Hill Park School Uniforms

School Uniform Survey

This summer, a survey regarding school uniforms was given to parents of students attending Hill Park Secondary School along with information for the 2007/2008 school year. Before making the decision whether or not to support this movement, it is important that survey respondents know what they are voting for or against.

"When we lose the right to be different, we lose the privilege to be free."

Charles Evans Hughes, U.S. Supreme Court Justice

For a quick overview of the problems with the claims made by the school, see The Truth About Uniforms [pdf].

If you have any comments you would like added to the site, please email hpuniforms@gmail.com.

Pros of School Uniforms

The following is an excerpt from the "Hill Park is Tops!" brochure:

We believe the use of a uniform shirt will improve safety and attitude, reduce student distraction, give students a sense of identification with the school and support their own potential to learn.

...

Why do we think a modified uniform will help make Hill Park a better place.

Enable quick and easy identification of HP students in the school and the community

Increase student sense of safety

Assist students to behave respectfully in the community as they will be readily visible

This list is available at the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board website in an article entitled "Dressing for Success".

Schools with uniforms have fewer discipline problems
Uniforms encourage students to express their individuality through personality and achievement, not outward appearances
Uniforms are inexpensive. The individual pieces are usually cheaper than fashion items; fewer pieces are required; they don't need to be replaced every time fashions change; and they can be handed down without looking outdated
Competition to dress as well as or better than everyone else is eliminated, as is peer pressure to dress in particular fashions
Children are not made to feel inadequate because their families cannot afford expensive trends or designer labels. Being able to dress like everyone also boosts self-esteem
Uniforms puts the focus on academics – not fashion – because they project a neat, serious, businesslike image
Uniforms eliminate morning arguments and indecision over what to wear
Uniforms help school officials recognize intruders who come to school
Uniforms give children a sense of belonging and pride in their school

Given this information, school uniforms seem like an obvious choice. However, parents and students are only given this information; the opposing arguments are not presented in the brochure distributed by the school or on the school's website, making this an obviously biased survey.

Problems with the Pros

"Schools with uniforms have fewer discipline problems"

Both the article presented by the school board and the brochure do not cite any references to schools that have implemented the uniform policy. Without any statistics supporting this argument, why should anyone believe it?

One article that does provide statistics is "Dressing down Houston's school uniform policies", which examines schools in Houston that introduced school uniforms.

The evidence shows that the rates of in-school suspension were decreasing prior to the instituting of uniform requirements -- declining from 40 percent two years prior, to 30 percent the year just before school uniform requirements where implemented. By the second year after the school uniform requirements, however, the average percentage of students receiving in-school suspensions skyrocketed to 49 percent.

Just as dramatic is the average rate of out-of-school suspensions, which were fluctuating around 30 percent before school uniform rules. One year after, however, the average jumps to 40 percent, and 43 percent the year after that.

[Note: emphasis added]

While it is true that some schools with uniform requirements have noticed a decrease in discipline problems or crime, further research reveals that this decrease cannot be directly linked to school uniforms; as uniforms were introduced, other adjustments were also made to school policy that were more likely to have affected the results.

"Uniforms encourage students to express their individuality through personality and achievement, not outward appearances"

This point makes sense -- many students express their individuality through appearances by wearing t-shirts displaying slogans or band names. With this outlet taken away, they will now express themselves through what is on the inside rather than the outside, that is what matters, after all.

Not so. Students may alter their appearance in other ways, maybe a new hairstyle, maybe piercings or tattoos. Uniforms can't change that.

True, most students will not go to such extremes. They will decide instead that expressing their personality is the way to go if they want to stand out (again, since they can't stand out because of their clothing). They may begin acting out or being violent. And isn't that what uniforms are supposed to prevent?

"Uniforms are inexpensive. The individual pieces are usually cheaper than fashion items; fewer pieces are required; they don't need to be replaced every time fashions change; and they can be handed down without looking outdated"

The "Hill Park is Tops!" brochure states that "two good quality shirts would cost approximately $40.00 (estimated to be the minimum needed for each student). This is less than many parents now spend to outfit their children for school."

While uniforms may be cheaper than the latest fashions, students will still need clothes to wear outside of school. When taken that fact into consideration, we find that it is actually more expensive; students will now require one set of "school clothes" and one set of "casual clothes".

And what about students whose wardrobes consist of hand-me-downs? Students who previously were unable to afford new clothes and instead relied on hand-me-downs will now have to pay for uniforms.

Also, two shirts would mean that each family would have to wash their clothing every other day -- this costs money and negatively effects the environment.

"Children are not made to feel inadequate because their families cannot afford expensive trends or designer labels. Being able to dress like everyone also boosts self-esteem"

The following is a quote from a discussion on the "Florida Today" website regarding the implementation of school uniforms:

As a parent of a child that is in a uniformed school system (in KY - we're moving to Melbourne this summer), I can assure you that uniforms do not make things any "better" safety-wise, money-wise, or socially. [...] they don't promote any sense of "equality" - trust me, kids can still tell who has money and who doesn't.

[Note: emphasis added]

Even though students wear the same clothing at school, outside of school they will wear their own casual clothing; students will still have the opportunity to ridicule each other if they choose. Also, students can still judge others on things besides what they wear, such as height, weight, race, religion, hair style, hobbies, and many other factors. Uniforms will not stop unfair judgement among students.

Regarding self-esteem, uniforms may actually be detrimental. Some students may not like the way they look or feel in the uniform, which would make them feel self-concious and limit their ability to concentrate on schoolwork.

"Uniforms puts the focus on academics – not fashion – because they project a neat, serious, businesslike image"

Along with this argument, proponents of school uniforms say that having a uniform helps prepare students for the workplace, where uniforms are often required.

The Optionality Network Magazine examines this claim:

What are the odds that children will wear a uniform later in life? Typically, the occupations where people have to wear uniforms are the lower paid jobs, nothing to look forward to, really. Generally, the more educated people are, the less they wear uniforms later in life.

By enforcing the uniform rule, are we encouraging students to aim low, for the lesser paying jobs where uniforms are required? Starting them in a cycle of wearing various uniforms, rather than striving for the freedom of a better job without uniform requirements? Maybe.

Let's examine one profession that students have interaction with on a daily basis: teachers. Do they wear uniforms? If uniforms become mandatory in Hill Park, will teachers be following this dress code also? Probably not.

"Uniforms help school officials recognize intruders who come to school"

This goes along with point number 6, and the fact that teachers are not required to wear uniforms. While uniforms may make it clear who is and who is not a student (that is, assuming that all students do in fact comply to uniform rules), how will people know whether the adults belong on school grounds?

What about new teachers, substitute teachers, or guests to the school? They won't be wearing uniforms and therefore can easily be mistaken for intruders. Because of this fact, real intruders may be dismissed by students and staff as falling into one of the above categories.

In addition, if a crime is committed on school grounds, uniforms will make it more difficult for the victim to identify the assailant when all students are dressed the same.

"Uniforms give children a sense of belonging and pride in their school"

Pride is often cited as a positive effect of uniforms. However, for students to truly feel pride in themselves and their school, they need a reason to be proud: you cannot force pride upon students by making them wear a uniform.

Uniforms prevent students from concealing weapons in baggy clothing

While it may be easier to spot students who attempt to hide weapons while wearing a uniform, how will this help to control students who do not hide weapons in their clothing? Backpacks and purses will need to be banned too.

Additionally, students may purchase large uniform sizes which will fit more loosely and still allow them to hide a weapon. What about in the winter, when students are wearing large coats? Will those need to be banned, as well?

Cons of School Uniforms

Changing the clothes someone wears does not address the real problems. People in jail wear the same uniform: does this make them well-behaved? People in the military wear the same uniform: are they less violent?
The teenage years are when individuals figure out who they are and their place in the world. Denying their freedom of expression prevents proper self-development.
The many students without behavioural problems are being punished because of the few. Why should they have to wear a uniform to "fix" someone else's problem?
Students who previously expressed themselves through their choice of clothing may begin to express themselves in negative ways, such as acting out or being violent.
Forcing students to all look the same teaches them that being different and originality is wrong.
In the "real world", people don't all look the same and aren't all on an "equal playing field". Students will not be adequately prepared after graduation for how tough the "real world" can be.
Money spent on uniforms could be better spent on textbooks or other resources that may not be available to all students.
A school uniform is of no use outside of school, whereas casual clothing is.
What is "comfortable" to one student may not be to another. One uniform cannot meet all student's unique individual needs, and when a student is uncomfortable in what they are wearing, their ability to learn is hindered.
Students are not exposed to different cultures as much as they would be in an environment that does not require uniforms.
Students are less understanding of people who are "different".

Real Solutions

Solving the problem of security/identification

Rather than having all the students buy a uniform, they can use something they already have: ID cards. Teachers can also wear their ID cards to help identify them, because as stated above, only giving identification to students may not work properly.

Solving the problem of lack of school spirit

Encourage students to get involved in sports or other clubs, or even make it mandatory for students to join a club. It shouldn't have to be a sports team, and students should be able to start their own clubs as long as they have a supervising teacher.

Solving the problem of inappropriate clothing

Stricter enforcement of the current dress code would encourage students to wear proper attire.

Solving the problem of cliques

Rather than changing the students' clothing to prevent them from judging others by their appearance, teach the students to accept each other for who they are.

Conclusion

The final decision you choose to make, whether yes or no, is up to you. However, be sure that you have heard both sides of the argument so that you can ultimately make an informed and educated decision.

"Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Benjamin Franklin