Jacquelyn A Kraft Research Paper

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SOCIETY’S PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES TOWARD SCHOOL UNIFORMS By Jacquelyn A. Kraft A Research Paper Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Master of Science Degree In Education Approved: 2 Semester Credits ______________________________ Carolyn Barnhart, Ed. D. The Graduate School University of Wisconsin-Stout August, 2003 ii The Graduate College University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, Wisconsin 54751 Abstract Kraft (Writer) (Last Name) Jacquelyn (First) A. (Initial) Society’s Perceptions and Attitudes Toward School Uniforms (Title) Education (Graduate Major) Carolyn Barnhart, Ed.D. (Research Advisor) August, 2003 67 (Month/Year) (No. of Pages) American Psychological Association, 5th Edition (Name of Style Manual…show more content…
Bivens v. Albuquerque Public Schools (1995) (Uerling, 1997) challenged the first amendment rights of a young black youth who wanted to wear sagging pants to declare his identity. The court said that clothing was not necessarily a way to express free speech and defiant acts may not be protected speech under the Constitution of the United States (Uerling, 1997). In Appendix A is an overview of studies mentioned in this review of literature. Note the progression of classic cases in our judicial system defining one’s First Amendment rights (favoring the individual) as a student in school to invoking more rules and regulations for the entire school environment. The courts scrutinized each case because every case had different variables which resulted in a separate and different decision. How Do School Uniforms Fit in Our Society? There are contradictory thoughts by administrators when considering school uniforms in our society. In the survey administered to 755 principals in the United States school uniforms had not even been discussed in most (75%) rural areas of our country. Forty percent of urban principals surveyed were looking at the feasibility of adopting a school uniform policy, or already had a policy in place (National Association of Elementary Principals, 2000). Many in our society today believe violence is the threat in…show more content…
There were many directions taken by different school systems. The most important beginning step was to poll or survey the different groups involved. Administrators agreed that one needs the majority of parents to approve and support the policy before it will work. The National Association of Elementary School Principals surveyed 755 principals who have a uniform policy already in place. To determine the amount of support for school uniform policies, many of the schools had polled parents (82%), school staff (66%), students (47%), other schools (45%) and the community (32%) (NAESP, 2000). Lumsden and Miller stated in their results that “75% of parents and 89% of staff supported uniforms and believed they decreased violence, theft, and gang activity” (Lumsden and Miller, 2002, p. 2). They also noted that only 15% of the students supported the use of school uniforms, and almost 60% of the students admitted that uniforms helped administrators identify intruders on campus. Parents, teachers, and students also agreed that wearing school uniforms would “place all students on an equal level” (Lumsden & Miller, 2002, p. 2). Repeatedly, parents and school personnel supported the use of uniforms in the schools and those that choose to incorporate a uniform policy worked hard at being pro-active in setting up the policy. Parent support was found to be

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