Persuasive School Uniforms

School uniforms are becoming increasingly popular in the United States not only in private schools, but in public ones as well. About 20% of public schools required a uniform in 2010 and strict dress codes have jumped from 54% (How May Schools Have Adopted School Uniforms or Standardized Dress) in 2008 to 57% in 2010. (Toppo) Public schools uniforms were not always as common as private with school uniforms, especially Catholic schools. However, since the late 1980s and early 1990s school uniforms use has grown. President Clinton was an advocate for uniforms in schools and in March 1996 he said,
If it means that the [schools] will be more orderly and more disciplined, and that our young people will learn to evaluate themselves by what they …show more content…
The first school district in the United States to implement a requirement in K-8 was in Long Beach, California in 1994. (School Uniforms: Panacea or Band-Aid) Their results revealed that there was a drop in suspensions, assaults, thefts, vandalism, and weapon and drug violations, all while there was an increase of 22% in attendance. (School Uniforms) Ten states followed California in the push for school uniforms, including schools in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, Phoenix, Seattle, and St. Louis. (ERIC - Manual on School Uniforms) The two highest percentages of uniforms use is 95% in New Orleans and 100% in Philadelphia. (Toppo) There are countless positives reasons why cases like these should be looked at more closely across the country, and school uniforms more strictly …show more content…
By taking away social pressures behind trending clothes, students are brought down to the same level with the new uniformity. (ERIC - Manual on School Uniforms) Also, there have been cases like the Baltimore shooting of 1986 over a pair of $95 sunglasses that sparked the interest in making everyone dress the same to suppress feelings of social exclusion and bullying because of clothes. (Mistry) Many opponents to this idea would argue that it only increases fighting among teens, especially those that do not look good in the clothing. Many opponents to school uniforms just say they feel unflattering and uncomfortable in the clothes. (School Uniforms) However, many schools that follow the tips included in the U.S. Department of Education's manual are aiming to resolve these issues. They suggest that the school must first involve the parents and students in the selection process to make sure that the uniforms implemented are accepted by the ones buying and wearing them. Also, they recommend choosing colors that look good on every skin type and flatter every body. Many school also have multiple style options and colors to help make everyone feel comfortable. (ERIC - Manual on School Uniforms) In Toledo Ohio, students have a wide variety of options from blouses, dresses, polo shirts, turtlenecks, skirts, jumpers, slacks, shorts, and dress shirts.(Wilde) Also, to help

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