School uniform: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Three vocational school students in Indonesia won 2nd place after a quiz match at school2023.JP.png|thumb|Three [[Education in Indonesia|students in Indonesia]] wearing orderly uniforms]]

Although often used interchangeably, there is an important distinctiondifference between [[dress codes]] and school uniforms: according to scholars such as Nathan Joseph, clothing can only be considered a uniform when it "(a) serves as a group emblem, (b) certifies an institution's legitimacy by revealing individual's relative positions and (c) suppresses individuality."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Joseph |first1=Nathan |title=Uniforms and nonuniforms : communication through clothing |date=1986 |publisher=Greenwood Press |location=New York |isbn=0313251959}}</ref>

Conversely, a [[dress code]] is much less restrictive, and focuses "on promoting modesty and discouraging anti-social fashion statements", according to Marian Wilde.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wilde |first1=Marian |title=Do Uniforms Make Schools Better |url= http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/defining-your-ideal/121-school-uniforms.gs?page=2 |website=GreatSchools.net}}</ref> Examples of a dress code would be not allowing ripped clothing, no logos or limiting the amount of skin that can be shown.

It is difficult to trace the origins of the uniform as there is no comprehensive written history, but rather a variety of known influences. School uniforms are believed to be a practice which dates to the 16th century in the United Kingdom. It is believed that the [[Christ's Hospital]] School in England in 1552 was the first school to use a school uniform.<ref>Scott, Jenny (5 September 2014). [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-29047752 "School uniforms: A history of 'rebellion and conformity'."] BBC News. Retrieved 13 January 2020.</ref> Students were given a uniform that most notably consisted of a long blue coat and yellow, knee-high socks.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.christs-hospital.org.uk/about-ch/history-of-the-uniform/|title=History of the Uniform|website=www.christs-hospital.org.uk|access-date=2018-11-20 November 2018}}</ref> An almost identical uniform is still worn by students attending the school today.<ref name=":0" /> The earliest documented proof of institutionalized use of a standard academic dress dates back to 1222 when the then Archbishop of Canterbury ordered the wearing of the cappa clausa.<ref>{{ cite book

The case study of the Long Beach Unified School District was the study of the first large, urban school in the United States to implement a uniform policy. In 1994, mandatory school uniforms were implemented for the districts elementary and middle schools as a strategy to address the students' behavior issues. The district simultaneously implemented a longitudinal study to research the effects of the uniforms on student behavior. The study attributed favorable student behavioral changes and a significant drop in school discipline issues to the mandatory uniform policy. Wearing school uniforms was associated with fewer absences and truancies and fewer referrals to the office for behavior problems. Suspensions and expulsions were reduced by 28% (elementary) and 36% (middle school), crime and vandalism by 74% (elementary) and 18% (middle school). However the school district also added other security measures such as security guards,
and metal detectors so the success cannot be solely attributed to the uniforms. The district later removed the uniforms. <ref name="nmu.edu">Reed, Joshua B. "Effects of a School Uniform Policy on an Urban School District." Northern Michigan University. N.p., 1 August 2011. Web. 19 April 2015. <https://www.nmu.edu/sites/DrupalEducation/files/UserFiles/Files/Pre-Drupal/SiteSections/Students/GradPapers/Projects/Reed_Joshua_MP.pdf>. Wade, K. K., & Stafford, M. E. (2003). Public School Uniforms: Effect on Perceptions of Gang Presence, School Climate, and Student Self-Perceptions. Education and Urban Society, 35(4), 399–420. http://doi.org/10.1177/0013124503255002</ref>

|title=School uniform does not improve results – discuss |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=2011-01-18 January 2011 |access-date=2017-02-25 February 2017}}</ref>

As uniforms have become more normalised, there have also been an increasing number of lawsuits brought against school districts. According to David Brunsma, one in four public elementary schools and one in eight public middle and high schools in the United States have policies dictating what a student wears to school.<ref>Brunsma, David L. Uniforms in Public Schools: A Decade of Research and Debate. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Education, 2006. Print.</ref> The school code within states' constitutions typically asserts that it allows the board of school directors to make reasonable rules and regulations as they see fit in managing the school's affairs. As of 2008, there are currently 23 states that allow school districts to mandate school uniforms.<ref>Colasanti, Michael. "School Uniforms and Dress Codes: State Policies." StateNote (2008). Education Commission of the States. Education Commission of the States. Web. 19 April 2015. <http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/77/97/7797.pdf>.</ref> The constitutional objections usually brought upon school districts tend to fall into one of the following two categories: (1) a violation of the students' [[First Amendment]] right to free expression (2) a violation of parents' right to raise their children without government interference. Although up until this point, The Supreme Court has not ruled on a case involving school uniforms directly, in the 1968 decision [[Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District]], the Court ruled that upon entering school, students do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech.<ref>Kraft, Jacquelyn. Society's Perceptions and Attitudes Toward School Uniforms. Research Paper.

Internationally, there are differing views of school uniforms. In the Australian state of Queensland, Ombudsman Fred Albietz ruled in 1998 that state schools may not require uniforms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.optionality.net/mag/oct98a.html|title=Those disgusting School Uniforms (B)|publisher=Optionality Magazine|access-date=30 November 2007|archive-date=7 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107115916/http://www.optionality.net/mag/oct98a.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the [[Philippines]], the [[Department of Education (Philippines)|Department of Education]] abolished the requirement of school uniforms in public schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deped.gov.ph/2008/06/10/do-46-s-2008-proper-school-attire/|title=DO 46, S. 2008 – Proper School Attire|publisher=DepEd Philippines|date=2008-06-10 June 2008}}</ref> In [[England and Wales]], technically a state school may not permanently exclude students for "breaching school uniform policy", under a policy promulgated by the [[Department for Children, Schools and Families]] but students not wearing the correct uniform are asked to go home and change. In Scotland, some [[local government in Scotland|local councils]] (that have responsibility for delivering state education) do not insist on students wearing a uniform as a precondition to attending and taking part in curricular activities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gourockhigh.inverclyde.sch.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAxADYANAB8AHwARgBhAGwAcwBlAHwAfAA0AHwA0 |title=Authority Strategic Statement of Inverclyde Education Service |publisher=Gourock High School |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314064212/http://gourockhigh.inverclyde.sch.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAxADYANAB8AHwARgBhAGwAcwBlAHwAfAA0AHwA0 |archive-date=14 March 2010 }}</ref> Turkey abolished mandatory uniforms in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-210471-101-school-uniform-requirement-to-be-abolished.html|title=School uniform requirement to be abolished|website=todayszaman.com|access-date=11 February 2019|archive-date=12 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011917/http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-210471-101-school-uniform-requirement-to-be-abolished.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the ''Canady v. [[Bossier Parish School Board]]'' lawsuit in 2000, a Louisiana district court ruled in favour of the school board because it did not see how the free speech rights of the students were being violated due to the school board's uniform policy. Even though the plaintiff appealed the decision, the Fifth Circuit Court also ruled in favour of the school board after implementing a four-step system that is still used today. Firstly, a school board has to have the right to set up a policy. Secondly, the policy must be determined to support a fundamental interest of the board as a whole. Thirdly, the guidelines cannot have been set for the purpose of censorship. Finally, the limits on student expression cannot be greater than the interest of the board. As long as these four policies are in place, then no constitutional violation can be claimed.<ref>"First Amendment Schools: The Five Freedoms - Court Case." First Amendment Schools: The Five Freedoms - Court Case. First Amendment Schools. Web. 19 April 2015. <http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/freedoms/case.aspx?id=1690>.</ref>

In the [[Forney Independent School District]] of [[Forney, Texas]] in 2001, the school board decided to implement a school uniform policy allowing the students to wear a [[polo shirt]], [[oxford shirt]] or [[blouse]] in four possible colours, and blue or [[Khaki#Tones of khaki|khaki]] trousers or shirts, a skirt or jumper. While there was some flexibility with shoes, certain types were prohibited along with any sort of baggy clothes. The parents of the Littlefield family requested that their son be exempt from the policy, but were denied. In response, the Littlefields filed a lawsuit against the school district, under the pretenses that this uniform mandate infringed on their rights as parents to control how they brought up their children and their education. They even went as far as to cite an infringement on religious freedom, claiming that opting out of the uniforms on the grounds of religion allowed the school to rank the validity of certain religions. Before trial, the District Court dismissed the case, so the family appealed. Ultimately, the Fifth Circuit Court ruled that the students' rights were not being violated even though the claims presented were valid. They ruled that school rules derived from the education would override the parents' right to control their children's upbringing in this specific situation. As far as the religious freedom violation accusations, the court ruled that the policy did not have a religious goal, and thus did not infringe on religious freedom rights.<ref>"First Amendment Schools: The Five Freedoms - Court Case." First Amendment Schools: The Five Freedoms - Court Case. First Amendment Schools. Web. 19 April 2015. <http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/freedoms/case.aspx?id=1693></ref>

In 2003, Liberty High School, a school of the [[Clark County School District]] in [[Henderson, Nevada]], implemented a uniform policy of khakis and red, white or blue polo shirts. A junior by the name of Kimberly Jacobs was suspended a total of five times because she wore a religious shirt to school and got cited for uniform violations. Her family sued the Clark County School District under the claims that her First Amendment rights were being infringed upon and that the uniform policy was causing students to be deprived of [[due process]]. The plaintiff's requests were for injunctive relief, the expunging of suspensions from Jacob's school record and awarding of damages. The injunction was granted to the family meaning that the school could no longer discipline her for breaking the uniform policy. At this ruling, the school district appealed. The next court ruled on the side of the school district as it determined that the uniform policy was in fact neutral and constitutional, and it dismissed the claims of the plaintiff.<ref>"Jacobs v. Clark County School District." The Recorder. 12 May 2008. Web. 19 April 2015. <http://www.therecorder.com/id=1202421325288/Jacobs-v-Clark-County-School-District?slreturn=20150319150918>.</ref>

In 2011, a Nevada public elementary school of the [[Washoe County School District]] decided to add the school's motto, ''Tomorrow's Leaders'' embroidered in small letters on the shirt. In response, Mary and John Frudden, parents of a student sued the school district on the basis of it violating the [[1stFirst Amendment]]. The court ultimately dismissed the case filed by the Fruddens over the uniforms. However, the family appealed, and two years later, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard the case. The court ruled to reverse the previous decision of dismissing the case, and also questioned the apparent policy for students that were part of a nationally recognised group such as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts who were able to wear the uniforms in place of the school ones on regular meeting days. The 9th circuit panel ruled that the school had not provided enough evidence for why it instituted this policy, and that the family was never given a chance to argue.<ref>"Appeals Court Revives Reno School Uniform Case." ''Elko Daily''. Elko Daily Free Press, 16 February 2014. Web. 12 April 2015. <http://elkodaily.com/news/appeals-court-revives-reno-school-uniform-case/article_a8e75868-973c-11e3-8412-001a4bcf887a.html>.</ref>

Boys often are required to wear trousers, belts,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://srimprint.com/school-materials/school-belt/|title=Customized Uniform School Belt - Manufacturer- SR.Imprint|newspaper=Sr.imprint}}</ref> and closed-toe shoes and have their shirts tucked in at all times. They are also often required to have their hair cut short. Some critics allege that this uniform is associated with the dress of a professional business man, which, they claim, gives boys at a young age the impression that masculinity is gained through business success.<ref>Craik, J. (2007). "Uniforms Exposed: The Proliferation of Uniforms in Popular Culture as Markers of Change and Identity." Uniformierungen in Bewegung. Ed. Gabreile Mentges, Dagmar Neuland-Kitzerow, and Birgit Richard. Munster: Waxmann Verlag. 7-53.</ref>

Another area of controversy regarding school uniform and dress code policies revolve around the issue of gender. Nowadays, more teenagers are more frequently "dressing to articulate, or confound gender identity and [[sexual orientation]]", which brings about "responses from school officials that ranged from indifferences to applause to bans".<ref name="nytimes.com">Hoffman, Jan (6 November 2009). [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/fashion/08cross.html "Can a Boy Wear a Skirt to School?"] ''The New York Times''.</ref> In 2009, there were multiple conflicts across the United States arising from disparities between the students' perception of their own gender, and the school administrators' perception of the students' gender identity. Instances include the following:<ref>Hoffman, J. (8 November 2009). [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/fashion/08cross.html?pagewanted=all&_r= "Can a Boy Wear a Skirt to School?"] ''The New York Times''.</ref>

Advocates of uniforms have proposed multipleseveral reasons supporting their implementation and claiming their success in schools. Advocates believe that uniforms affect student safety by decreasing student victimization, gang activity, and fights.<ref name="faculty.unlv.edu">Brunsma, David L., and Kerry A. Rockquemore. "Effects of Student Uniforms on Attendance, Behavior Problems, Substance Use, and Academic Achievement." The Journal of Educational Research 92.1 (1998): 53-62. Web. 31 March 2015. https://faculty.unlv.edu/sloe/Courses/EPY%20702/Class%20Exercises/Lecture%201%20Materials/Articles/Brunsma%20et%20al.%20(1998).pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305044251/https://faculty.unlv.edu/sloe/Courses/EPY |date=5 March 2016 }}</ref> There has been no concrete evidence of this, and studies by Ohio State University and others showed that uniforms did not increase test scores, grades, or focus. However, attendance increased by less than half of a day. The students felt even less of a sense of belonging at a school with uniforms.<ref name="OSUStudy">{{cite web |url=https://news.osu.edu/school-uniforms-dont-improve-child-behavior-study-finds/ |title=School uniforms don't improve child behavior, study finds |date=2021-12-20 |first1=Jeff |last1=Grabmeier |website=osu.edu}}</ref>

For example, in the first year of the mandatory uniform policy in Long Beach, California, officials reported that fighting in schools decreased by more than 50%, assault and battery by 34%, sex offenses by 74%, and robbery by 66%.<ref name="doi.org"/> However the district also added other safety measures like security guards so the success cannot be attributed to the uniforms solely.

Uniforms also generally disadvantage students, especially girls, in freedom of movement and comfort. The research was conducted on an Australian independent private school and its uniform. Comfort-wise, for boys, the blazer was too hot/cold and uncomfortable. For girls, the light coloured cotton school dress was restrictive, see-through, hot, uncomfortable, and impractical. Furthermore, the stockings were often cold, grey woolen kilt was too heavy and restrictive of movement, and the wind could cause it to reveal more than the girls wanted. When playing and moving around, for boys, the school tie <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://srimprint.com/school-materials/school-tie/|title=Customized School Uniform Tie - SR.Imprint|newspaper=Sr.imprint}}</ref> was a choking hazard, and the trousers had no stretch. For girls, the dress/skirt caused modesty issues (e.g. hard to swing on monkey bars/run around while keeping her privacy, hence stop being active), and the kilts were are too big and heavy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://girlsuniformagenda.org/2017/06/14/research-girls-school-uniforms-clear-discriminate/|title=Research on school uniforms - it's clear, they disadvantage girls|date=14 June 2017-06-14|website=Girls' Uniform Agenda|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-11-19 November 2019}}</ref>