First Ammendment-School Uniforms
The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America states that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Take notice of the part that mentions the “freedom of speech.” Now imagine you are a parent with three children who all attend public schools. They’ve just come home with a flyer from their school informing parents that uniforms are to be introduced the following year. Is the first thing that comes to your mind that the school is infringing upon your child’s freedom? Apparently this is the way a large percentage of American parents feel. However, statistics show that when introduced, school uniforms greatly reduce theft, gang affiliation problems, peer pressure, presence of intruders and help increase student discipline and concentration on their school work. One of the main reasons so many people are opposed to it is that is still relatively a new idea. Only three percent of public schools in the United States currently have a dress code in
With all of the positive statistics that come along with school dress codes, you would think that parental support would be high; however that is not the case. One particularly opinionated parent said, “This is a violation of our parental rights because I believe that part of my God-given right is to raise my children. It is my job as their mother to instill their moral and religious values. I do not want the school system telling them what is appropriate to wear” (Hudson, 1999). When faced with the argument that student uniforms will decrease the separation of appearance in poor and rich kids, parents say that issue will never cease. “There will be Wal-Mart uniforms and Gap uniforms, hand-me-down uniforms, and new uniforms” (Harding, http://www.geocities.com/hardingpj/uniforms.html.) Contesters to the uniform issue say that problems with discipline can be handled in better ways. Some suggest inviting students to participate in analyzing the problem and making a solution. “Kids don’t learn much of value in an environment where they are excluded from decision making” (Kohn, 1998). Can we really create complete democratic structures in our schools? If a teacher assigned homework would we have to have a forum to discuss the pros and cons of the assignment? If gym were required for all students to take would we first have to make sure that this was “ok” with everyone? What are we letting our attitudes come to? Children should not have the authority to make such decisions. That is why they are in school- to learn how to become responsible, educated adults. place (U.S. Department of Education). As a nation,
Some topics in this essay:
South Carolina,
United America,
Understanding Issues,
Associated Press,
Annual Conference,
Jane Smith,
Department Education,
District California,
dress code,
public schools,
school uniforms,
implementation uniforms,
school dressed,
student discipline,
public school,
offenses decreased,
increase student,
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Approximate Word count = 1112
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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