Do you want equality among students at your child's school? Do you want less violence in your child's school? Would you like your daughter to focus more on her homework and less on the brand of jeans she is wearing? All of this is possible with mandatory uniform policies in public school districts. School uniforms may seem outdated to some people, but in many cases they can improve school spirit, attendance and student behavior. According to The Humanist magazine, former President Bill Clinton's 1996 State of the Union address called for all 16,000 school districts in the country to adopt a uniform policy. The President stated, “If it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear uniforms” (qtd in Wilkens, screenshot 1) The school district public of Long Beach, California was the first to adopt the mandatory school uniform policy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The school district reported a dramatic decrease in violence, disciplinary problems, and higher test scores after one year of implementing the new policy (Wilkens, screenshot 1). Although students believe that wearing uniforms at school stifles individual expression and creativity, mandatory uniforms in public schools promote a positive learning environment because they create equality among all students, decrease violence, and students can focus on homework instead of on clothes. Students along with some parents dispute that mandatory uniform policies within public schools are unconstitutional. They believe that mandatory uniforms in public schools violate the Constitution's First Amendment, Freedom of Expression. The First Amendment was ratified in 1791 and states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of people to come together peacefully." , and to petition the government for redress of grievances" (Renstrom 723). The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also argues that "mandatory uniforms violate students' right to free expression" (King, screenshot 3) When wearing uniforms, children feel that they have limitations in their personal expression. To illustrate, students perceive their clothing as a way to express their emotions, show their creative abilities, express their opinions and show individualism must wear uniform to school, students' opportunity to reveal their personalities is eliminated. Newsweek reports that some teachers and principals sympathize with the students. Norman Isaacs, a middle school principal in Sherman Oaks, California, believes that with a student's clothing a teacher can gain information about what is happening in the student's personal life. He states, “our counselors and teachers monitor the way children are dressed if we see a big change in the way a student dresses, that sends a signal that we need to address that person” (qtd in “Uniforms Rule", screen 2). Students believe that uniforms at school create a military environment. An environment where everyone is dressed the same and expected to behave the same, exhibit the same personalities, and hold the same opinions. Plus, parents don't want to pay the additional expensefor uniforms for their children. For example, parents think they should pay for two sets of clothes, school and play. Keith King describes a situation in California, in 1995 a lawsuit was filed against the Long Beach Unified School District by the ACLU on behalf of low-achieving students. income families. The lawsuit alleged that "the district does not help low-income students purchase uniforms and punishes students who do not wear them." The ACLU also alleged that "the district does not adequately inform parents of their rights to request exemption from the program." ACLU attorneys say “low socioeconomic families go without food, utilities, and rent to purchase mandatory school uniforms” (screenshot 4). Some of the schools that have adopted the compulsory uniform policy will help pay for uniforms for those in need, but parents feel that most schools are struggling financially and that money should not be wasted on clothing. However, students and parents who do not want mandatory uniform policies in their public schools do not know what school is. School is an educational institution that children attend so that they can learn and receive a complete education. Mandatory uniform policies would not stifle children's creative abilities or violate the First Amendment. Newsweek argues that "Courts have made clear that students do not have the same rights inside school as outside; dress requirements are not considered a violation of their freedom of expression if there is a valid educational reason for imposing them." Many parents may choose to exempt their children if they have religious objections (“Uniforms Rule,” screen 2). Students need to find other ways to express their creative abilities besides clothes. When clothing identifies a child's character or personality, students can show creativity through artwork and homework, which is much healthier than they are in school seven to eight hours a day, five days a week. They have nights and weekends to express themselves through clothing. Furthermore, mandatory uniforms would not create a military environment and that is what many of our students need. Parents who worry about expenses should know that uniforms cost less than a pair of Abercrombie & Fitch jeans and you don't have to buy two sets of clothes. Fortune magazine adds that when we think of school uniforms we think of blue blazers, plaid skirts and white knee socks, and these were all uncomfortable. Now more and more school officials are turning to capri pants, sweaters, and denim shirts that can also be used as after-school clothing (key, screen 1). Keith King also states that for seventy to ninety dollars you can purchase a set of three uniforms. Many students spend more on designer clothing (screenshot 4). When purchasing uniforms, parents may only need to purchase three or four and wash them often. Additionally, some schools have programs where uniforms are recycled. Older students sell their uniforms to younger students at a low price. This program costs the school nothing. Long Beach Unified Schools responds to claims made by the ACLU mentioned above: "Long Beach Unified School officials say the district has spent more than one hundred thousand dollars in donations from individuals and organizations to purchase uniforms and other supplies for financially burdened students" (qtd in King, screen 4). One reason why uniform policies are mandatorygood is because they create equality among all students. In a school with a high minority enrollment, uniforms are a good way to keep all students equal. Students are not divided into social classes by teachers or other students. A child's economic background can determine his or her social class at school. For example, a public school teacher who was new to the uniform policy noted that at the end of the year she did not know the economic backgrounds of any of her students. This allowed her to learn about the child's talents, interests and abilities and that the information was not influenced by factors outside of their control. With uniforms we would not have inequalities between students because one can afford the stylist and the other cannot. Having designer clothes is another determinant of social class. Mandatory uniforms also demonstrate inequality among students' parents. Parents don't have the burden of being able to afford designer clothes to make their children happy. Parents also fight less with their children every morning. Some parents constantly argue with their children about their clothes. For example, a child really doesn't want to go to school, so he makes an excuse that he has nothing to wear. The child may also complain that her clothes are no longer fashionable and that she will no longer be able to show up to school in the style of the previous season. Another point of battle is the type of clothes the girl tries to wear to school. Even though dress codes exist in public schools, students find ways around the policies. For example, a young 13-year-old girl walks out the door in a tank top that shows the midriff and a pair of shorts. Her father stops her before she takes another step and tells her to go back to her room and change clothes. The daughter claims that everyone wears tank tops and shorter shorts and doesn't get in trouble. The father stands his ground but later regrets it when his daughter won't talk to him. With uniforms there is no battle over the clothes students wear to school. This could also increase the child's participation. A child wakes up one morning and decides that he doesn't like the clothes he has to wear to school. The clothes he has are off-brand and he is fed up with his classmates for making fun of him. The child decides to skip school and his attendance begins to decline, which also lowers his grades. There is also less peer pressure in a school with a mandatory uniform policy in place. When a group of students start wearing designer clothes, all the students feel like they have to wear designer clothes otherwise they will be made fun of in front of their friends. For example, without uniforms some children will wear designer clothes and others will wear Wal-mart clothes. What happens is that the kid with the best clothes will make fun of the kid with the Wal-Mart clothes. Incidentally, the confidence and self-esteem of the child who has been teased decreases rapidly. Declining confidence and self-esteem can also worsen your child's grades. When students feel that they will be teased at school because of their clothes, their motivation to go to school decreases. Mandatory uniform policies also reduce the amount of school violence. For example, it is more difficult to hide weapons while wearing a school uniform. Uniforms combat gang violence in schools too. Students may not wear gang colors or symbols on their clothing when wearing uniforms. Ray Rivera, principal of Eastwood Knolls in El Paso, Texas, says that six years ago, before the uniform policy went into effect, students wore uniforms..