not permitted (Zirkel). Many schools have experienced problems with non-compliance. In New York City many schools in lower class areas went to uniforms long before the Long Beach District. NYC schools have a large problem with drug dealers and gang members coming into the schools. Uniforms were implemented in a Brooklyn school district to make it easier to identify outsiders. A poll was taken of sixth through twelfth graders in these schools to find their view on uniforms. The response was very much in the negative. Seventy-nine percent of the students did not like wearing the uniforms. Only nineteen percent of the students actually liked wearing the uniforms (Fertig). Many government leaders like school uniforms and would like many of their schools in uniforms. Some leaders attempt to mandate statewide uniform policies. The ACLU and disgruntled parents have stopped any state decrees Another thing that inhibits statewide uniforms is cost. If the state mandates something they must have increase school funding to include the new thing. While some sates have considered paying fifty dollars per student to schools that execute uniform policies, lack of support and funds stop them. Uniforms should not be mandated in schools with serious problems because uniforms themselves do not work. It is the combination of schools and parents having a mutual goal that helps. Uniforms are only effective in cooperation with other programs to decrease violence and crime in schools. One success story is not enough to justify a policy. Schools need to consider this before they make any changes. Bibliography: Collie, Tim. “Uniforms perfectly tailored for trouble schools?” The Tampa Tribune 11 Feb. 1996, Metropolitan Edition: 1. Online. NewsBank. Newsbank NewsFile Collection. 5 February 1999. Fertig, Beth, Robert Siegal, and Noah Adams. “New York School Uniforms.” National Public Radio, FEDERAL DOCUMENT CEARING HOUSE 19 March 1998. Online. NewsBank. NewsBank NewsFile Collection. 1 February 1999. Fleming, Marcella. “DRESS FOR SUCCESS: Parents, children like policy of wearing uniforms.” The Indianapolis News 2 May 1994, Home Edition: D1. Online. Newsbank. NewsBank NewsFile Collection. 2 February 1999. Noble, Sean. “Parents fashion debate on school uniforms in U46.” Courier-News (Elgin, IL) 10 March 1996. Online. NewsBank. NewsBank NewsFile Collection. 8 February 1999. Ritter, John. “Uniforms changing culture of the nation’s classrooms.” USA Today (Arlington, VA) 15 October 1998: 1A. Online. NewsBank. NewsBank NewsFile Collection. 1 February 1999. “Text of Presidential Memo to Secretary of Education on School Uniforms.” U.S. Newswire 24 February 1996. Online. NewsBank. NewsBank NewsFile Collection. 8 February 1999. Tousignant, Marylou. “TRYING UNIFORMS ON FOR SIZE: POLICY FAD MAY NOT FIX, SOME WARN.” Washington Post 1 March 1996, final edition: A1. Online. NewsBank. NewsBank NewsFile Collection. 2 February 1999. “Transcript of Presidential Remarks on School Uniform Program.” U.S. Newswire 24 February 1996. Online. NewsBank. NewsBank NewsFile Collection. 8 February 1999. Zirkel, Perry A. “A Uniform Policy.” Phi Delta Kappan 1 March 1998: 79. WilsonWeb http://vweb.hwwilsonweb.com (5 February 1999).

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