Editing School uniform (section)

==Contemporary==
[[File:Literacy or illiteracy.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Kindergarten]] schoolboy in [[Ghana]] wearing a school uniform]]

In the [[United States]], a movement toward using uniforms in [[state school]]s began when [[Bill Clinton]] addressed it in the 1996 [[State of the Union]], saying: "If it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear uniforms."<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Boutelle|first1=Marsha|title=UNIFORMS: Are They A Good Fit?|journal=Educational Digest|date=2003|volume=73|issue=6|pages=34–37}}</ref> As of 1998 approximately 25% of all U.S. public elementary, middle and junior high schools had adopted a uniform policy or were considering a policy, and two-thirds were implemented between 1995 and 1997.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wade |first1=Kathleen |last2=Stafford |first2=Mary |title=Public School Uniforms: Effect on Perceptions of Gang Presence, School Climate, and Student Self-Perceptions |journal=Education and Urban Society |date=August 2003| volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=399–420 |doi=10.1177/0013124503255002 |s2cid=145149716}}</ref> New York City's then-new schools chancellor, [[Rudy Crew]], made it clear that he would not follow Clinton's idea.<ref name=RudyCrew.NYTMarch96>{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/30/nyregion/crew-will-not-pursue-school-uniform-rule.html |title=Crew Will Not Pursue School Uniform Rule |first=Sarah | last=Kershaw  |date=30 March 1996}}</ref>

There is an abundance of theories and [[empirical studies]] looking at school uniforms, making statements about their effectiveness. These theories and studies elaborate on the benefits and also the shortcomings of uniform policies. The issue of [[nature vs. nurture]] comes into play, as uniforms affect the perceptions of [[masculinity]] and [[femininity]], over-simplify issues of gender classification, and attempt to suppress students' sexuality.<ref>Jane Tynan and Lisa Godson, eds., ''Uniform: Clothing and Discipline in the Modern World'' (London: Bloomsbury, 2019), {{ISBN|9781350045576}}; Todd A. DeMitchell and Richard Fossey, ''The Challenges of Mandating School Uniforms in the Public Schools: Free Speech, Research, and Policy'' (London: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015), {{ISBN|9781475809350}}; Esan Regmi, ''Stories of Intersex People from Nepal'' (Kathmandu: [n.p.], 2016).</ref> Uniforms bring a variety of pros, cons, and major legal implications and controversies.

There are two main empirical findings that are most often cited in the political rhetoric surrounding the uniform debate. One of these, the [[case study]] of the [[Long Beach Unified School District]], is most often cited in support of school uniforms and their effectiveness whereas ''Effects of Student Uniforms on Attendance, Behavior Problems, Substance Use, and Academic Achievement'' is the most frequently cited research in opposition to the implementation of school uniform policies.

===Effects of uniforms on students===
[[File:Uwabaki.jpg|thumb|left|In many Japanese schools, students take off their outdoor shoes and wear ''[[uwabaki]]'', an indoor soft slipper.]]

The case study of the Long Beach Unified School District was the study of the first large, urban school in the United States to implement a uniform policy. In 1994, mandatory school uniforms were implemented for the districts elementary and middle schools as a strategy to address the students' behavior issues. The district simultaneously implemented a longitudinal study to research the effects of the uniforms on student behavior. The study attributed favorable student behavioral changes and a significant drop in school discipline issues to the mandatory uniform policy. Wearing school uniforms was associated with fewer absences and truancies and fewer referrals to the office for behavior problems. Suspensions and expulsions were reduced by 28% (elementary) and 36% (middle school), crime and vandalism by 74% (elementary) and 18% (middle school). However the school district also added other security measures such as security guards, 
and metal detectors so the success cannot be solely attributed to the uniforms. The district later removed the uniforms.<ref name="nmu.edu">Reed, Joshua B. "Effects of a School Uniform Policy on an Urban School District." Northern Michigan University. N.p., 1 August 2011. Web. 19 April 2015. https://www.nmu.edu/sites/DrupalEducation/files/UserFiles/Files/Pre-Drupal/SiteSections/Students/GradPapers/Projects/Reed_Joshua_MP.pdf Wade, K. K., & Stafford, M. E. (2003). Public School Uniforms: Effect on Perceptions of Gang Presence, School Climate, and Student Self-Perceptions. Education and Urban Society, 35(4), 399–420. http://doi.org/10.1177/0013124503255002</ref> 
[[File:Mr. Shake Amargosa.jpg|thumb|Brazilian primary school students with their teacher]]
Other research found that uniforms were not an effective deterrent to decrease truancy, did not decrease behavior problems, decrease substance use, and in fact may be associated with poorer student achievement relative to students not required to wear school uniforms.<ref name="Brunsma, David L. 1998" />

Brunsma stated that despite the inconclusiveness of the effects of uniforms, they became more common because "this is an issue of children's rights, of social control, and one related to increasing racial, class and gender inequalities in our schools."<ref name=Northen>{{cite news |author=Northen, Stephanie |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/jan/18/school-uniform-results
|title=School uniform does not improve results – discuss |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=18 January 2011 |access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref>