However, more families send their children to public schools. The one thing that remains the same is that parents are entrusting their school to provide a quality learning environment for their children. .
Schools have great power on children and what type of educational environment they are in. The location of any given school has an impact on that school's statistics, rules, and regulations. Also, their dress code has a great impact on their education. A study was conducted on over 200 middle school students who attended an urban school. They were questioned on their opinion of school uniforms. The results showed that over 73% of students agree uniforms help prevent personal harm (teasing, physical abuse, theft), 72% agreed uniforms prevent social status effects, 54.3% agreed uniforms improve general behavior, and 52% agreed uniforms improve school related issues (tardiness, absenteeism, academics, poor academic performance, and disruptive behavior) (Lapoint).
Harold Mitchell conducted research on whether school uniforms interfere with a student's First Amendment Right, freedom of speech. He stated, "Studies show that dress is conduct where it conveys messages about the self and suggests countless qualities about identity, attitudes, values, and moods." Harold explains that some people attempt to argue that if a child is restricted to what they are permitted to wear, they are unable to express their individuality, thus affecting their right to speech. However, Mitchell also explains, "Content-neutral regulations are those that prohibit speech to avoid negative behavior unconnected to the content of the speech." He introduces the fact that although a child's freedom of speech may be restricted, behaviors such as teasing, absenteeism, tardiness, gang-related activity, and school violence are so greatly diminished, that it is well worth the speech limitations. Mitchell also shines light on the fact that the government can limit rights on a particular class of citizens, in this case, children.
