There has been a great deal of controversy in school districts around the world over whether or not school uniforms should be made mandatory. Although public schools began using uniforms in the 1980s, the debate over whether or not they were useful began in 1994, when the use of uniforms in schools began to become widespread. The district of Long Beach, California, was the first in the nation to make it mandatory for elementary and middle school students to wear uniform. They did this because gang violence was becoming more and more evident and the district didn't want kids showing up in gang clothing. Some believe that uniforms are extremely beneficial to children and the school atmosphere, but others believe that there are more negatives than positives. Opponents of school uniforms often argue that students are limited in their ability to express themselves freely. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayIn the 1960s, students used clothing as a means of expression to indicate a general attitude toward the world or to show that they are part of a clique or following. An example of this is the Tinker v Des Moines decision in which the Supreme Court upheld the right of students to wear black armbands to protest the Vietnam War in 1969. This was the beginning of a precedent for freedom of dress . In New York and Idaho, the ban on women wearing pants was lifted, and in Idaho, the ban on blue jeans was also lifted. These cases contribute to strengthening the tendency of young people to want to dress as they feel without any restrictions. Letting children dress however they want at school gives them a sense of empowerment, as if schools are sending the message that they are maturing and becoming more self-determined. A popular message in modern times is "be yourself" or "be unique" and uniforms put a stop to this. Schools nowadays are trying to send the message of diversity, but making school uniforms compulsory contradicts this completely. Especially as they grow, children need to be able to feel like they have a say in the clothes they wear to help them identify with themselves. Seamus, a 16-year-old transgender boy from Ireland, spoke out against his school's new uniform policy. She said: “…sitting in a blouse and skirt all day made me feel insanely anxious. I wasn't taken seriously. This is atrocious and harmful to a young person's mental health; that uniform almost destroyed me. (McGuire, Peter) Children constantly feel like not belonging in school is not the right way to go. If a male prefers to dress “in female fashion,” school uniforms should not restrict him and vice versa. School uniform policies are unnecessarily rigid about how a student should dress and promote conformity rather than individuality. In addition to the lack of freedom and individuality, school uniforms tend to be more expensive. Extraneous financial hardships are imposed on poor or financially distressed families. According to a 2016 study by the National Center for Education Statistics, 53 percent of schools require school uniforms where three-quarters of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, but in schools with older students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch, the 4% require it. Those parents who are already struggling should not be burdened with an unnecessary mandatory uniform policy. Children'sCommission on Poverty in the United Kingdom found that more than “95% of low-income parents reported difficulty meeting school-related costs,” and this included school uniforms even though those students supposedly attended tuition-free schools. (Butler, Patrick) If a school is “tuition free,” school uniforms should not change that. Parents should not have to pay for their children to attend school if they don't want to. If a parent wanted to pay for their child's education, they would send them to a private school. There have been some studies showing that school uniforms have caused no change in violence in schools and have become a source of discontent among students. An associate professor at Brock University, Tony Volk, said: "Overall, there is no evidence in the bullying literature to support a reduction in violence due to school uniforms." uniforms in more violent schools has caused an increase in the number of assaults. Students begin to exhibit more rebellious behavior when given restrictions and limits. Children have a stronger need to feel a sense of control and independence as they get older. Those who oppose school uniforms argue that the introduction of school uniforms provides an opportunity for a challenge to authority. When students don't feel happy about being in school, they tend to avoid classes. This leads to an increase in rates of absence, unemployment and dissatisfaction. The enrollment rate at Washington High School in South Bend, IN, has dropped to 43 percent since the school introduced a school uniform policy in 2006. A recent survey at that school found that 82 percent of current students opposes uniform politics. Almost an entire unhappy school exemplifies the uselessness of uniforms. On the other hand, there are numerous supporters of school uniforms. An important point these advocates allude to is that school uniforms actually prevent crime and promote student safety. For example, immediately after two years of implementing mandatory school uniform in Long Beach, California, reports of assault and battery in the district's schools decreased by 34 percent, assaults with a deadly weapon decreased by 50 percent, combat incidents decreased by 51%, sexual crimes decreased by 74%, robberies decreased by 65%, gun possession (or “gun lookalikes”) decreased by 52%, drug possession decreased decreased by 69% and vandalism was reduced by 18%. (Stanley, M. Sue) Safety is a priority at school and with a safe environment, students are able to concentrate and engage more in learning. School is not a place where students should worry about being attacked or robbed. When students feel safe, they are more motivated to go to school and really enjoy being there. School uniforms can increase attendance and decrease discipline. A study conducted by Youngstown State University found that graduation, attendance and behavior rates increased among 6 Ohio schools due to the introduction of uniforms. (Draa, Virginia) People tend to have more school pride when wearing the uniform because it makes them feel like part of a team. Uniforms become an asset that students look forward to every morning. Researchers at Macquarie University in Australia found that in schools around the world where uniform policies are enforced, students listened better, noise levels fell and there were fewer teachers waiting for children tocalm down during lessons. All together, the students became more disciplined and respectful. The sense of belonging makes children more respectful, thoughtful and attentive. The perception of being an outcast can be harmful to a child's mental health, and school uniforms prevent this from happening. The founder and director of the Center for Parent Education at the University of North Texas, Arminta Jacobson, said uniforms put "all kids on" the same playing field in terms of appearance. I think it probably gives them a sense of belonging and a feeling of being socially accepted.” (University of North Texas) With everyone dressed the same, peer pressure and bullying are reduced. The mockery of those who wear less expensive and less fashionable clothes will be reduced and competition between clothing choices will be eliminated. No one at school will be able to tell whether a child's family is financially struggling or stable just by their clothing. If the student is not exposed to bullying or peer pressure at school, he or she will feel that education is truly worth it. Furthermore, some institutions have progressively adopted uniform gender-neutral rules. LGBT students are starting to feel more comfortable in school because schools that have a traditionally conservative culture are starting to move beyond policies that normally follow the gender binary. All students should be able to feel comfortable in classrooms where bullying is unheard of, which is why uniforms benefit schools. The enforcement of school uniforms, therefore, promotes the expectation that all students will be dressed identically regardless of their stylistic preferences or socioeconomic status. Students and their parents are relieved from the pressure of having to produce a new outfit every day or procure the latest brands and fashions to gain acceptance or assimilation. School uniforms can also foster and strengthen a sense of school pride, unity and community spirit. The homogeneous nature of clothing is designed to increase solidarity based on physical appearance and decrease the potential fission effects of varied access to clothing and style based on group identity ( Jamison, 2006 ). This can help create a climate of belonging and brotherhood among students. A final reason why school uniforms are useful is that they regulate students' dress code. Tracey Marinelli, superintendent of the Lyndhurst School District, said that before a uniform policy was introduced, "kids spent time in the office because they didn't follow the dress code... That was time away from class." (Gavin, John A.) Schools with a standard dress code must deal with students who wear inappropriate, racist, revealing, and gang-related clothing. This in turn causes unnecessary problems and takes time away from lessons. Prevention of gang-related clothing is especially significant with school uniforms. The main reason mandatory school uniforms were instituted in 1994 was due to ongoing gang activity in Long Beach, California. Jay Wheeler, a school board member in Osceola County in Florida, reported that after adopting the uniform policy for just one year, the county's K-12 schools saw a 46 percent declining rate of gang activity. Wheeler stated that “clothing is an integral part of gang culture… Imagine a U.S. military recruiter out of uniform trying to recruit new soldiers; the success rate decreases. The,, 98(2), 130-141.