School Uniforms By Matt Radtke and Matt Gould

1. SCHOOL UNIFORMS: A 20 YEAR DEBATE Matt Radtke and Matt Gould George Washington University Education 246

3. Timeline 1987 1994 1996 1999 Cherry Hill Elementary School (MD) is first public school to implement student uniform policy President Clinton’s State of the Union address encouraging the use of school uniforms to increase achievement (see Clinton in his own words) Long Beach Unified School District (CA) creates first district wide mandatory uniform policy in public schools 12% of public schools have a student uniform policy 2006 55% of public schools have a student uniform policy

5. Support for School Uniforms

6. AK & HI not to scale TX AR AZ CT CO CA DE, MD,D.C FL IA KS IN IL MN MA LA MO NV NJ NH NC OH OR PA OK TN UT VA WA States with Uniforms or Dress Codes 0 0 500 Miles 500 KM

12. Opposition to student uniforms – cont’d Opponents of school uniform policies in public schools find that uniform policies themselves may run up against the law. Courts of all levels are riddled with cases that question the constitutionality of student uniform policies in public schools. Their main argument is that school uniform policies infringe on First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and freedom of expression. Opponents believe student uniforms suppress student individuality and personal freedom. They argue that students could become alienated if school officials close off one of their few avenues of self-identification and expression. They also question whether restrictive dress codes really make schools safer. Many parents argue that these restrictive policies also infringe on the parents’ freedom in rearing their children. (Mitchell & Knechtle, 2003)

13. Opposition to student uniforms – cont’d Even in satire, the claims of school uniform proponents just don’t add up….(push play and turn up the volume, especially if you enjoy Pink Floyd).