signer clothes and some will wear Wal-mart clothes. What happens is the child with the better clothes will make fun of the child with Wal-Mart clothes. Incidentally, the confidence and self-esteem of the child that has been made fun of declines rapidly. The decline of confidence and self-esteem can also decline the child's grades. When students feel that they will be made fun of at school because of their clothes the motivation to go to school decreases. Mandatory uniform policies also decrease the amount of school violence. For instance, it is harder to conceal weapons while wearing a school uniform. Uniforms combat gang violence in schools as well. Students are not able to wear gang colors or symbols on their clothing when wearing uniforms. Ray Rivera, a principal from Eastwood Knolls in El Paso, Texas, declares that six years ago before the uniform policy was effective students would wear Chicago Bull's jackets to symbolize gangs. There would be a fight everyday. But last year the school only reported two fights the whole school year (qtd in Cook, screen 2). Faculty members are also able to determine who is and who is not a student. That helps with the problem of rival gangs coming into a school of the opposite gang. According to Psychology Today, statistics show that since the mandate of uniforms in Long Beach, California overall crime has declined by 91%. It also states that suspensions have decreased by 90%, vandalism has reduced by 69%, and sex offenses have gone down by 96% ("Uniforms Improvements", screen 1). Arnold Goldstein, Ph.D., head of the Center of Research on Aggression at Syracuse University, believes "uniforms work by promoting a sense of community, allowing troubled students to feel part of a supportive whole. There is a sense of belonging" (qtd in "Uniform Improvements", screen 1). In addition, when a teenager feels a sense of belonging they do not have to resort to gangs and commit violent crimes...
