What teenagers in zetland think about school uniform

What teenagers in zetland think about school uniform

6 Reasons Why Students Shouldn’t Wear School Uniforms

Also known as, “Cons of wearing school uniforms.”

Should students wear school uniforms? There are many arguments and counter-arguments for this topic. But what are the reasons why many people are against school uniforms?

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Let’s take a look at some of the cons of having to wear this kind of outfit:

1. Individuality and Self-expression

One of the main arguments against wearing school uniforms is that students will lose their identity, individualism, and self-expression if they are made to wear the same clothes as everyone else.

If this happens, then everyone will end up looking the same. It would seem bland and drab. People express themselves through their choice of clothing.

What’s wrong with studying without having to wear school uniforms?

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They come up with their own style which have their own personal touch based on their taste and preferences. Some like to wear pants while others might prefer skirts and so on and so forth.

It is through clothing that people are able to show who they are while also being able to showcase and display their creativity and how they are their own unique person.

2. Price

Many also argue that buying uniforms is an added expense especially to families that can’t afford them. There are families who would much rather that their kids be able to go to school wearing clothes that they already own.

Some would prefer to just give their children hand-me-downs or second-hand clothing especially if they have older kids. But they can’t do that if students have to wear school uniforms.

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School uniforms are added expenses that are completely unnecessary and useless. Why? It’s because children already have clothes to wear. Why can’t they wear these outfits (as long as said outfits are appropriate) to school? Some families simply do not have the budget to spare for dresses that will only be used for school.

Furthermore, there’s the fact that children only wear school uniforms when they’re in school. As such, you would still need to spend money purchasing clothes to wear for other occasions and places.

Besides, having to wear this kind of outfit wouldn’t stop kids from asking their parents to buy them designer branded clothing for the weekends and non-school days. All of this would just add to all the other expenses that the family has to shoulder.

3. Academic Performance

There are some people who argue that those who wear school uniforms would perform better in school because, considering what they’re wearing, they will be of the mindset that it is time to study and learn and not play around.

However, it can be counter-argued that school uniforms are nothing but pieces of clothing and how could this make one perform better in school? What difference does it make if you wear a certain type of clothing or not?

To study or not to study, that is the question

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In the end, it’s up to students if they will decide to study and pay attention to their lessons regardless of what kind of outfit they’re wearing.

Furthermore, it can even be argued that kids who feel comfortable and who actually like the clothes that they’re wearing would be able to focus more on their studies because they won’t be busy trying to make their school uniform more comfortable for them.

4. Equality

Those who agree that children should wear school uniforms reason that this kind of outfit actually helps to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

If everyone wears the same thing, there would be no teasing or making fun of those that can’t afford expensive designer brand clothing or those that are said to have no fashion sense.

However, who’s to say that wearing school uniforms really solves that problem? Those who can’t afford to buy new uniforms would just buy second-hand ones.

If they have other children that have already graduated from the school, their outfits would be passed down to their siblings. There are also those who would have school uniforms made using cheaper cloth to lessen the expenses.

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In short, there will still be a rift between the rich and the poor because students will be able to tell if someone’s uniform is old or brand new by how faded said outfit looks like.

Do you think making students wear uniforms will really help bridge the gap between the rich and poor children in school? Wouldn’t it be more likely that nothing at all would change?

Those who don’t have the budget will choose to buy cheaper uniforms while some may even resort to wearing hand-me-downs from older siblings that have already graduated, so their outfits will look old.

Besides, who’s stopping kids from wearing fancy watches and other such expensive accessories to show off to their peers? The point is there are still ways to show the gap between the rich and poor even if everyone is made to wear school uniforms.

5. Rebellious Nature

Many, if not all, children don’t like rules or being told what to do and they tend to rebel against doing things they don’t want to do. Students might feel stifled at having to wear school uniforms and they might try to rebel against this in any way that they can.

Some might try to lengthen or shorten their outfits and do other alterations to it. Some might opt to wear outrageous accessories and jewelries in order to differentiate themselves from all the others who wear the same clothes as they do.

6. Bullying and Teasing

There are those who argue that wearing school uniforms can prevent the bullying and teasing of children. But is that really true? Those who like to bully others will find their own reasons to engage in the act of bullying.

A bully is a bully is a bully

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Will these bullies really stop just because everyone is wearing the same thing? Kids can be bullied for many other reasons such as their color, race, gender, and even what they look like and how they act.

Conclusion

These are just some of the many reasons why some people are against having children wear school uniforms. What about you? What do you think of these reasons? Do you think they make sense? This appears to be a debate that wouldn’t be resolved anytime soon.

What teenagers in zetland think about school uniform

40.1 Imagine that you are doing a project on the most popular environmentally friendy technologies in Zetland. You have found some data on the subject — the results of the opinion polls (see the table below).

Comment on the data in the table and give your opinion on the subject of the project.

Environmentally friendly technologiesNumber of respondents
Wind generators35
Solar panels27
Solar water heater18
Rainwater harvesting15
Energy saving appliances5

Write 200−250 words.

Use the following plan:

— make an opening statement on the subject of the project;

— select and report 2−3 facts;

— make 1−2 comparisons where relevant;

— outline a problem that can arise with using environmentally friendly technologies and suggest a way of solving it;

— conclude by giving your opinion on the importance of environmentally friendly technologies in human life.

40.2 Imagine that you are doing a project on the most popular DIY hobbies among teenagers in Zetland. You have found some data on the subject — the results of the opinion polls (see the diagram below).

Comment on the data in the diagram and give your opinion on the subject of the project.

Do-It-Yourself hobbies most popular among teenagers in Zetland

Write 200−250 words.

Use the following plan:

— make an opening statement on the subject of the project;

— select and report 2−3 facts;

— make 1−2 comparisons where relevant;

— outline a problem that can arise with DIY hobbies and suggest a way of solving it;

— conclude by giving your opinion on the role of DIY hobbies in the teenagers’ life.

40.1 Recent studies show that environmental problems are very topical nowadays. The aim of the project I am currently working on is to find out the most popular environmentally friendly technologies in Zetland. As part of my project, I have found and analyzed some relevant data presented in the table.

According to the data, there is quite a wide range of ways people can take care of the environment. It is clear that wind generators as well as solar panels are at the top of the table, 35% and 27% of the respondents have chosen these eco-friendly inventions. Also, 18% of the interviewed save electricity by using solar water heater, whereas rainwater harvesting and energy saving appliances appear to be the least preferable ways of helping the environment in Zetland.

It is worth mentioning that decreasing the consumption of electricity is much more important than reducing water consumption for people in Zetland. Obviously, energy saving technologies become an integral part of people’s daily life.

One problem that can arise with using environmentally friendly technologies is that they are rather expensive for average people. So that, it is necessary to find a way how to minimize the cost of such appliances in order to more people will be able to afford them. For instance, these technologies should be used in big companies and so the more they spread, the cheaper they become for consumers.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that environmentally friendly technologies are very important. People have to think about of future of the planet. (253 words)

40.2 Nowadays teenagers spend their free time differently particularly there is a variety of hobbies. The aim of the project I am currently working on is to find out the most popular DIY hobbies among teenagers in Zetland. As part of my project, I have found and analyzed some relevant data presented in the diagram.

According to the data, the younger generation in Zetland has quite a wide range of tastes when it comes to take up DIY hobbies. It is clear, that the vast majority of the respondents prefer paper modeling, 42% of the teenagers have named it. Also, 16% of the interviewed adolescents like spending time making candles as well as making soap, whereas collage art and pottery appear to be the least popular pastimes.

It is worth mentioning that spending time doing something with paper is four times as popular as working with clay. To my mind, paper is much more affordable than clay and easy to work with.

Statistics reveal one problem connected with taking up DIY hobbies among teenagers. Obviously, there are no such hobbies as sewing or knitting. Thus, the young adults do not practice activities which can become their future job. One solution to this problem is to open special clubs for teenagers there they can learn sewing and knitting. It is easier to do something new in a company.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that DIY hobbies play a significant role in the teenagers’ life. I hope the adolescents will be able to spend quality time. (253 words)

КритерийКритерии оценивания ответа на заданиеБаллы
K1Решение коммуникативной задачи
Задание выполнено полностью:
содержание отражает полно и точно все аспекты, указанные в задании; стилевое оформление речи выбрано правильно (допускается 1 неполный/неточный аспект и 1 нарушение нейтрального стиля)
3
Задание выполнено в основном:
1 аспект не раскрыт остальные

ИЛИ 1 аспект не раскрыт, и 1 раскрыт неполно/неточно,

ИЛИ 2–3 аспекта раскрыты неполно/неточно; стилевое оформление речи в основном правильно (допускаются 2–3 нарушения нейтрального стиля)

2
Задание выполнено не полностью:
1 аспект не раскрыт, и 2–3 раскрыты неполно/неточно,

ИЛИ 2 аспекта не раскрыты (остальные раскрыты полно),

ИЛИ 2 аспекта содержания не раскрыты и 1 раскрыт неполно/ неточно,

What teenagers in zetland think about school uniform

Эксперту. По аналогии предыдущих заданий нужно составить описание (шапку к заданию 40.1 и 40.2 и план, опираясь на таблицу или диаграмму представленную ниже. Для лучшего понимания, описывать их буду на русском языке.

40.1 Imagine that you are doing a project on the most popular means of preparation for exams among students in Zetland. You have collected some data on the subject — the results of the opinion polls (see the table below).

Comment on the data in the table and give your personal opinion on the subject of the project.

Students prepare for exams with the help ofPercentage (%)
Tutors48
Online platforms32
Test books12
School clubs7
Other means1

Write 200−250 words. Use the following plan:

— make an opening statement on the subject of the project work;

— select and report 2−3 main facts;

— make 1−2 comparisons where relevant;

— outline a problem that can arise with preparation for exams and suggest a way of solving it;

— conclude by giving your opinion on the importance of exam preparation for students in Zetland.

40.2 Imagine that you are doing a project on the aim of schooling for teenagers in Zetland. You have collected some data on the subject (see the diagram below).

Comment on the data in the diagram and give your personal opinion on the subject of the project.

The aim of schooling for teenagers in Zetland

High grades for a university

Write 200−250 words. Use the following plan:

— make an opening statement on the subject of the project work;

— select and report 2−3 main facts;

— make 1−2 comparisons where relevant;

— outline a problem that can arise with schooling and suggest a way of solving it;

— conclude by giving your opinion on the importance of schooling for teenagers in Zetland.

40.1 Many people believe that preparation for exams is an essential part of schooling and there is a lot of ways to do it. The aim of the project I am currently working on is to find out more about it. As part of my project, I have found and analyzed some data on the most popular means of preparation for exams among students in Zetland.

According to the data, the students have quite a wide range of opportunities to get ready for exams. It is clear that the majority of the respondents prefer getting tutors as well as using online platforms to improve their knowledge and prepare for exams (48% and 32% respectively). However, test books are not so popular among students in Zetland, only 12% of the respondents chooses them to practice.

It is worth mentioning that school clubs are less popular than online platforms. To my mind, the education via the internet is fast developing industry, it provides different kinds and forms of schooling. All the more, it is important in order to prepare for exams.

One problem that students often face preparing for exams is that they are not ready psychologically for their examination. It is hard for them to do their best in new conditions. One solution to this problem is to create special centres where graduates can learn more about the procedure and test themselves under psychologists’ supervision.

In conclusion, I firmly believe well-organized preparation for exams allows students in Zetland feel themselves more comfortably and do their best. I think high grade getting for the final test is the best start in life. (269 words)

40.2 Many people believe that schooling is an essential part of human’s life and there are lots of ways to live it. The purpose of the project I am currently working on is to find out more about it. As part of my project, I have found and analyzed some data on the aim of schooling for teenagers in Zetland.

According to the data, the adolescents have quite a wide range of interests at school. It is clear that the vast majority of the respondents (45%) go to school in order to gain knowledge. Moreover, a great number of them (25%) find new friends there and spending time together becomes more and more important for teenagers. It is worth mentioning that getting high grades for the final test is significant for 15% of the respondents.

Surprisingly, only 6% of the teenagers think about their behaviour going to school. It is six times less popular answer than getting knowledge. To my mind, this question is mostly brought up by teachers and parents than by students.

One problem that can arise with schooling is that teenagers usually skip lessons and their parents do not know about it. One solution to this problem is to create special software than can sent messages to parents if their child comes to school or not.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that despite some problems associated with schooling, it is a great period of life for teenagers in Zetland. I hope the adolescents could keep good memories about their school time. (253 words)

КритерийКритерии оценивания ответа на заданиеБаллы
K1Решение коммуникативной задачи
Задание выполнено полностью:
содержание отражает полно и точно все аспекты, указанные в задании; стилевое оформление речи выбрано правильно (допускается 1 неполный/неточный аспект и 1 нарушение нейтрального стиля)
3
Задание выполнено в основном:
1 аспект не раскрыт остальные

ИЛИ 1 аспект не раскрыт, и 1 раскрыт неполно/неточно,

ИЛИ 2–3 аспекта раскрыты неполно/неточно; стилевое оформление речи в основном правильно (допускаются 2–3 нарушения нейтрального стиля)

2
Задание выполнено не полностью:
1 аспект не раскрыт, и 2–3 раскрыты неполно/неточно,

ИЛИ 2 аспекта не раскрыты (остальные раскрыты полно),

ИЛИ 2 аспекта содержания не раскрыты и 1 раскрыт неполно/ неточно,

What teenagers in zetland think about school uniform

Установите соответствие между заголовками 1–8 и текстами A–G. Запишите свои ответы в таблицу. Используйте каждую цифру только один раз. В задании есть один лишний заголовок.

1. То play any tune

2. A brand new shore museum

3. Still moving along

4. Back from the seas

5. Not a bank but.

6. Magic as attraction

7. A museum of popular drinks

8. One tool museum

A. The Salem Witch Museum brings you back to Salem of 1692 for a dramatic overview of the Witch Trials, including stage sets with life-size figures, lighting and a narration. There is also a possibility to go on a candlelight tour to four selected homes. The museum is open all year round and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Salem is also famous for its Haunted Happenings, a 24-day Halloween festival.

B. The Discover Sea Shipwreck Museum opened its doors in 1995, and has one of the largest collections of shipwreck and recovered artifacts in the Mid-Atlantic. It contains about 10,000 artifacts from local and worldwide locations, including an intact blown-glass hourglass from a 200-year-old shipwreck, which is also the world’s deepest wooden wreck at the heart of the Bermuda Triangle.

C. The Seashore Trolley Museum is the oldest and largest electric railway museum in the world. It was founded in 1939 with one open trolley car, No. 31 from the Biddeford & Saco Railroad Company. The Seashore Trolley Museum contains over 250 transit vehicles, mostly trolleys, from the United States, Canada and abroad. Visitors can even take a trip along the Maine countryside aboard a restored early-1900s electric streetcar.

D. American Hop Museum is dedicated to the brewing industry and located in the heart of the Yakima Valley’s hop fields, which gather the best harvest for producing beer. It chronicles the American hop industry from the New England colonies to its expansion into California and the Pacific Northwest, and includes historical equipment, photos and artifacts that pay tribute to hop, the everlasting vine that is still an integral part of the brewing industry.

E. The Money Museum in Colorado Springs is America’s largest museum dedicated to numismatics (the study of collecting coins and metals). The collection contains over 250,000 items from the earliest invention of money to modern day, with items including paper money, coins, tokens, medals, and traditional money from all over the world. Highlights include the 1804 dollar, the 1913 V Nickel, the 1866 no motto series, a comprehensive collection of American gold coins, and experimental pattern coins and paper money.

F. The Kenneth G. Fiske Museum of Musical Instruments in California has one of the most diverse collections of musical instruments in the United States. This museum is home to over 1,400 American, European and ethnic instruments from the 17th-20th centuries. Selections from all parts of the world also include keyboards, brass, woodwind, stringed, percussion, mechanical and electronic instruments. Other highlights are rare pieces from the violin and viola families, reed organs and instruments from the Orient and Tibet.

G. The Hammer Museum in Alaska is the world’s first museum dedicated to hammers. The Museum provides a view of the past through the use of man’s first tool. You will find over 1500 hammers on display, ranging from ancient times to the present. The museum does not have any paid staff, and it is run by volunteers. This quaint and quirky museum is an interesting and informative stop for the whole family.

ТекстABCDEFG
Заголовок

Прочитайте текст и заполните пропуски A–F частями предложений, обозначенными цифрами 1–7. Одна из частей в списке 1–7 — лишняя. Занесите цифры, обозначающие соответствующие части предложений, в таблицу.

State History Museum

The State History Museum is the largest historical museum in Russia. It is situated at the northern end of Red Square in the heart of Moscow. What once was the Principal Medicine Store now houses a huge collection A_______________________ the Stone Age. It was founded in 1872 and opened to the public in 1883. The museum is housed in a neo-Russian style building, B_______________________. It is one of the most prominent buildings in Red Square. Each room is in the style of a different period or region. The walls in some rooms are decorated in the style of Russian churches.

The impressive collection of the State History Museum includes relics of prehistoric tribes C_______________________ present-day Russia. The exhibits about medieval Russia are excellent. Several rooms of this period cover the Mongol invasions D_______________________.

The 2nd floor is dedicated to the Imperial period. The exhibits include personal items of the royal family members, furniture and decoration from the palace interiors. There are also various pieces of artworks and documents from the era. Specific rooms are dedicated to the reigns of various tsars. An unexpected highlight is an exhibition E_______________________ by examining the growing network of roads and how people travelled in the past. The State History Museum has also the country’s largest coin collection, the 6th-century manuscripts and artworks F_______________________ during their reign.

1. and the consolidation of the Russian state

2. and cave paintings of prehistoric times

3. which is an attraction in its own right

4. addressing the expansion of the Russian Empire

5. that were collected by the Romanov dynasty

6. covering Russian history since the time of

7. that once inhabited the big territory of

Do uniforms make schools better?

by: Marian Wilde | Updated: June 11, 2018

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What teenagers in zetland think about school uniform. Смотреть фото What teenagers in zetland think about school uniform. Смотреть картинку What teenagers in zetland think about school uniform. Картинка про What teenagers in zetland think about school uniform. Фото What teenagers in zetland think about school uniform

For the past decade, schools, parents and students have clashed over the issue of regulating student attire. In 2007, cases involving an anti-Bush T-shirt in Vermont, an anti-gay T-shirt in San Diego, and Tigger socks in Napa, California, made their way through the courts, causing many to wonder whether this debate will ever be resolved.

Meanwhile, researchers are divided over how much of an impact — if any — dress policies have upon student learning. A 2004 book makes the case that uniforms do not improve school safety or academic discipline. A 2005 study, on the other hand, indicates that in some Ohio high schools uniforms may have improved graduation and attendance rates, although no improvements were observed in academic performance.

Why do some public schools have uniforms?

In the 1980s, public schools were often compared unfavorably to Catholic schools. Noting the perceived benefit that uniforms conferred upon Catholic schools, some public schools decided to adopt a school uniform policy.

President Clinton provided momentum to the school uniform movement when he said in his 1996 State of the Union speech, “If it means teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms.”

The pros and cons of school uniforms

According to proponents, school uniforms:

Help prevent gangs from forming on campus
Encourage discipline
Help students resist peer pressure to buy trendy clothes
Help identify intruders in the school
Diminish economic and social barriers between students
Increase a sense of belonging and school pride
Improve attendance

Opponents contend that school uniforms:

Violate a student’s right to freedom of expression
Are simply a Band-Aid on the issue of school violence
Make students a target for bullies from other schools
Are a financial burden for poor families
Are an unfair additional expense for parents who pay taxes for a free public education
Are difficult to enforce in public schools

Uniforms vs. dress codes

Schools and districts vary widely in how closely they adhere to the concept of uniformity.

What’s a dress code?

Generally, dress codes are much less restrictive than uniform policies. Sometimes, however, dress codes are nearly as strict, as in the case of a middle school in Napa, California. This particular school’s dress code required students to wear solid colors and banned images or logos on clothes. When a student was sent to detention for wearing socks adorned with the image of Winnie-the-Pooh’s friend Tigger, the girl’s family sued the school district for violating her freedom of speech. In August of 2007, the district announced it would relax its dress code – for the time being – to allow images and fabrics other than solid colors. The district superintendent, while admitting that banning images on clothes raises concerns about the restriction of political and religious speech, announced his intention to move soon toward implementing uniforms in the district.

Uniforms are certainly easier for administrators to enforce than dress codes. Consider two recent examples of students challenging dress codes through the courts.

In June of 2007, the United States Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s decision affirming a Vermont student’s right to wear a T-shirt depicting President Bush surrounded by drug and alcohol images. The school had suspended the student, not for the anti-Bush political statement, but for violating a dress code that prohibits drug and alcohol images. The courts, however, disagreed with the school and found that, because the images referred to Bush’s alleged past use of cocaine and alcohol, they were protected as free political expression.

In March of 2007, the Supreme Court “vacated” or set aside the decision of a lower court upholding a San Diego high school’s suspension of a student for wearing an anti-gay T-shirt. The school argued that the T-shirt was hateful and inflammatory. The Supreme Court’s action essentially struck down the school’s argument and upheld the student’s right to free speech.

In both of these cases, the schools’ attempts to protect students from drug and alcohol images or hateful speech were reversed in favor of free speech. To clarify the matter somewhat, the Supreme Court ruled in June of 2007 in favor of a school in Alaska that had suspended a student for displaying a banner reading “Bong Hits 4 Jesus.” The court ruled that the reference to drugs in this case had no political message and could indeed be seen as advocating drug use.

Check with your school to see what the dress code is, as they can be fairly specific. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, for example, the dress code prohibits:

Decorations (including tattoos) that are symbols, mottoes, words or acronyms that convey crude, vulgar, profane, violent, gang-related, sexually explicit or suggestive messages
Large or baggy clothes (this prohibition can be used to keep students from excessive “sagging”)
Holes in clothes
Scarves, curlers, bandanas or sweatbands inside of school buildings (exceptions are made for religious attire)
Visible undergarments
Strapless garments
Bare midriffs, immodestly low-cut necklines or bare backs
Tights, leggings, bike shorts, swim suits or pajamas as outerwear
Visible piercings, except in the ear
Dog collars, tongue rings and studs, wallet chains, large hair picks, or chains that connect one part of the body to another

What’s a uniform?

One school might require white button-down shirts and ties for boys, pleated skirts for girls and blazers adorned with the school logo for all. Another school may simply require that all shirts have collars.

In Toledo, Ohio, elementary school students have a limited palette of colors that they can wear: white, light blue, dark blue or yellow on the top half and dark blue, navy, khaki or tan on the bottom half.

Toledo girls are allowed a fairly wide range of dress items, however: blouses, polo shirts with collars, turtlenecks, skirts, jumpers, slacks, and knee-length shorts and skirts. Boys have almost as many choices: dress shirts, turtlenecks, polo or button-down shirts, pants or knee-length shorts.

When Toledo students reach junior high, they are treated to one more color choice: maroon.

What research says about school uniforms

Virginia Draa, assistant professor at Youngstown State University, reviewed attendance, graduation and proficiency pass rates at 64 public high schools in Ohio. Her final analysis surprised her: “I really went into this thinking uniforms don’t make a difference, but I came away seeing that they do. At least at these schools, they do. I was absolutely floored.”

Draa’s study concluded that those schools with uniform policies improved in attendance, graduation and suspension rates. She was unable to connect uniforms with academic improvement because of such complicating factors as changing instructional methods and curriculum.

University of Missouri assistant professor, David Brunsma reached a different conclusion. In his 2004 book, The School Uniform Movement and What It Tells Us About American Education: A Symbolic Crusade, Brunsma reviewed past studies on the effect of uniforms on academic performance. He also conducted his own analysis of two enormous databases, the 1988 National Educational Longitudinal Study and the 1998 Early Childhood Longitudinal Study. Brunsma concluded that there is no positive correlation between uniforms and school safety or academic achievement.

Meanwhile, the movement toward uniforms in public schools has spread to about a quarter of all elementary schools. Experts say that the number of middle and high schools with uniforms is about half the number of elementary schools. If uniforms are intended to curb school violence and improve academics, why are they not more prevalent in middle and high schools, where these goals are just as important as in elementary schools? Because, says Brunsma, “It’s desperately much more difficult to implement uniforms in high schools, and even middle schools, for student resistance is much, much higher. In fact, most of the litigation resulting from uniforms has been located at levels of K-12 that are higher than elementary schools. Of course, this uniform debate is also one regarding whether children have rights, too!”

What do students think about uniforms?

A student discussion: pros and cons of uniforms

Editor’s note: This video is part of our high school milestones series about communication skills. The students in this video discuss the pros and cons of school uniforms.

After a school uniform policy was implemented in three Nevada middle schools in 2008 and 2009, researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno, set out to find out what 1,350 seventh and eighth graders thought about the change. The vast majority — 90 percent of students — reported that they disliked wearing uniforms. However, other data showed more nuanced results. For instance, 54 percent of students agreed that they still had their identity while wearing a uniform, and 50 percent agreed that uniforms saved their families money. But only 41 percent of students agreed that there was less gang activity at their school after uniforms were required. However, when the researchers looked into school discipline and local police records and compared them to the prior year’s data, discipline referrals were down 10 percent, there were 63 percent fewer police log reports, and graffiti, fights, and gang-related activity were all down.

It’s a big issue

A new trend is the mounting pressure to establish dress codes for teachers. Apparently the same casual mind-set toward revealing outfits is cropping up in the ranks of our teachers.

The debate over uniforms in public schools encompasses many larger issues than simply what children should wear to school. It touches on issues of school improvement, freedom of expression and the “culture wars.” It’s no wonder the debate rages on.

Additional resources

Books:

The School Uniform Movement and What It Tells Us About American Education: A Symbolic Crusade, David Brunsma. Rowman & Littlefield Education, 2004.

School Dress Codes: A Pro/Con Issue, Barbara C. Cruz. Enslow Publishers, 2001.

Источники информации:

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