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Thursday, July 3, 2008
Can uniforms improve schools?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clayton’s schools superintendent says all elementary and many middle school students will have to wear uniforms to school.
Two Clayton middle schools already require uniforms. District leaders say the rule eliminates students’ worries about fashion and whether they can afford the latest trends.
“It is our goal to promote student academic success, improve school safety and increase attendance,” Superintendent John Thompson said.
Can wearing uniforms accomplish all that?
While some tout the benefits, others have been more critical. Some say schools should focus on academics, not fashion. They cite national studies showing uniforms don’t improve test scores or cut down on behavioral problems.
When it comes to uniforms, many point to the Long Beach Unified School District in California, which was the first urban school district to require uniforms in 1994. The district saw test scores go up and discipline problems go down.
But officials there implemented other reforms when they started uniforms, such as more training for teachers, extra help for struggling students and more challenging classroom lessons.
What benefits come from requiring uniforms? What else should the district do to improve schools and student learning?
