Pascack Valley High School
Hillsdale, New Jersey, USA
School Uniform Policy Project
Pros and Cons of
School Uniforms
Mike, Zach, Karl, Bill
What is the problem?
• Disciplinary issues in schools resulting
from student’s attire
• Student’s choice of clothing distracting
from learning
• For: school boards, school
administration, parent organizations
• Against: students, parents
Arguments for school uniforms
• Gives the school a more professional look
• Reduces conflicts that are based on
economic inequality
• Reduces peer pressure
Arguments for school uniforms
• Reduce distractions for students
• Students unable to wear gang colors in
school
• Instill sense of community, school spirit
Arguments against school
uniforms
• Destroys individuality - students unable to
express themselves
– Self-expression important for growth
• Creates discipline problems - students will
respond negatively to uniforms
• Creates a conformist environment that does
not aid learning
Arguments against school
uniforms
• Might interfere with religious/cultural attire
• Wastes student’s money - almost all of them
have invested in clothes
• High cost for school
Court Case
• Tinker v. Des Moines
– Landmark case involving the 1st
Amendment in schools
– Decision: First Amendment does apply in
schools as long as students do not disrupt
running of school
– Does not directly involve uniforms, but
cited when by future cases
Recent Incident
• South Oak Cliff High School
– Public high school in Texas
– 2008: decision to switch to uniforms
– Parents given choice to opt out if they can
provide a legitimate reason
– Program deemed a success
Pros and Cons of Allowing
Cross-Dressing in Schools
Mike, Zach, Karl, Bill
What is the problem?
• Some students wish to express
themselves by dressing differently
– This often includes cross-dressing
• However, cross-dressing students often
disrupt class and affect the educational
tone of the school environment
Arguments for allowing
cross-dressing
• Allows students to express themselves
• Students’ right to cross-dress are
included in their Constitutional rights
• Preventing students from dressing this
way would be discriminatory
Arguments against allowing
cross-dressing
• Disrupts educational tone of class
• Encourages harassment
Recent incident
• North Cobb High School (Georgia)
– District refused to tolerate cross-dressing,
claimed it was not appropriate for a
learning environment
– One student told that he must dress in a
“manly” way or leave
– Eventually ejected from the school, moves
to another district