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School
Uniforms/Dress Codes and School Safety Issues Brief
#1
June, 1999
The Issue: The recent acts of violence in
public schools have placed an emphasis on the
responsibility of school officials and school boards
to provide safe learning environments for students.
Many methods have been suggested, including the use
of school uniforms or dress codes. The resurgence of
interest in school uniforms or dress codes dates
back to the 1980's when public attention focused on
students’ wearing of designer clothing, punk styles,
and T-shirts with certain types of messages (Kaiser,
1997, p.378). Concerns were expressed then about the
use of clothing to: foster competitiveness;
symbolize gang membership; or characterize
lifestyles condoning drugs, alcohol, disrespect for
authority, and even violence (Elliott, 1984).
Current concerns have focused on the relationship of
clothing to gang violence and associated symbolism.
The use of trench coats by the students in the
Littleton, CO, tragedy to conceal weapons has
emphasized a very tangible consideration of clothing
worn to school. But it also illustrates a less
tangible consideration, i.e., the use of clothing to
create a group identity that will affect the manner
in which group members interact with each other as
well as the outside world. In Littleton, the outside
world was other members of the student body, and the
interaction was violent.
The purpose of this issue brief is to:
summarize research on the general relationship of
clothing to behavior which suggests the use of
school uniforms;
summarize findings on the current use of school
uniforms/dress codes in Kentucky schools;
summarize research on the relationship of clothing
to student behavior in schools, especially with
regard to safety.
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