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School Uniform Should Be Banned

Hi, thanks to Kim_winter for starting this debate, looking forward to it. In this round I'm going to make a constructive case (I assume that most people understand what the words 'school uniforms should be banned' mean), without doing any rebuttals. ----- Contention One: Deterrence of Crime. In Long Beach, California, the school board there initiated a district-wide rule that made sure that all students, from Kindergarten to Eighth grade, wore uniforms to school everyday, and the results after just two years is remarkable: assault and battery went down by 34%, assault with a deadly weapon down by 50%, sex offenses down by 74% (!), robbery went down 65%, and possession of drugs went down by 69% [1]. A 2007 peer-reviewed study illustrated the fact that when schools that have been historically known for higher incidences of sexual assault bring in school uniforms, sexual attacks are less likely to happen [2]. Because of these facts, let me give you some premises: P1: It is a good idea to reduce violence in schools. P2: Enforcing uniforms reduces violence in schools. C: It is a good idea to start enforcing uniforms. Contention Two: Increased Productivity.A letter published by the NASSP, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, said that, "When all students are wearing the same outfit, they are less concerned about how they look and how they fit in with their peers; thus, they can concentrate on their schoolwork" [3]. In 2010, the University of Houston conducted a study that showed that when elementary schools implemented school uniforms, the average test score for a girl went up by 3% [4]. Before I go on, I just want you to think about that statistic, and the implications of it. 3% less people failed the 3rd grade, all thanks to wearing something that was provided by a school, at little or no cost. Now, you may not think that is important, but boy, you'd be wrong. Let me give you some premises: P1: We ought to increase test scores of our children by any means. P2: Enforcement of school uniforms directly links to increased test scores. C: We ought to enforce school uniforms. Contention Three: Reduced peer pressure and bullying. (I know that this point is in direct conflict with my opponent's main points, but I'm not going to refute them or anything, just provide reasons why it actually does reduce these things). In 2013, the National Association of Elemtary School Principals, NAESP, over 85% of school leaders said that uniforms promote "a significant, positive impact on peer pressure," and over 60% said that they reduce bullying [5]. Let's just think about that for a second... that could be up to 60% less people that commit suicide... 60% less mass murders due to bullying... 60% more productivity. Virginia B. Draa, Assistant Professor of Human Ecology at Youngstown State University, said uniforms can decrease peer pressure and blur class lines between students [6]. Here are some premises: P1: We ought to decrease bullying. P2: Enforcement of school uniforms decreases bullying. C: We ought to enforce school uniforms. ----- Sources: [1]: M. Sue Stanley, "School Uniforms and Safety," Education and Urban Society, Aug. 1996 [2]: J. Scott Granberg-Rademacker, Jeffrey Bumgarner, and Avra Johnson, "Do School Violence Policies Matter? An Empirical Analysis of Four Approaches to Reduce School Violence," Southwest Journal of Criminal Justice, Spring 2007 [3]: Peter Caruso, "Individuality vs. Conformity: The Issue behind School Uniforms," NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals) Bulletin, Sep. 1996 [4]: Elisabetta Gentile and Scott A. Imberman, "Dressed for Success? The Effect of School Uniforms on Student Achievement and Behavior," utdallas.edu, Jan. 15, 2010 [5]: National Association of Elementary School Principals, "National Survey of School Leaders Reveals 2013 School Uniform Trends," naesp.org, July 30, 2013 [6]: Jennifer Weiss, "Do Clothes Make the Student?," nytimes.com, Sep. 16, 2006 ----- Closing remarks: I just want you to leave you with this quote from Bill Clinton: "If it means teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms."