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Should Cell Phones Be Allowed in School? | American University

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Cell phone use is increasing, and policy makers, researchers and teachers are trying to decide if cell phones should be allowed in school. Learn more.

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When we think about keeping animals in captivity, then the perspective often heads toward zoos, aquariums, and research facilities. We keep a variety of animals there, sometimes for their own benefit, so that they can recover from an injury or receive an added level of security because of their endangered status. Then we visit the facilities who keep these animals in cages or enclosures as a form of entertainment.

What we do not often consider in the discussion on the pros and cons of keeping animals in captivity are the pets that we have at home. When there are cats, dogs, hamsters, fish, and other animals under our care, calling them "fur babies" doesn't change the fact that the animals are not free to roam about as they please. We place restrictions on their movement, sometimes not even allowing them to be outside, because there are fears for their safety.

You might have the most beautiful home ever constructed in the history of humanity, but keeping a pet inside means that all they have is a beautiful jail.

Should we be domesticating animals for companionship? Is it ethical to train animals to be of service to us instead of allowing them to pursue their natural instincts?

List of the Pros of Keeping Animals in Captivity

1. Keeping animals in captivity can prevent their extinction.
Zoos, aquariums, water parks, and other facilities can help to maintain the viability of endangered species when humanity does not do a good enough job of protecting the animals in the wild. One of the best examples of this advantage is the Przewalski's horse. Hunted to extinction in the wild, there were about a dozen left in captivity at a single zoo in Europe. Working with scientists and conservationists, a breeding program began to create new herds that were eventually released into protected areas.

One of those regions is the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The herds are doing so well today that the horses are now going back to Mongolia to live in their native environment. If we had not kept some of them in captivity, then this species would likely be extinct.

2. People can learn more about the animals and the natural world.
Doctors and scientists have an opportunity to study the animals with whom we share our planet with greater effectiveness when they are in captivity. That doesn't mean we should be going out into the wild to take creatures away from their natural habitat. When there are orphaned, abandoned, or injured animals who require an intervention to live, then we can step in to save their lives with these practices.

When we visit a zoo or another facility that helps to care for the animals, then our monetary contributions help to fund the research that is necessary to improve the quality of life for each species. Without this information, there is the possibility that even more species would be extinct than there are today.

3. Captivity can provide some animals with better living conditions.
Animals that are orphaned or wounded may not have the capability of fending for themselves. There could also be unusual environmental conditions that exist which could put the survival of individuals, herds, or an entire species at risk. By relocating the animals into a captive environment, we are taking advantage of the lesser of two evils. Although we are restricting their migratory instincts or hunting behaviors, we are also giving them an opportunity to continue on with their life instead of perishing because of changing conditions.

4. Animal companionship provides stress relief for humans.
Many animals, especially those who come from a domesticated species, provide a constant source of support and comfort. When you come home at the end of a long day, the entire wiggling body of your dog who is super happy to see you can be a welcome sight. Their unconditional love for us is something that can help all of us get through difficult patches in life. Even if it seems otherwise, animals are not judging your choices.

Learning how to care for an animal helps people to develop a deeper sense of empathy. Dogs and cats teach us how to be more compassionate people. When they are present in your home, then they can provide a barrier of resistance to loneliness and depression.

5. Animals can help us to stay safe.
Even if we have pets who are in captivity by definition in our homes, we create a circumstance where our space becomes their space. Owning a dog helps people to feel safe because they can act as a guard against intruders. There are numerous instances when dogs and cats have helped to save human lives because of the deep relationships they form with us.

Sako was one of those dogs. He was on a fishing trip with a teen and his aunt when their car fell into a gully. After surviving the accident by being thrown from the vehicle, Sako fended off the coyotes who tried to attack while helping to retrieve water. At night, the dog helped to keep the boy warm.

6. Maintaining animals in captivity can provide an economic resource for some communities.
When we look at the process of maintaining animals in a zoo, then the community has an opportunity to promote tourism. There is an economic nexus of employment, retail spending, and indirect supports that form to keep the facility running. Large zoos, like the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA, produce over $17 million in employee wages each year.

You will also have hospitality, transportation, and food service positions available because of the presence of a popular zoo. The zoo in Seattle pays over $5 million out in vendor contracts each year.

7. We can mimic environments that encourage animals to use their natural instincts.
Modern zoos are fully aware of the challenges that animals face when living in captivity, especially if they are recovering from an injury or brought there because of survival needs. The dietary and physical activity requirements of each animal are taken under careful consideration, including the design of their enclosure. Zookeepers and trainers work with the animals to keep them mentally active, engaged in life, and away from the threats of boredom.

This process helps to prevent the mental degradation of the animal while they recover or adjust to a new life. Pets can receive a similar experience by offering them access to the outdoors or walks without a leash. Some critics may suggest that these efforts are not the same as a wild experience, but that option is not always available if the life of the animal is going to be saved.

8. Animals in captivity receive better healthcare than those in the wild.
Zoos have a veterinarian either on staff or readily available in private practice to help provide meaningful care to each animal. Pet owners provide the same access by scheduling regular appointments with their community provider. If an injury or illness occurs, then the vet can intervene to provide the necessary health supports that will aid in the recovery process.

These teams work to provide the animals with the best possible care in every situation. Although many animals see a reduction in their lifespan because of captivity or attempts at domestication, this outcome does not occur with all species. Sea lions live an average of 10 years longer when they are in captivity. Giraffes and tigers can also live an average of five years longer when they are in a protected environment.

9. We receive food from animals kept in captivity.
Many of the food items that we take for granted every day are present because we keep animals in productivity. Cows, goats, and other animals provide dairy products that we can use. Livestock and poultry farming give us meat items to eat. Chickens and other fowl give us eggs that we can use. When we practice sustainable and ethical care while managing these herds, then it becomes possible to maximize their living standards while creating a resource that can stop hunger in the world.

Some may not agree with the idea of using animals for food and see this issue as a disadvantage. For those who do consume animal proteins, this advantage should be a priority when grocery shopping.

List of the Cons of Keeping Animals in Captivity

1. Captivity alters the behavior of animals.
When you look at the behavior of the typical house cat compared to the ones that live in the wild, their activities are profoundly different. Feral cats learn how to hunt for their food while distrusting people. Domesticated cats that live indoors have everything given to them. When we put any animal into captivity, then we are changing their natural behaviors in some way.

Captive animals can no longer hunt for their food or follow their migration instincts. Some species may be kept separated so their breeding behaviors are kept under control. These actions can change the behavior of the animal to create complacency, aggression, or unpredictable results.

2. Animals are built for life in their natural habitat.
Even when we make an attempt to replicate the living environment of a species, it is not a true approximation of what the animal would experience in the wild. Most of them require vast acres of space without fences to embrace their natural instincts. That option is not available for most creatures. Imagine an orca who is used to spending their entire time in the ocean and its infinite space, and then being forced into a tiny pool.

Some domesticated animals have an extended lifespan when living in captivity, but that result is more of the exception than the rule. Some species can see a reduction in their expected lifespan of 70% or more when they move from living in the wild to being in captivity.

3. Animals born in captivity must usually stay there.
Another disadvantage of keeping animals in captivity is that when there are young ones born, they must stay in the captive environment because they have no way of fending for themselves out in the wild. Most zoos today are actually working with the offspring of animals that were captured in the wild, which means we are on the second, third, or fourth generation of domestication in these facilities.

That means the animals have no say over what their living conditions happen to be. If a facility is poorly funded, then they might not have the resources to provide proper veterinarian care, food availability, or clean living conditions. Animals have gotten sick, gone through forced euthanizing, or worse because there was no way to support them.

4. Animals in captivity can trigger human allergy issues.
When humans receive exposure to the same triggering items day after day, it can develop a histamine response in the body through the development of an allergy. The human system tends to cycle itself every 7-10 years, so there can be new allergies that you experience later in life that have a sudden onset. Pets are a common trigger that people encounter.

The proteins found in animal dander, saliva, and bodily fluids can all trigger an allergic reaction. Feathers and fur can spread them around a home very quickly. That means there are very real dangers that are possible which we must consider when keeping animals in captivity.

5. It can be expensive to keep animals in captivity.
Owning a dog or a cat can be a costly venture for the average family. When you budget the food supplies, water access, toys, dishes, leashes, collars, and veterinarian treatments, it can easily reach $2,000 per year for each animal. Skimping on any of these items can prevent the animal from having a well-balanced life.

When you look at the cost of keeping larger animals in captivity, especially ones that are potentially dangerous, then the costs rise exponentially. According to ZooChat, the cost of caring for an elephant over the course of an entire year is more than $130,000.

6. Many of the benefits of animal captivity focus on human outcomes.
It is important to feel safe in your own home. There should be coping skills in place that can help you to manage high stress levels. No one really wants to live a life that deals with fear, depression, or loneliness every day. Having pets at home can help to relieve those issues, but it is also essential to realize that you are keeping animals in captivity to bring about those benefits.

Even when you look at the idea of learning patience, the goal of younger pet owners is to focus on themselves instead of the needs of the animal. Treating pets well should always be a priority, but are you doing it for them or because of what you want to get out of the relationship?

7. It can be dangerous to keep animals in captivity.
Bites, kicks, and stings are the most common threats that people face when keeping animals in captivity. Farm animals, bees, and dogs continue to represent the most dangerous encounters that we have with these creatures, even though our legal system classifies them more as property and non-threatening. Although most fatalities from animal encounters are preventable, the number of annual deaths remained the same between 2008-=2015 in the United States.

During that time, there were over 1,600 animal-related fatalities recorded in the United States, with 57% of the incidents involving a non-venomous animal. The number has actually risen from 79 people per year in the 1970s to about 90 per year today.

8. Keeping animals in captivity can set the wrong standard of care for the next generation.
There are some animals who thrive in captivity, but then there are others who do not. We cannot base decisions on our needs when looking at how to care for animals who need help. Today's children will become tomorrow's leaders, and what they see us doing today will become the standard for tomorrow. There must be an effort at conservation and recovery in all aspects of animal care, including when we look at the pros and cons of owning pets, to ensure that we create a healthy partnership with our planet.

Verdict on the Pros and Cons of Keeping Animals in Captivity

The problem with domestication is that it can lead to a desire to capture wild, exotic animals to keep as pets. Some people are not satisfied with the idea of keeping a cat or dog at home. It is not rare for big cats to maul their owners or for chimpanzees to attack in a quest to achieve freedom.

Each animal evolved according to the environmental conditions that it experienced over time. This process took hundreds or thousands of years to develop specific features that helped them to adapt to what nature offered. Keeping animals in captivity changes that trajectory.

The pros and cons of keeping animals in captivity can seem harsh to some, but it is essential to remember that it is up to each of us to have the proper understanding of their habitat, nature, and needs. This process may teach us responsibility, but it may adversely impact the life of the animal in the process.

Author Bio
Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Masters Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.

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17 Pros and Cons of Keeping Animals in Captivity

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When we think about keeping animals in captivity, then the perspective often heads toward zoos, aquariums, and research facilities. We keep a variety of animals there, sometimes for their own benefit, so that they can recover from an injury or receive an added level of security because of their endangered status.

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By Randy Dotinga
HealthDay Reporter

Continued

"Individuals who regularly played less than an hour a day of any type of game were actually less likely than their non-playing peers to fight with or bully peers and were rated as better behaved by their teachers," said study co-author Allison Fine Mishkin, a graduate student at Oxford Internet Institute. "This suggests that, in small doses, video games are a valuable and valid form of play which we do not need to fear."

Christopher Ferguson, chair of the psychology department at Stetson University in Florida and a leading critic of studies linking violence to movies and video games, praised the study. In this research area, "it is often difficult to discern good science from overstated panic," he said.

The new study is "in many ways an improvement over what has come before," he added, especially since it relies on perceptions from teachers about the behavior of kids, not the self-descriptions of the kids themselves.

Craig Anderson, director of the Center for the Study of Violence at Iowa State University, has a different view. He said the study doesn't say much that's new, and he believes that violent video games have been proven to increase aggressive behavior and thinking.

Continued

Dr. Claire McCarthy, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, wouldn't go so far as to criticize video games. Considering the lack of definitive research, "we need to be a little bit careful when it comes to vilifying video games," she said. "And we are unlikely to ever know all the answers about the true effects of video games," she added.

"All we can really do is use our common sense, and make sure that kids get plenty of time away from screens, too," McCarthy said. "Playing video games doesn't usually help kids learn the behavioral skills they need to succeed. They still need to get shut off sometimes."

The study was published online recently in the journal Psychology of Popular Media Culture.

FRIDAY, April 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- A small study offers a mixed view on whether video games may make kids more aggressive.

Those children who spend more time playing games might be slightly likelier to be hyperactive and to get into fights. But violent video games seem to have no effect on behavior, according to British researchers.

The researchers also said they discovered that kids who played video games for less than an hour a day were more likely to be less aggressive and rated as better-behaved by their teachers.

And even if spending a lot of time playing video games every day may alter the way kids act in everyday life, "all observed behaviors were very small in magnitude, suggesting only a minor relationship at best and that games do not have as large an impact as some parents and practitioners worry," said study author Andrew Przybylski. He is an experimental psychologist at the Oxford Internet Institute at Oxford University.

Continued

In the study, researchers looked at 217 teens, 110 males and 107 females, and examined both their video game-playing habits and their personalities as judged by their teachers.

A bit more than half of the girls had never played video games, compared to just 13 percent of the boys. Sixteen percent (18) of the boys played video games more than three hours a day, compared to 3 percent (4) of the girls.

The researchers found that the 22 kids who played video games the most each day were the likeliest to have behavioral problems, exhibit hyperactivity and have trouble academically, although the effects were "quite small in magnitude," Przybylski said. He added that there's no way to know whether kids are drawn to video games because of their personalities, or whether video games alter their personalities.

The kinds of video games that the kids played appeared to have no effect after the researchers adjusted their statistics so factors such as gender wouldn't have an effect.

And there was even an unexpected benefit to playing for short amounts of time each day, the study authors found.

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Violent Video Games Don't Influence Kids' Behavior: Study

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By Randy Dotinga HealthDay Reporter Continued "Individuals who regularly played less than an hour a day of any type of game were actually less likely than their non-playing peers to fight with or bully peers and were rated as better behaved by their teachers," said study co-author Allison Fine Mishkin, a graduate student at Oxford Internet Institute.

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They say there are only two absolute things in life: death and taxes. However, in this fast-paced generation, you might want to add one more: kids and the Internet are inseperable.

It doesn't matter if a child's not old enough to read, literacy''s not an issue when it comes to using the Internet. Research group Joan Ganz Cooney Center, an organization affiliated with Sesame Street, found that a quarter of young children under age six are surfing the Internet regularly, with many parents passing on their old smart phones for their kids to play with. And aside from serving as trendy toys, modern gadgets are also, for some, serving as a babysitting device - when kids are immersed in an online game, parents can proceed with other tasks.

There also seems to be a new rite of passage as young children discover social media as a new tool to socialize - i.e. baby's first social media profile picture, baby's first status update and baby's first "Like." This is because more and more kids are opening accounts on social networking sites - research by Opinium revealed that 59% of kids below the age of 10 have joined social media, with some 52% signing up on Facebook (despite the Facebook entry threshold being 13). And those numbers are much higher among teens - according to a Pew Research, 95% ages 12-17 are online with 81% using some kind of social media.

Kids on social media networks can be a scary scenario for parents, however with proper guidance, the effects of modern gadgets on child development can also be largely beneficial.

Here are some of the ways that social media platforms can be of benefit to kids.

1. Feeling confident

Social media can help young children feel more comfortable about communicating and being around others. When they click "Like" or comment on a post, they gain confidence and become less shy. A Common Sense Media study showed that 29% of teens using social media felt that it it helped them feel less shy, while 20% indicated that it can help them feel more confident. When a child appears to be introverted and awkward around other people, social media interactions can assist in the process of building that confidence and developing a better understanding of how to communicate.

2. Feeling friendly

Social media can also help in boosting social interaction among kids - it's a more comfortable environment where children can initiate new relationships without feeling awkward and anxious.

Social platforms can help kids make friends and enable them to build more familiarity with other children. When they greet a friend or Like a photo, they start a virtual interaction, giving them a chance to practice their social skills with the relative distance and safety that social media offers.

3. Feeling connected

Technology was made to connect people and strengthen relationships. Social media can help improve family relationships and be a shared interest among family members.

Interacting via social networking sites can provide a sort of a safety net, helping children to be more honest when they're posting updates or tweets. Through social media, parents can get a better idea of what their children are feeling, thinking, and doing.

For some, it can form a kind of point of entry into their child's life - viewing photos of friends and other contacts or going through a timeline can be a moment of discovery for both the parent and the child, and can help open those lines of communication and understanding.

4. Feeling smart

The Internet is a web of information, and social media is no exemption.

A report by Globe and Mail indicated that social media is actually making kids smarter. Aside from improved social skills, social media can also help improve cognitive abilities, like problem solving skills, comprehension, critical thinking, and memory. For example, they learn to critically discern which information is useful and which is not.

In a related study, the e-Learning Foundation showed that children with Internet access at home get higher grades.

5. Feeling informed

In addition to helping school children with their research and assignments, the internet can also provide them with insights useful in their daily lives.

When you log on to social media, you can find news events, helpful tips, the latest in music, movies, and sports, etc. Social media can help kids understand what's happening and what they need to know.

6. Feeling helpful

Researchers from Iowa University found that pro-social video games, or games that require interaction via social platforms, can encourage better behavior and tolerance for others. The study revealed that kids tend to be more helpful after playing pro-social games.

This is another reason why parents should allow their kids to use social media: children can become more compassionate and empathetic, and even feel like they have to protect their friends and share stuff with them. Pro-social video games can also reduce aggressive cognitions.

7. Feeling relaxed

Social media can help mitigate stress by providing an outlet through which children can express their disappointments, frustrations, and fears.

It can also provide additional social support from a wide range of people. At the same time, social media can also be a means of distraction that can help children get over stressful experiences.

8. Feeling welcome

Being part of a social network can make a child feel that he is part of something bigger than himself. The feeling of belonging to a network can help in building a child's self-belief and confidence, while also enhancing a child's sense of responsibility and connection to his "team". In a social network, kids can generate shared experiences with their friends and feel appreciated and loved.

Social media is here to stay and yes, it can help. Allowing your kids to use social media comes with a list of pros and cons, but when parents commit themselves to providing guidance and watching over the child's online activities, social media can help in a child's development.The impact of technology and social media doesn't depend on technology itself, but how parents educate and inform their children about them, and set realistic parameters around their use.

Main image via Lucella Ribiero/Flickr

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8 Reasons Why Parents Should Allow Their Kids to Use Social Media Sites

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They say there are only two absolute things in life: death and taxes. However, in this fast-paced generation, you might want to add one more: kids and the Internet are inseperable. It doesn't matter if a child's not old enough to read, literacy''s not an issue when it comes to using the Internet.

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Homework has been a part and parcel of student life for generations now. Homework is the task a teacher assigns to students expecting them to finish the same outside of the classroom. It is an unavoidable aspect of every student's life.

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Does school uniforms really reduce bullying, improve academic performance and make schools better? Read on for 23 thought-provoking statistics on school uniforms including how many students wear school uniforms and the cost per year.

Educators are some of the staunchest advocates of uniforms, arguing that they reduce problematic behavior, cut down on the incidence of bullying and encourage more school spirit overall. Countless research studies have attempted to pinpoint just what effect uniforms have, often with mixed results. If you're curious about how successful uniform policies are or you're wondering how the cost adds up, the CreditDonkey team has put together a list of 23 revealing tidbits that will have your brain working overtime.

School uniforms became a hot-button issue in the mid-1990s after several high-profile incidents of violence involving teens and items of clothing made headlines. Former President Bill Clinton led the charge, instructing the Department of Education to issue policy manuals to schools nationwide on how to safely institute a uniform policy. While the movement has been met with criticism by some parents and students, the practice is becoming more acceptable as schools across the country continue to jump on the bandwagon.

1. The popularity of school uniforms is on the rise

While uniforms have long been a staple of private schools, they're increasingly common in the public education realm. The percentage of public schools implementing a uniform rule jumped from 13% to 19% between the 2003-04 and the 2011-12 academic years.

2. A healthy number of schools have a uniform policy

When you run the numbers on how many schools require uniforms, it adds up to a tidy sum. There are just under 27,000 public schools and nearly 14,000 private schools that do so.

3. Not every state has warmed to the idea

Uniforms are an issue that's decided on by individual school districts, and there are many states that have opted out entirely. Currently, only 21 states and the District of Columbia have formal school uniform policies.

4. Uniforms are more common at the elementary level

Younger students are more likely to be affected by a uniform policy than their older counterparts. For the 2011-12 school year, 20% of elementary schools required uniforms compared to just 12% of high schools.

5. Income levels may influence

School districts that serve economically disadvantaged students account for the highest percentage of uniform wearers. Nearly 47% of schools where more than three-quarters of the student population receives free or reduced price lunch require uniforms.

6. Rural schools are the least likely to do so

In urban areas, nearly 40% of schools have a uniform rule in place but that's not the case with more out-of-the-way locales. Just under 9% of schools found in rural areas make uniforms mandatory.

7. The size of the school also makes a difference

In addition to geographic and economic factors, the size of a school's student body plays a part in determining whether enforcing a uniform policy is feasible. Almost 22% of schools with less than 100 students call for uniforms, versus 9.9% of schools with a total enrollment greater than 1,500.

8. Uniforms are more prevalent among private schools

Altogether, 30% of public schools have instituted some type of uniform guidelines for students. That seems like a lot until you consider that nearly 54% of private schools have similar rules in place.

9. Smaller private schools require uniforms less often

While public schools are most likely to feature uniforms when there are fewer students, private schools are just the opposite. Approximately 73% of private institutions require uniforms when there are 500 to 999 students enrolled. Only 44% do so when enrollment is below 100.

10. Uniforms don't come cheap

The back-to-school shopping rush is something most parents dread since it usually means shelling out hundreds of dollars for new clothes. When it comes to uniforms, it's not out of the question to spend anywhere from $140 to $160 to outfit your child for school.

11. Educators argue that it's still a better deal

School administrators see nothing but positives associated with the use of uniforms, starting with the financial benefit to parents. Eighty-six percent of elementary school principals believe that uniforms are more cost effective compared to purchasing regular clothing.

12. Uniform suppliers are reaping the rewards

Companies like Lands' End and French Toast are cashing in on the boom in demand for school uniforms. The industry generates roughly $1 billion in revenue each year.

13. The advantages go beyond the lower cost

Aside from the reduced expense associated with uniforms, educators agree that they offer plenty of other positives. Around 85% argue that it reduces the need for discipline in the classroom while 79% say it promotes an increased sense of student safety.

14. Kids aren't always sold on uniforms

Clothing is one way for kids to express themselves and the thought of wearing a uniform is sometimes less than welcome. A survey of Nevada students revealed that 90% of youth said they didn't like having to wear a uniform at school

15. But they do have some positive perceptions

Despite the fact that they aren't exactly thrilled about wearing uniforms, some students do recognize the benefits they offer. In the same survey, 54% of students said that having to wear a uniform didn't compromise their identity and 41% agreed that there seemed to be less gang activity at school as a result of the policy.

16. Most schools prefer a casual approach

While some schools require students to adhere to more formal uniform standards, the majority take a more relaxed view. Approximately 90% of school leaders prefer to keep things simple by requiring students to wear polos and chinos in place of dress shirts and ties.

17. But they're specific when it comes to color

The purpose of enforcing a uniform policy is to ensure that students are dressed the same, which means making sure everyone is on the same page. Ninety percent of schools require students to wear tops and bottoms that are a specific color.

18. One color sees more wear than any other

Uniforms can come in a range of hues (or even plaid), but navy blue is still the standard at 38% of schools. White is the second-most popular color, with 23% of the vote, while 15% of schools prefer students to wear red.

19. Wearing uniforms may reduce absenteeism

Missing school puts students at a disadvantage, especially if it causes them to fall behind in their studies. Research has shown that among middle and high school students, uniforms reduce absences on average by half a day each school year.

20. It can also impact graduation rates

Graduating from high school is a major milestone. Evidence suggests that requiring uniforms may increase the number of students who earn their diploma. In at least one study, the graduation rate jumped by nearly 8% after uniforms were introduced.

21. Student achievement seems to be largely unaffected

Students who wear uniforms may be more likely to make it to school each day and graduate on time, but it doesn't guarantee they'll go from making C's to the honor roll. Research has shown that math scores among middle and high school students increased by less than 0.01% after uniforms were adopted, while reading scores actually dropped by roughly the same amount.

22. Teachers are more likely to stay put

Teaching is a tough gig; roughly half a million teachers either change schools or leave the profession altogether each year. Studies show, however, that when students wear uniforms, the attrition rate drops to 5%, which is roughly 1/4 of the national mean.

23. The jury is still out on whether uniforms reduce bullying

Bullying is a pervasive problem in schools all across America, and many educators feel that uniforms reduce the potential for aggressive behavior among students. In fact, 64% of elementary school principals say that uniforms have a positive impact on bullying, despite a lack of supporting academic research.

Sources and References
Rebecca Lake is a journalist at CreditDonkey, a credit card comparison and reviews website. Write to Rebecca Lake at rebecca@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.
Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.
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Does school uniforms really reduce bullying, improve academic performance and make schools better? Read on for 23 thought-provoking statistics on school uniforms including how many students wear school uniforms and the cost per year. Educators are some of the staunchest advocates of uniforms, arguing that they reduce problematic behavior, cut down on the incidence of bullying and encourage more school spirit overall.