Do_Uniforms_Really_Help_with_Discipline_and_Motivation

The question on many parents and school advisors minds is, “are school uniforms a good way to improve discipline and motivation'” The answer is simple; yes, uniforms help discipline and motivation. Students currently without a uniform policy may have their individualism, but these same schools have students wearing trench coats and hiding weapons under their clothing so that the students can bringing them into the schools for the sole purpose of hurting other students. Students clothing become stolen because they have a designer label on the shirt or purse. Schools suppose to be a haven for students, not a place where a student has to worry over their property, safety, and his or her grades. Even though students do not express his or her individuality through the student’s attire, uniforms help discipline, and motivation issues. Discipline issues like classroom management, theft and violence decrease when a uniform policy are in place. Once a school adapts a uniform policy, classroom management issues becomes issues of the past. Godfrey (2008) illustrates that after two months of possessing uniforms policy installed in the schools; high school officials reported 40 % fewer truancies, 59 % fewer class removals and 37 % fewer cases of inappropriate conduct. By uniforms installed into the classroom, a unity is formed between the students and thus helping the management in the classroom. Wilde (2009), states that uniform policy reduces economic and social barriers between students. When the students unite, there is less chance of theft or violence happening in the schools. Theft of property decreases when uniforms are in the schools because students are all wearing the same thing. The U.S. Department of Education (1996) website states that uniforms can decrease violence and theft within schools over designer clothing or expensive sneakers; it will also prevent gang members from wearing their colors and insignia while at school. Without the worry of another student, stealing his or her property a student has less to worry about. Because of the increase of violence and theft in the schools, numerous parents, teacher and school officials have started to believe that school uniforms are positive and creative way to decrease discipline issues and amplify school safety (U.S. Department of Education, 1996). “Most school uniforms are of such a design that it is much more difficult to secrete offensive weapons on the person, and this should result in a lower incidence of students trying to take weapons into school” (Munro, 2009, para. 29). Violence in school shows an extensive decrease when that school has a uniform policy in effect. Even President Clinton believes that a uniform policy needed to be in schools. According to Wilde (2009), in President Clinton 1996 State of Union speech, he spoke on the issues of school uniforms and states that “if it means teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their student to wear school uniforms” (para. 4). Students have the freedom to be themselves and while at school can concentrate on the curriculum in front of them. Uniforms do not just help students with disciplinary issues; they help student’s motivation to take school more seriously. “"Anything goes" is the way students dress today and that isn't necessarily a good thing because so many people grow up oblivious to the concept that there is a time and place for certain types of attire” (Warren, 2009, para. 6). Students are dressing like the celebrities they see on the television and are more concerned with their looks then they are with their grades. If students wore a uniform, then they would not have to be concerned with what they were wearing and could focus more on the curriculum. “Schools report that when students dress in “work clothes” rather than “play clothed” they take a more serious approach to their studies” (Grauke, 2005, para. 2). Uniforms contribute to an atmosphere of unity and equality. For example, look at any sports team. The uniform the players wear help bring a unity between the players. Munro (2009), states that uniforms in schools shows that the school is an organization were all students are viewed be of equal status and will be treated as such. According to Morse-McNeely and Oland (2002), “uniforms “level” the playing field between students because you cannot tell that child comes from a family who is well off from those who are not.” Students will not be able to distinguish between the “rich kids” and the “poor” ones, thus bringing the students together. Students are motivated to help each other out with his or her studies, they do not have to worry about in which they come from and they just are one of the kids in the class. Grades improve when uniforms given to the students. Students become motivated to learn. Morse-McNeely & Oland (2002), stated when uniform policies are introduced students stopped worrying about how they looked and were on task 90 % of the time. When the end of the year came the student body jumped two grades from C to A’s and D to B’s then the previous year. This only goes to show parents and school advisors that uniforms do help with students motivated to learn. What the student wears has become more important to the student achieving good grades. “Some students have turned school into an unending fashion show. This distracts from learning, as some kids spend more time focused on their clothes than on homework” (Grauke, 2005, para. 5). School has become more about what is in and who is wearing what than it is about the academics. By bringing uniforms into the school, it will stop this effect and make school about the academics again. So why are parents and academic advisors not jumping on to the uniform bandwagon' When the administration considers using uniforms, they must look into the opposing views beliefs. One of the big arguments about uniforms in schools is that students do not express their individuality. “Those who oppose uniform will say that by putting a child into uniform, you are taking away his constitutional right to freedom of expression. Nevertheless, is not it interesting to note that left to themselves, children will to a greater or lesser degree choose a uniform of their own. These may not be identical in detail, but just look at any group of youngsters, and what do you see' Brand X shoes, Brand Y jeans, baseball hat on backwards - or droopy pants! So much for free expression” (Munro, 2009, para. 18). Students do not go to school so that they can learn to express themselves. They have plenty of time for that after-school. Students can learn to express themselves in different venues other than their cloths. They can express themselves through their own voice. Most adults who had to wear a uniform in school hated it when they were students. Nevertheless, when they are older they can look back the experience and can say that it was a positive one. It taught them that there was a time and a place for everything. Most people do not go to work in whatever they want. There should be a time and place for everything, including cloths. Another obstacle against uniforms in schools is the cost of the uniform for each student. “Without school uniform teenagers, girls especially, would require several sets or ordinary clothes for a school term. This could prove expensive for parents. School uniform clothing is durable, hard-wearing and easily washable and nowadays eminently practical” (Collins, 2009, para. 4). School uniforms do not have to be shirt with a special logo on them, which a parent can only by at one or two different stores. However, uniforms can be something every simple from a while button down shirt or polo shirt and a pair of black pants, with black dress shoes. Parents can pick up all the clothing needed from the local Wal-Mart at the same cost of the regular clothing. An interview done on a principle in Ontario Canada named Jill Wasiniak who had installed uniforms in her school. During this interview, Jill states, "I was in favor of uniforms," she said. "It makes it easier, especially for the families who can't afford to buy expensive clothing” (Godfrey, 2008, para. 11). Most uniforms do not have to cost the price of designer clothing and does not need to replace every few months with every fashion change. According to Johnson, Musial, Halle, Gollnick, Dupuis (2005) some people believe that we should be engaging our students in a dialogue on the topic of what clothing is appropriate for school instead of telling them to wear a uniform. A teacher by the name of Dave Oland says, “Let’s not resort to quick fixes and Band-aids like uniforms.” David continues by asking, “Are we afraid to do the real work of changing the culture of our schools'” It is not that uniforms are a Band-aid, but by letting students wear their own fashion, oriented clothing teachers and administration run the risk of someone saying the teacher or administration is racist. When a teacher tells a student an outfit is not appropriate, the student has to say the is part of his or her culture and the parents back their child, so the teacher then is in trouble. I am not saying that the culture does not need to change, it does, but until parents are willing to change as well, it will not. Uniforms help discipline and motivation issues in the classroom. Even though there are sound beliefs on why people should not wear uniforms, some of the beliefs are not correct. For example, the belief of uniforms cost being too expensive when a parent can buy uniforms at Wal-Mart for under 40 dollars. Not only will the disciplinary issues will go down but also the grades will go up. Motivation to learn becomes the focus in the students school life virus the fashion trends. We must also keep in mind students want to wear uniforms. Students flock to it. Students wear uniforms in team sports, students want to belong and feel like they are part of something that they should be proud. Let school be one of the places that help a child be proud of their achievements.   References Books Johnson, J. A., Musial, D., Halle, G. E., Gollnick, D. M., & Dupuis, V. L. (2005). Introduction to the foundations of American education (13th ed.). Boston: Pearson. Websites Collins, M. (2009). The advantages and disadvantages of mandatory school uniforms. Retrieved from http://www.helium.com/items/1544975-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-mandatory-school-uniform Godfrey, A. (2008, August 24). Uniforms: school clothes policy extends to elementary schools. Sandusky Register Online. Retrieved from http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2008/08/24/front/867489.txt Grauke, Isaac. (2005, September 9). Pros and cons of school uniforms [Uniforms]. Message posted to http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/pros-and-cons-of-school- uniforms-182.html Morse-McNeely, Pat &, Oland, D. (2002, April). Are uniforms a good way to improve student discipline and motivation'. NEA Today. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3617/is_200204/ai_n9019660/ Munro, N. (2009, September 3). Are uniforms a good way to improve student discipline and motivation'. Ezine Articles. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/'Are-Uniforms-a-Good-Way-to-Improve-Student-Discipline-and-Motivation'&id=2864209 U.S. Department of Education. (1996). Manual on Uniforms. Retrieved from http://ed.gov/updates/uniforms.html Warren, L. H. (2009). The benefits of mandatory school uniforms. . Retrieved from http://www.helium.com/items/382723-the-benefits-of-mandatory-schooluniforms'page=1# Wilde, M. (2009). Do uniforms make schools better'. Great Schools. Retrieved from http://www.greatschools.net/find-a-school/defining-your-ideal/schooluniforms.gs'content=121