Uniform Swagger By: Rosilyn Hall Sara Stormes Laura Denton Trail

What will your 2015 Swagger Look Like? How one presents him or her self to the world.

Our Cause We advocate to purpose a bill in the State of Arkansas that requires all schools to wear uniforms. It is important for students within the school to be viewed as a collective team and not individualized by the clothing he or she wears due to economic hardships and social barriers between students. School uniforms relate to early childhood in that it creates a healthy environment within the school, community, and prepares students to be productive citizens in society.

Advantages of School Uniforms School uniforms keep students focused on their education, not their clothes. When students are all unified there is less concern on their appearance. Advocates such as former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton states “ Take that (clothing choices) off the table and put the focus on school and not what you are wearing.” School uniforms can save parents money. A national 2013 survey of 517 US school leaders found that 94% of those surveyed believe "one of the main benefits to parents is that school uniforms are more cost-effective than regular apparel," and 77% estimated the average annual cost of school uniforms per child to be $150 or less. Wearing uniforms enhances school pride, unity, and community spirit. A 2007 peer-reviewed study found that after uniforms were introduced, "Teachers perceived an increase in the level of respect, caring, and trust... throughout the school" and said "students are made to feel 'important' and as if they are a part of a team by wearing a uniform."

Advantages of School Uniforms Students can express their individuality in school uniforms by introducing variations and adding accessories. Amelia Jimenez wrote in her op-ed for the Pennsylvania Patriot-News website that "contrary to popular belief, uniforms do not stop students from being themselves.” A 2012 peer-reviewed study found that 54% of eighth-graders said they could still express their individuality while wearing school uniforms. Uniforms can help identify intruders in the school. School uniforms are considered by the National Center for Education Statistics to be a safety barrier. Safety of the students is a primary advantage of school uniforms. Uniforms alone cannot solve all of our concerns but they can be a very positive element to safety and discipline. Diminish economic and social barriers between students. When all students are dressed alike, competition between students can be eliminated because all students are equally unified. Uniforms can decrease peer pressure and blur economic class lines between students.

Advantages of School uniforms School uniforms establish an awareness of how to present oneself and self-presentation within the community. As educators we aim to prepare our students to be productive citizens in society. In being uniformed, students are gaining a sense of self respect for the work field and community in which he/she belongs. School uniforms may improve attendance and discipline. During the first semester of a mandatory uniform program at John Adams Middle School in Albuquerque, NM, discipline referrals dropped from 1,565 during the first semester of the year prior to 405. School uniforms prevent the display of gang colors and insignia. Jay Wheeler, school board member of Osceola County FL, reports a 46% drop in gang activity due to mandatory K-12 uniform policy. Wheeler states "clothing is integral to gang culture... Imagine a U.S. Armed Forces recruiter out of uniform trying to recruit new soldiers; the success rate goes down. The same applies to gang recruitment."

Testimonials for School Uniforms For us school uniforms were the great equalizer. Some families did not have very much money and because of school uniforms our clothes did not stand out. All students wore the same clothes, so no one paid particular attention to clothes. We did not have to be embarrassed because we didn't have a variety of outfits or because our clothes were "hand me downs". Our parents did not have to struggle to find ways to get the trendy clothes for school. The question "What will I wear today?" did not ever come up, because we always knew. School uniforms also helped establish a positive school identity and school pride. --Anonymous

Testimonial s Continued https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tF4i-AmUiI

Testimonials continued This article is from a young girls point of view about school uniforms and why she supports wearing them. “In school, one of the most important things is your style. The more you have, the more popular and noticed you will probably be. With uniforms, there's no discrimination because of what you're wearing. Everyone is united under the same style. I believe uniforms help unite us in a common goal: to do well in school. It is a symbol of our unity. They demonstrate to everyone that we are more than just our clothes: we are all individuals.” --Meredith G. Full story can be found: http://www.teenink.com/opinion/all/article/10102/School-Uniforms/

Disadvantages of School Uniforms Restricting student’s freedom of expression and individuality. Students required to wear uniforms are limited in their self-expression and creativity. They are not allowed to outwardly express their personalities, causing them to feel oppressed. School uniforms are costly for families. Uniforms can be costly and many families believe it is unfair to have to buy uniforms for school when they are already paying taxes to the government, state, on sales, etc. Many families feel as though they should not be forced to buy uniforms when public education is supposed to be free. Requires extra at-home attention and organization that could be spent on school work. Some parents believe that having to make sure a specific set of clothes are ironed and school ready takes time away from the family. What time could be spent with the child on homework is instead spent on making sure their uniform is clean for the next day. School uniforms may have negative effects on transition into maturity. Some studies suggest that taking a child’s expression of individuality away will create a lack of self- identification. Once the student’s age into maturity, it is believed that these students will go through an identity crisis and will not be able to function to their highest potential in society.

Groups to collaborate with Asa Hutchinson (Governor of Arkansas) Arkansas State Representatives Steve Womack, French Hill, Bruce Westerman, Rick Crawford Local Churches (clothing drives) School Counselors/ Social Workers Salvation Army

resources http://school-uniforms.procon.org/ http://bul.sagepub.com/content/80/581/83.full.pdf+html http://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Pros_and_Cons_of_School_Uniforms http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/cons-students-wearing-school-uniforms-27880.html http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/defining-your-ideal/121-school-uniforms.gs

Resources Continued http://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Pros_and_Cons_of_School_Uniforms http://www.theguardian.com/education/mortarboard/2013/oct/03/why- wear-school-uniform https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tF4i-AmUiI http://www.teenink.com/opinion/all/article/10102/School-Uniforms/ https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070116122849AANd7Ey