Quality education is critical to the future of America's children. However, we cannot educate our children in schools where weapons, gang violence, and drugs threaten their safety. Research has shown that some students resort to violence and theft simply to obtain designer clothes or name brand shoes, it is no secret that violent behavior has become a problem in public schools. As a result, many school districts nationwide are tying to enforce uniforms as a part of their dress code this, they believe, will help get the minds of their students off of fashion and onto their education. As violence, competition between students, and distractions from the educational system increase in public schools, administrators are beginning to consider uniforms as a solution to the problem. .
Many parents and students support the uniform issue because they feel it makes all the students equal in the eyes of their peers and teachers. Uniforms have been used in an effort to try to reduce crime, and at the same time, remove peer pressure amongst those students who are tying to "fit in" so they can concentrate on their school work. When Clinton was President, he said, "If uniforms can help deter school violence, promote discipline, and foster a better learning environment, then we should show strong support to the parents that try them".(21) By mandating uniforms in public school, school officials hope to see a reduction in crime and violence. According to statistics, there are notable decreases in school violence and illegal offenses after either a school uniform or a standardized dress code is enforced. But can uniforms really help in deterring violence and crime? Many parents and teachers say yes. .
Supporters of uniforms say that students" clothing reveals what social class and status the children are from which causes conflicts among them.(Nittel) If it is true that a child's clothes does make a difference in school violence, then uniforms are exactly what our children need.
