Question: This year my daughter is going to a new middle school that currently has a policy giving the children the choice of wearing uniforms or not. Since school started, 90 percent of the children are wearing uniforms daily. Next spring, parents will vote on whether or not to adopt the compulsory wearing of uniforms. What should we consider before voting? - Identical Dress
Answer: Parents almost unanimously approve of their children wearing school uniforms in elementary and middle school, and teachers, counselors and principals are also very approving of uniforms. The surprise is that the majority of students, especially girls, also approve of wearing uniforms. Those students who disagree feel that uniforms interfere with their right to free expression and make them look like "nerds."
Before the parents at your school make their final vote, there are definitely some key questions that should be addressed:
- Will the requirements be legally defensible? It will be necessary for your school district to show that the policy is related to a legitimate school interest.
- Has the new dress policy positively contributed to the school environment? This means that there has been a positive impact on students' performance and productivity in the classroom, reduced conflict and violence, and has been a lowering of cultural and economic differences among the students.
- Would a less restrictive dress code be a better alternative? Codes vary widely, from those that outline general goals to those that have a mandatory uniform policy.
The successful implementation of a mandatory uniform policy next year will depend upon these factors: developing positive perception among students, making uniforms available and inexpensive, and involving parents and students in the choice of uniforms.