At first glance, fashion might seem to have little to do with learning, but as the saying goes, "Clothes make the man", or at that “Clothes makes the student” case: Mandatory uniform policy has made a marked difference in many schools around the world. Over the last decade, implementation of such policies has increased, sparking waves of student debate , parents and teachers. Today, as the number of incidents related to bullying, teen suicide and gang violence continues to increase, it has become necessary for educators to provide students with emotional and social support in addition to the traditional Nell academic curriculum In the interest of reducing these negative effects, school uniforms have become a simple but effective solution to help cultivate a more positive learning environment. Evidence will confirm that a mandatory school uniform policy is an essential element of a comprehensive approach that can raise self-discipline and academic performance to a higher standard. Opponents of school uniform policies proclaim that the practice is unnecessary. Furthermore, they argue that it violates students' freedom of expression by limiting their creativity (Knechtle, Mitchell 487). Ann Bodine, in her ethnographic study, defines students' clothing as a "screen onto which all kinds of beliefs, anxieties, and aspirations are projected" (60). How a student chooses to dress is obviously much more than an expression of a personal statement or style. It is a way to communicate and convey to the world where you fit in based on socioeconomic status, groups, and other factors that may marginalize students who do not meet specific criteria. Schools act as a gateway to adults. .... half of the sheet ......e. “A Mandatory Uniform Policy in Urban Schools: Findings from the School Crime and Safety Survey.” International Journal of Educational Policy and Leadership 5.8 (2010): 1-13. Network. March 26, 2014.Hughes, Eloise S. “Effects of Mandatory School Uniforms on Student Attendance, Discipline Referrals, and the School Environment.” Diss. University of Houston, 1996.Huss, John. “The Role of School Uniforms in Creating an Academically Motivating Climate: Do Uniforms Affect Teacher Expectations?” Journal of Ethnographic and Qualitative Research, (2007): 31-39. Web.Knechtle, J.C., H. Mitchell. “Uniforms in Public Schools and the First Amendment: A Constitutional Analysis.” Journal of Negro Education 72 (2003): 487-494. Network. March 27, 2014. Yeung, Ryan. “Are school uniforms suitable? Results of the ECLS-K and NELS.” Educational Policy 23.6 (2009): 847-874. Network. March 29. 2014