Will school uniforms help curb student violence

Jet, April 1, 1996

Beverly Slater, assistant principal at the Florence B. Price Elementary School on Chicago's South Side, told JET that wearing uniforms could be a step in the right direction in curbing student violence. Though she says her school rarely has occurrences of violence, she notes safety was what her school had in mind when its local school council voted a uniform policy in place in 1992.

"Around the city, at that time, there was so much violence with jackets and gym shoes being taken. We thought in terms of having a uniform policy for the children's safety," said Slater.

Slater also said that not only do the students have a dress code, but she says that every Wednesday, the administrators, faculty and staff don forest green, the children's uniform colors, to show the students that they are in support of their four-year-old policy.

Susan McFall, a second-grade teacher who is also at the Florence B. Price Elementary School, told JET she isn't sure if uniforms will curb student violence, but she's certainly hoping they will, because there are wonderful benefits to wearing them.

"Uniforms would be an excellent idea because it could be easier on parents," said McFan, who's been an educator for more than 30 years. "It would be less expensive for parents who purchase popular fashions for their children. I think it would be a good idea for everyone to be dressed alike," McFall explained.

She maintained that even with her youngsters she's noticed increased pride and "continuous good behavior" since the school's adoption of a uniform policy.

"The uniforms make a difference. Children feel good because they're looking great. They look and see that they are all dressed very much alike. It does make a difference," McFall said.

Delma Culverson, an eighth-grader at the school, told JET he thinks that uniforms should be mandatory in schools because he's seen a tremendous change for the better since his school adopted the policy.

"Clothes mean certain things to people. The clothes you wear might symbolize gang colors even if you aren't in a gang, and you might not know it," said Culverson, 13, who's attended the school since kindergarten. "Since we started wearing uniforms in 1992, there aren't as many fights because when people see our uniforms and the color, they know we are from Price."

And, for students who have objections to wearing uniforms, Culverson said that it would be to their benefit to wear one because the life they save could be their own.

"Wearing a uniform doesn't symbolize anything. The colors don't symbolize anything, and wearing one could save your life," said Culverson.