DOCUMENT RESUME ED 465 198 EA 031 677 AUTHOR Lumsden, Linda; Miller, Gabriel TITLE Dress Codes and Uniforms. INSTI TUT ION National Association of Elementary School Principals, Alexandria , VA. SPONS AGENCY Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC. PUB DATE 2002-00-00 NOTE 5P * CONTRACT ED-99-CO-0011 AVAILABLE FROM National Association of Elementary School Principals, 1615 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314-3483 ($2.50 prepaid; quantity discounts). Tel: 800-386-2377 (Toll Free); Fax: 800-396-2377 (Toll Free); Web site: http://www.naesp.org. PUB TYPE Collected Works - Serials (022) -- ERIC Publications (071) JOURNAL CIT Research Roundup; v18 n4 Sum 2002 EDRS PRICE MFOI/PCOI Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Administrator Guides; Court Litigation; *Dress Codes; Educational Environment; Elementary Secondary Education; School Policy; *School Uniforms; Student Behavior ABSTRACT Students do not always make choices that adults agree with in their choice of school dress. Dress-code issues are explored in this Research Roundup, and guidance is offered to principals seeking to maintain a positive school climate. In "DO School Uniforms Fit?" Kerry White discusses arguments for and against school uniforms and summarizes the state of research in this area. Deborah Elder evaluates the implementation and effects of a mandatory uniform policy at two middle schools in IIEvaluation of School Uniform Policy at John Adams and Truman Middle Schools for Albuquerque Public Schools." Todd DeMitchell and colleagues, in "Dress Codes in the Public Schools: Principals, Policies, and Precepts," report on principals' views on dress codes and look at sample policies. In IISchool Uniforms: Can Voluntary Programs Work? Experimenting in an At-Risk School," Richard Dougherty describes the adoption of a voluntary uniform policy at a middle school. Benjamin Dowling-Sendor examines a school-uniform case and discusses legal elements. (RT) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONALRESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 4 NATIONA L ASS OC I AT1 0 N OF ELEMENTARY VOLUME 18, NUMBER 4 SCHOOL P R I NC I PALS SUMMER 2002 US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Offlce of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Ahisdocument has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it 0 Minor changes have been made to Bre s s GQ d e a d i f~ s improve reproduction quality POintS of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent Linda Lumsden and Gabriel Miller official OERI position or policy hen left to decide what Concerns about school safety have Deborah Elder evaluates the clothes to wear to school, also prompted interest in strict dress implementation and effects of a students do not always codes or school uniforms. As the U.S. mandatory uniform policy at two ~ make choices that adults Department of Education’s Mantlal on middle schools in an impoverished agree with. While the majority may at School Uniformsnotes, “Uniforms by community. least minimally conform to adults’ themselves cannot solve all of the Todd DeMitcbell and colleagues ideas about what’s appropriate, a few problems of school discipline, but report on a survey of principals’ may clearly push the limits. Some may they can be one positive contributing views on dress codes and uniforms, arrive at school in T-shirts that factor to discipline and safety.” look at sample policies, and outline bear slogans or images promoting But while administrators have con- legal issues related to regulating stu- drugs and alcohol, or that &splay a cerns about school violence, they also dent dress. variety of messages that conflict with have concerns about potential law- Richard Daugberty describes the values the schools are trying to pro- suits. Just how much leeway do adoption of a voluntary uniform poli- mote. Others may swagger around the administrators have in regulating what cy at a middle school and the level of halls in gang-related garb. Still others students wear? How far does student compliance over time. may show up in sexually provocative freedom of expression extend? What. Benjamin Dowling-Sendor exam- clothing. These issues, as well as a elements can make a school’s dress- . ines a recent school uniform case and desire to minimize socioeconomic related policies more likely to survive discusses elements that can help tensions between the “haves” and legal challenges and to engender sup- schools survive legal challenges. , “have nots,” have spurred some port (or at least acceptance) from stu- I schools to adopt more stringent dress dents and parents? White, Kerry A. ‘‘Do School codes or to require students to wear Although many of these questions uniforms. may never have definitive answers, the Uniforms Fit?” The School works reviewed here explore some of Administrator 57:2 (February 2000): these issues and offer guidance to 36-40. EJ 599 101. Available from: principals whose goal is to maintain a AASA Customer Service, 203-875- Linda Lumsden is associate editor and writer for the ERIC Clearinghouse on school climate that effectively fosters 0748. Educational Management at the University learning, safety, a sense of communi- of Oregon. ty, and respect for self and others. According to White, whde only a Gabriel Miller is a research analyst and Kerry W%ite discusses arguments few public schools were “experiment- writer for the ERIC Clearinghouse on for and against school uniforms and ing with uniforms” a decade ago, cur- Educational Management at the University summarizes the state of research in rently “nearly half of the nation’s big of Oregon. this area. urban school systems have adopted school uniform policies for all or demonstrating benefits. Many oppo- diately labeled by peers and staff no some of their schools.” In a 10-state nents believe that dctating what stu- longer stand out.” survey of elementary and middle dents wear to school violates their The percentage of students who school principals conducted two years constitutional right to freedom of made the honor roll increased at John ago by the National Association of expression. While legal decisions Adams from 31.4 percent to 43.3 per- Elementary School Principals and the regarding uniforms have been mixed, cent. At Truman, however, there was clothing company Lands’ End, 11 some predict that courts wdl be more a negligible decrease in the percentage percent of respondents said that their “friendly” toward uniform policies as of honor-roll students. schools mandate uniforms, and judges become aware of schools’ Survey data showed that 75 percent another 15 percent were considering safety concerns and disciplinary of parents and 89 percent of staff such a policy. Other recent surveys issues. supported uniforms and believed they indicate that support for uniforms is decreased violence, theft, and gang growing among parents as well. In 1 1 activity. Although only 15 percent of one survey, 56 percent of parents said Elder, Deborah L. Evaluation of students supported uniforms, 59 per- they would support a school uniform School Uniform Policy at John cent agreed that “school uniforms policy. Adams and Truman Middle help school officials identify tres- When it comes to the effects of Schools for Albuquerque Public passers on campus.” school uniforms, the research “has Schools. February 1999. 37 Elder notes that both schools been inconclusive or mixed,” says pages. ED 453 580. Available from: implemented other changes in White. Much of the debate between ERIC Document Reproduction instruction and administration at the supporters and opponents is based on Service, 7420 Fullerton Rd., Suite same time the uniform policy went anecdotal reports rather than well- into effect, so is not possible to 4 Springfield, VA designed studies. Some authors con- 10, 221 53-2852. attribute the positive results solely to tend that uniforms lessen emphasis $1 4.50.1-800-443-3742. the uniform policy. Nevertheless, on fashion, reduce the financial bur- “perceptions of parents and staff are den of low-income families, and pro- Although many private schools very powerful influences on a mote peer acceptance, school pride, require their students to wear school school,” she concludes, and “when a and learning. Others aren’t convinced. uniforms, mandatory policies in pub- school community believes a school They compare adopting a uniform lic schools are relatively rare. The to be good, the school improves.” policy to applying a fresh coat of public schools that have pioneered paint to a crumbling building-it’s such policies provide learning labora- r I very visible but doesn’t address the tories for other schools to study the DeMitchell, Todd A.; Fossey, underlying problems. effects of uniforms. Richard; and Cobb, Casey. “Dress Opposition to uniforms is often Begnning in the fall of 1998- Codes in the Public Schools: based more on civil rights concerns under a policy initiated by parents- Principals, Policies, and than on the lack of solid research students at John Adams and Truman Precepts.” Journal of Law & Mddle Schools in Albuquerque were Education 29:l (January 2000):31- About ERIC required to wear tuck-in polo shts 49. EJ 606 474. Available from: and khalu pants or skirts. Elder Journal of Law & Education, The Educational Resources Information reports on an evaluation of this poli- Center (ERIC) is a national information Jefferson Law Book Company, system operated by the Office of cy that used interviews, focus groups, and surveys, along with data on disci- 2100 Huntingdon Ave., Baltimore, Educational Research and Improvement MD (OERI). The ERIC Clearinghouse on pline referrals and numbers of stu- 21211. Educational Management, one of 16 such dents achieving honor-roll status. units in the system, was established at the During the first semester of the Aware that the voice of the University of Oregon in 1966.