NCJ Number
170977
Journal
Education and Urban Society Volume: 28 Issue: 4 Dated: (August 1996) Pages: 424-435
Date Published
1996
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The use of school uniforms is examined in terms of policy issues and results of the policy of mandatory school uniforms in all 70 public elementary and middle schools in Long Beach, Calif. starting in July 1994.
Abstract
Policy issues related to school uniforms include legal concerns about requiring uniforms, the implications for parents who oppose uniform policies, and how to provide uniforms for children in families that are low-income or indigent. Courts have stricter dress codes, but legal opinion varies about how courts might decide on the constitutionality of mandatory public school uniforms. Among issues that school districts should consider before establishing a policy are whether everyone is involved in the process and what the consequences will be for not wearing a uniform. Longitudinal research on the Long Beach policy began in the spring of 1995 through a survey of students, teachers, administrators, and parents. Results from the first year indicate that the Long Beach schools are remarkably safer, although it is not clear that these results are entirely attributable to the uniform policy. Survey results indicate that adults, particularly school administrators, perceived that uniforms had a positive influence on student behavior. However, students reported that they did not feel safer going to and from school and did not believe that uniforms reduce behavior such as fighting or promote feelings of belonging to the school. Further research is examining the differing opinions of adults and students. 30 references