I was saddened to learn that some Portland Public Schools are now requiring
school uniforms. In the 20 years since President Bill Clinton suggested it, this idea has proven to be as bad as fireproofing schools with asbestos.
Only failing schools require uniforms, so any public school that requires them
immediately announces it is failing. This stigmatizes the students of such a school. It often causes a drop in property values.
School uniforms work against safety and learning. When large numbers of
students are dressed the same, it is impossible to identify people from a distance. I
know of a school where a gang of students threw rocks and ran away every day for weeks. If they had been dressed in street clothes they could have been nabbed immediately but because they were dressed the same as everyone else they were impossible to catch.
The lesson children learn from school uniforms is: "You will be punished if you are
different." This teaches intolerance and increases bullying. Adults forcing students into wearing school colors is morally no different than children forcing other children into wearing gang colors. Thus bullying increases in public schools that require uniforms.
Prisons require uniforms. Universities do not. So what type of life are we preparing our children for with this school uniform policy?