School Uniforms Mawi Mawi and Hannah Brown Ivy Tech Community College November 18, 2014

Standard #10: Leadership and Collaboration: The teacher seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning to collaborate with learners, families, colleague, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner. Name of Artifact: Contemporary Issues Date: November 18, 2014 Course: EDUC 101 Brief Description: For this assignment, I evaluate my experience about the contemporary issues that we faced when I was in school. There has been many issues that student, school and parents faced and some issues are fixed but most aren’t until today. Some issues are still bothering parents, school and students themselves. Rationale: To document my understanding of Standard #10, Leadership and Collaboration, I selected to include my personal statement because it is important to understand the issues and work solving problems together. To be part of educational field, leadership and collaboration is one of the most important things.

Background/Introductory Information One of the biggest contemporary issues all over the world. Strong argument on both negative and positive sides. the debate over school uniforms and dress codes is partly a clash of values Make public schools more orderly centers of learning and safer sanctuaries for children(Clinton, 1996) "Public schools are supposed to be teaching democracy. Uniforms are antithetical to teaching people how to make choices." (A Lawyer)

History of School Uniforms The first recorded use of standardized dress in education may have been in England in 1222, when the Archbishop of Canterbury mandated that students wear a robe-like outfit called the "cappa clausa." Native American children in uniform at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, circa 1890 At one of England's most prestigious schools, Eton, students were required to wear black top hats and tails on and off campus until 1972, when the dress codes began to be relaxed. [14]

History of School Uniforms in US The first school district in the United States to require all its K-8 students to wear uniforms was the Long Beach Unified School District, CA, in Jan. 1994. California Governor Pete Wilson signed a bill officially allowing schools to implement mandatory uniform policies. 42nd US President Bill Clinton delivering his 1996 State of the Union address, during which he announced his support of school uniforms.

US Uniform Statistics Among the US cities with the highest use of school uniforms in public schools are Philadelphia (100% of schools), New Orleans (95%), Cleveland (85%), Chicago (80%), Boston (65%), and Miami (60%). The number of schools with "strict dress codes" has also increased, from 47% in 2000 to 57% in 2010. 2003-2004 2011-2012 from 13% to 19% In 2011-2012, 20% of public elementary schools (K-6) enforced a uniform policy, while 12% of secondary schools (7-12) and 30% of combined schools (K-12) required uniforms.

Uniforms For School Improvement of discipline and academic performance school safety — including gang violence Wearing uniforms enhances school pride, unity, and community spirit One component in establishing respect for the school Improve discipline and increase students' academic success Help curb school violence associated with gang-identified clothing Promote school safety and enhance the learning environment Reducing school crimes

Uniforms for students Save money by making it unnecessary to dress to impress Unwilling or unable to draw the "clothes" line with their children Reduction of fashion competition among students Reducing disruption learning caused by some kinds of clothes School uniforms keep students focused on their education, not their clothes School uniforms create a level playing field among students, reducing peer pressure and bullying School uniforms may improve attendance and discipline Students' legal right to free expression remains intact even with mandatory school uniforms.

Cons for School Uniforms Part 1 They restrict freedom of expression. The uniforms promote conformity over individuality. There is emphasis on the socio- economic divisions, which are supposed to be eliminated by promoting uniforms. Students oppose uniforms. Uniforms may provide a detriment on students’ self image. May impose a delay on transition to adulthood.

Cons of Uniforms Part 2 The cost of uniforms is prohibitive, especially for low- income families. Uniforms decrease the comfort of students, thus decreasing attentiveness. Diversity should be celebrated, but uniforms eliminate diversity. Uniforms are an unfair additional cost to tax payers sending their children to school. For teachers/authority, it is difficult to enforce uniforms.

Discussion Do uniforms improve or decrease academic performance? Uniforms are supposed to eliminate cliques and social groups. Do you feel that uniforms increase or eliminate the cliques?

References (n.d.). Retrieved from www.School- uniforms.procon.org/#background (n.d.). Retrieved from www.Occupytheory.org/pros-and- cons-of-school-uniforms-statistics/ (n.d.). Retrieved from www.sheknows.com/living/articles/809991/the-pros-and- cons Kizis, S. (2000). School UNIFORMS and Dress CODES: The Pros and Cons. Boutelle, M. (2008). UNIFORMS: Are They a Good Fit?. Education Digest, 73(6), 34-37.