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Britannica ProCon.org lays out 15 different pros and cons.

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History of School Uniforms
Traditionally favored by private and parochial institutions, school uniforms are being adopted by US public schools in increasing numbers. According to a 2020 report, the percentage of public schools that required school uniforms jumped from 12% in the 1999-2000 school year to 20% in the 2017-18 school year. School uniforms were most frequently required by elementary schools (23%), followed by middle (18%), and high schools (10%).

The first recorded use of standardized dress in education may have been in England in 1222, when the Archbishop of Canterbury mandated that students wear a robe-like outfit called the " cappa clausa." The origin of the modern school uniform can be traced to 16th Century England, when the impoverished "charity children" attending the Christ's Hospital boarding school wore blue cloaks reminiscent of the cassocks worn by clergy, along with yellow stockings. As of Sep. 2014, students at Christ's Hospital were still wearing the same uniform, and according to the school it is the oldest school uniform still in use. When Christ's Hospital surveyed its students in 2011, 95% voted to keep the traditional uniforms. Read more history...

Pro & Con Arguments

Pro 1

School uniforms deter crime and increase student safety.

In Long Beach, California, after two years of a district-wide K-8 mandatory uniform policy, reports of assault and battery in the district's schools decreased by 34%, assault with a deadly weapon dropped by 50%, fighting incidents went down by 51%, sex offenses were cut by 74%, robbery dropped by 65%, possession of weapons (or weapon "look-alikes") decreased by 52%, possession of drugs went down by 69%, and vandalism was lowered by 18%.

And, school uniforms prevent the display of gang colors and insignia, reducing gang activity and pressure to join on school property. The U.S. Department of Education's Manual on School Uniforms stated that uniform policies can "prevent gang members from wearing gang colors and insignia at school" in order to "encourage a safe environment." Educators in the Long Beach Unified School District have speculated that the sharp reduction in crime following the introduction of school uniforms was a result of gang conflicts being curbed. Osceola County, Florida School Board member Jay Wheeler reports that the county's schools had a 46% drop in gang activity after their first full school year with a mandatory K-12 uniform policy. Wheeler explains that "clothing is integral to gang culture... Imagine a U.S. Armed Forces recruiter out of uniform trying to recruit new soldiers; the success rate goes down. The same applies to gang recruitment." [35] [37] [67]
Read More

Pro 2

School uniforms keep students focused on their education, not their clothes.

Wearing uniforms also enhances school pride, unity, and community spirit, which can boost interest in education. A study of over 1,000 Texas middle school students found that students in uniform "reported significantly more positive perceptions of belonging in their school community than reported by students in the standard dress group." Christopher P. Clouet, former Superintendent of the New London Public Schools in Connecticut, stated that "the wearing of uniforms contributes to school pride." Arnold Goldstein, PhD, head of the Center for Research on Aggression at Syracuse University, points out that uniforms help troubled students feel they have the support of a community: "There is a sense of belonging." Further, "teachers perceived an increase in the level of respect, caring, and trust... throughout the school" and "students are made to feel 'important' and as if they are a part of a team by wearing a uniform," according to a peer-reviewed study.

Plus, school uniforms can improve attendance and discipline. A study by researchers at the University of Houston found that the average absence rate for girls in middle and high school decreased by 7% after the introduction of uniforms, and behavioral problems lessened in severity. School uniforms make getting ready for school easier, which can improve punctuality.
When uniforms are mandatory, parents and students do not spend time choosing appropriate outfits for the school day. According to a national survey, over 90% of US school leaders believe school uniform or formal dress code policies "eliminate wardrobe battles with kids," make it "easier to get kids ready in the morning," and create a "time saving in the morning." Tracey Marinelli, Superintendent of the Lyndhurst School District in New Jersey, credits the district's uniform policy for reducing the number of students running late. Lyndhurst student Mike Morreale agrees, stating that "it's so much easier to dress than having to search for clothes and find out that something doesn't match." A Youngstown State University study of secondary schools in Ohio's eight largest school districts found that school uniform policies improve rates of attendance, graduation, and suspension.
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Pro 3

Students' legal right to free expression remains intact with mandatory school uniforms.

Besides, students can still express their individuality in school uniforms by introducing variations and adding accessories. Junior high school student Amelia Jimenez wrote in her op-ed for the Pennsylvania Patriot-News that "contrary to popular belief, uniforms do not stop students from being themselves. Uniforms do not silence voices. Students can wear a variety of expressive items, such as buttons or jewlery." Students can inject their personal style into their daily look with hairstyles, nail polish, and colorful accessories such as bags, scarfs, and fun socks. 54% of eighth-graders said they could still express their individuality while wearing school uniforms.

Further, students dressed in uniform are better perceived by teachers and peers. A 1994 peer-reviewed study found that students in uniform were perceived by teachers and fellow students as being more academically proficient than students in regular clothes. The study also found that students in uniform were perceived by peers and teachers as having higher academic potential, and perceived by peers as being better behaved. Students need to learn a balance between free expression and working within the confines of expectations.
Read More

Con 1

School uniforms do not stop bullying and can actually increase violent attacks.

Further, a peer-reviewed study found that "school uniforms increased the average number of assaults by about 14 [per year] in the most violent schools." A Texas Southern University study found that school discipline incidents rose by about 12% after the introduction of uniforms. And, according to the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Office of Education Evaluation and Management, fights in middle schools nearly doubled within one year of introducing mandatory uniforms.
Read More

Con 2

School uniforms do not improve attendance, academic preparedness, or exam results.

The problems arise because focusing on uniforms takes attention away from finding genuine solutions to problems in education. Spending time and effort implementing uniform policies detracts from more effective efforts to reduce crime in schools and boost student performance. More substantive improvements to public education could be achieved with smaller class sizes, tightened security, increased parental involvement, improved facilities, and other measures. Tom Houlihan, former Superintendent of Schools in Oxford, North Carolina, stated that school uniforms "are a distraction from focusing on systematic and fundamental transformation to improve our schools."

That uniform policies are a distraction is most evident when we realize that the push for school uniforms is driven by commercial interests rather than educational ones. Americans spend around $1 billion on school uniforms every year. Retailer J.C. Penney Co. says school uniforms are "a huge, important business for us." In one year alone, uniform company Lands' End spent $3 million on marketing efforts directed at public schools and districts. Multiple studies used to promote the effectiveness of uniforms were partly funded by Lands' End, and at least one of those studies is "so wholly flawed as to render itself useless," according to David L. Brunsma. Reuters reported that retailers were "sensing their opportunity... stepping up competition in the uniform aisles and online. Walmart has set up 'uniform shops' or temporary boutiques within some stores."

The commercialization of school uniforms in public schools also undermines the promise of a free education by imposing an extra expense on families. Parents already pay taxes, and they still need to buy regular clothes for their children to wear when they're out of school and for dress-down days. The Children's Commission on Poverty (UK) found that over "95% of parents on low incomes reported difficulties in meeting school-related costs," including uniforms, despite their children attending tuition-free schools. Anderson, Indiana, parents Laura and Scott Bell argued against their children's school uniform policy, saying the $641 for their children's uniforms broke the guarantee of a free public education. In York County, Pennsylvania, a local NBC affiliate reported that some children were missing class because their families couldn't afford to purchase the required uniforms. And, all of that is before the uniform policies themselves are examined. Most operate like dress codes and are classist, racist, and sexist.
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Con 3

School uniforms restrict students' freedom of expression.

Uniforms take away the ability to use clothing as means of expressing support for social causes. Students at Friendly High School in Prince George's County, MD, were not allowed to wear pink shirts to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month and 75 students received suspensions for breaking the school's uniform restrictions. Removing these choices can delay the transition into adulthood. Adults make their own clothing choices and have the freedom to express themselves through their appearance. Denying children and teenagers the opportunity to make those choices may make them ill-prepared for the adult world. Adolescents see clothing choices as a means of identification, and seeking an identity is one of the critical stages of adolescence, according to the late developmental psychologist Erik Erikson.

When students have to wear the same outfits, rather than being allowed to select clothes that suit their body types, they can suffer embarrassment at school. Child and teen development specialist Robyn Silverman says that students, especially girls, tend to compare how each other looks in their uniforms: "As a body image expert, I hear from students all the time that they feel it allows for a lot of comparison... So if you have a body that's a plus-size body, a curvier body, a very tall body, a very short body, those girls often feel that they don't look their best." A study by researchers at Arizona State University found that "students from schools without uniforms reported higher self-perception scores than students from schools with uniform policies." Some students also find uniforms less comfortable than their regular clothes, which may not be conducive to learning.
Read More

Did You Know?

1. The first school district in the United States to require all K-8 students to wear uniforms was Long Beach, CA, in Jan. 1994.

2. Americans spend around $1 billion per year on school uniforms.

3. Students at Eton, one of England's most prestigious schools, were required to wear black top hats and tails on and off campus until 1972.

4. US schools with a minority student population of 50% or more are four times as likely to require uniforms than schools with a minority population of 20-49%, and 24 times more likely than schools with minority populations of 5%-19%.

5. A government agency in Sweden declared that mandatory school uniforms were a human rights violation, stating that students should decide their dress and appearance as "a matter of the individual's freedom and integrity."

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School Uniforms Pros and Cons - 13 Arguments For and Against

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Proponents say uniforms may increase student safety. Opponents say uniforms restrict expression. Explore both sides of the debate.

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Controversy: The True Effectiveness of School Uniforms

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Controversy: The True Effectiveness of School Uniforms

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(Two kids write about the pros and cons.)

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"It's Cold in the School" Kids Suspended for Hoodies Speak Out

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"It's Cold in the School" Kids Suspended for Hoodies Speak Out

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NBC news story

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'It's Cold In The School': Students Suspended For Wearing Hoodies Speak Out

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A middle school teacher writes in favor of letting students wear hoods.

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Unpopular Opinion: Hooded Sweatshirts in the Classroom

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My mother was gifted a stuffed Ty bunny at a baby shower before I was even born. Bunny, as I eventually ingeniously named him, was my right-hand man. My partner in crime, my lullaby and my wake up call. When I was sick, Bunny played cards with me.

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"No Hats Allowed" - A Euro-Centric Tradition that Upholds the Racist Practices Embedded in Colonialism

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"No Hats Allowed" - A Euro-Centric Tradition that Upholds the Racist Practices Embedded in Colonialism

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This article itself is rich with ideas, and also contains many linked references at the end.

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As you enter the school you see signs that state, "Please Remove Your Hat" and "We Are a Hat-Free School." Yet a Black student came to class wearing a durag. I spoke with my administrator regarding the incident to say that I did not want him to feel as though I was racially profiling him but I was worried perhaps another staff member would uphold the tradition of the hat rule. I was told to email home and ask if the durag was a cultural piece. I came back to my administrator later that day to say I was feeling uncomfortable as a white educator questioning the culture of a Black family. She agreed, and we discussed that if we discarded the no-hat-rule there would be no question about whether or not a student's dress was cultural, and therefore an exemption to the age-old rule.

In option classes I ask my students whom I only see twice a week to take off their hoods. I often scan the room for who has not yet done so and my eyes fall on the young Muslim girl wearing her hijab. When we make eye contact I can always tell for that split second she nervously awaits to see if I will ask her to remove it. I never do of course, as this would be an infraction of her right to wear her cultural head-wear, but the fabric on her head always directs my eyes. It would be an easily avoidable situation if I was not policing students at all for this infraction.

"No hats or hoods allowed, with the exception of one specific student," is often a phrase a teacher may write on their sub plans. "This student has experienced trauma and their hood helps them feel safe." There are several things wrong with this exclusive practice. First there is attention called to the student if another student wears their hood and uses the excuse - "why are they allowed to wear theirs?!" An uncomfortable situation of putting a student on the spot, already looking to avoid attention, easily avoided if all students were allowed to wear hats/hoods in the classroom. The other is that we assume no other student has experienced trauma in our classrooms. Unfortunately, trauma, although it has its own mental and physical symptoms, is not always something you can see from the outside. Trauma informed practices assume everyone has experienced some sort of trauma, and again, treating the classroom and school as an equitable space can make students in these unknown situations feel some semblance of safety for ten months of the year.

We talk about equity in the classroom. We work to compile resources that will allow all of our students to be seen and have discussions so that everyone can feel heard. However, students cannot truly feel seen if they are not free to dress in such a way that expresses who they are. It is an easy argument to say, they can express themselves in other ways that does not involve a hat or a hood. It is an easy argument when you are a white person. When we look at Black culture and Black dress and the individual identity that the Black population has created through their experience in our Euro-Centric world, we may begin to see where this statement no longer holds true. The same is true for other cultural dress and trauma informed practices.

When we look at where the no hat rule comes from we can see it is "antiquated" and that "there's nothing about hats that seems inherently offensive" (Moor, 2019, para. 2). In our Euro-Centric culture it comes as no surprise that this rule is "[rooted] in Christianity [and is a] centuries-old etiquette rule...it's considered customary for men to remove their hats upon entering a church" (Moor, 2019, para. 4). We must remember that the only reason Christianity exists in Canada is because of colonialism. European explorers came to Canada, committed genocide against the Indigenous peoples here, converted them to Christianity, and then began forcibly taking children from their homes by government orders to have their cultures abolished and assimilate them into Christian culture. These Residential Schools were where they were also oftentimes physically and sexually abused, suffered mass malnutrition, and were many times buried in unmarked graves (Pember, 2019). The last residential school only closed in 1996. To consider traditions offensive that have roots in Christianity is upholding the narrative that Christianity is right, and all other religions are wrong. It upholds Euro-centric values that have enslaved and murdered millions of Black, Indigenous, Japanese, Chinese, Latinx, and other global majorities in order to expand European control. "Hats.... could be offensive to some people," MacCarthy (1994) states in his article analyzing school dress codes. Those who are feeling offended must consider that just because it has always been offensive does not answer the question of ​ why ​ it is offensive. Although many consider removing one's hat as a sign of respect, they must be able to provide reasoning for why a hat-less person equates to a respectful one.

These underlying forms of systemic racism in the form of dress codes lead us to explore microaggressions. Microaggressions in an educational sense:

"[A]re the indirect, subtle, or even unintentional ways that teachers discriminate against students of color and other marginalized student groups. They include body language, choice of words, and other small seemingly innocuous daily decisions. Often teacher microaggressions are couched in an authentic attempt by the teacher to connect with students. Many times, however, these microaggressions are distinctly connected with the manner in which teachers choose to enforce school rules... Teachers giving undue attention to student behavior that is technically against school rules but not directly tied to a specific consequence is sometimes referred to as "sweating the small stuff." Teachers must examine their motivations when enforcing rules in order to recognize their own microaggressions. All teachers have "pet peeves." Questions for every teacher to ask themselves include, "Why does this behavior bother me so much?" "Will enforcing this rule help keep students safe?" "Do I disapprove of this behavior because of the way I was raised?" "Is enforcing a rule at a particular time worth the potential loss of relationship capital with the student?"... One student behavior that is clearly more about etiquette and an outdated understanding of what respect means, is the wearing of hats and hoods in the school building...But just as often students wear hats or hoods to provide a sense of security in attempt to overcome something like social anxiety or an insecurity related to appearance (like a bad haircut). The idea that hats worn inside a building is disrespectful has fallen out of favor in almost every venue with the exception of the schoolhouse. Today, hats are frequently worn inside movie theatres, formal concerts, churches, and virtually any other public place. Constantly insisting that students remove hats and hoods at school is a microaggression because it is premised on an antiquated view of respect and does not account for present day cultural practices among communities of color...To avoid microaggressions, white teachers should utilize what is called "culturally responsive teaching." Teachers who are educated in how their students' lives diverge from their own are better equipped at recognizing their own implicit bias, the mindset on which the microaggressions feed. Teachers must understand that deciding whether or not to "sweat the small stuff" is not just a matter of classroom management, it is a matter of social justice. (Baker, 2017, para. 2-9)

Although educators may not realize their very establishments are built upon racist practices, and although we say we have diverse buildings, Wade captures this notion in her article "Racist-Color Blind Dress Code" when he says: "sure, Black people are allowed in these establishments, just not Black people 'of a certain type.' If they want to enter, they have to assimilate to white culture" (Wade, 2011, para. 5).

Nittle (2018) says it best: "While many schools continue to impose dress codes shaped by outmoded race, class, and gender constructs, a growing number are addressing how their policies disproportionately affect certain groups of students more than others, [oftentimes without] realiz[ing] how dress codes targeted certain groups of students until...district[s] [come] under fire for [their policies] (para. 18-19). As educators we discuss preparing our students for the future, however we must remember that "[w]e're not raising all of our kids to work in a bank. Some are going to have jobs where they don't have a collar" (Frack, cited in Nittle, 2019, para. 73). Aside from the varying opportunities each student is afforded, many students will thrive in environments outside of the typical white-collar jobs that we so often attribute success to - keep this in mind when looking back to the Student Handbook where it states that our school is a "business environment."

When we look deeper into primarily Black trends such as sagging pants and hoodie culture, these styles "began in prison, where oversized uniforms were issued without belts to prevent suicide and their use as weapons. The style spread through rappers and music videos, from the ghetto to the suburbs and around the world" (Koppel, 2007, para. 7). This echoes the systemic incarceration of Black men in the United States, so to further analyze that sagging pants is more than simply a trend, but rather it is a commentary of the rate at which Black men are incarcerated. Institutionalized racism is much more apparent once you realize it is embedded in everyday life and culture of Black people. **We face similar trends in Canada in terms of larger incarceration rates of Indigenous men, but this is a topic all on its own.**

The hoodie in itself "frames a dirty look, obscures acne and anxiety, masks headphones in study hall, makes a cone of solitude that will suffice for an autonomous realm" (Patterson, 2016, para. 7). However, "[a] glance at almost any police blotter...will confirm the hoodie as a wardrobe staple of the criminal class, and this makes it uniquely convenient as a proxy for racial profiling or any other exercise of enmity" (Patterson, 2016, para. 8). In his article, "In the Wake of Trayvon Martin's Death, the Hoodie Takes on a Greater Meaning," Samuels (2012) says: "You see a white man wearing a hoodie and you think, oh, he's coming from the gym or it's cold outside," ..."But as a black man, you have to be more guarded. You see how uneasy people become when they see you with it." With the recent anti-racism protests surrounding George Floyd we can look back to Trayvon Martin and the 911 call made by his killer:

'Did you see what he was wearing?'' George Zimmerman: ''Yeah. A dark hoodie, like a gray hoodie.'' Trivial details can bear serious import. Surely there would have been demonstrations after the killing and the killer's acquittal regardless of what the victim wore... All that potential subtext is attached to a generally evocative item of clothing. The white working-class hoodie still glows with the Rocky Balboa ideal of grit and tenacity. The yoga-class hoodie is sold on a promise of snuggly virtue that may explain why in Saskatchewan they call the thing a ''bunny hug.'' The tech-sector hoodie made default by Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg carries on the garment's proud juvenile tradition of informality and defiance. Once perceived as an affront to professionalism, it has since settled in as a convention​ ... ​But the ascent of casual wear does not quite disguise the unchanging strictness of social codes, and the hood continues to frame matters of class and race in ways that tend to satisfy the interest of power. The lingering question of the hoodie is simply: Who enjoys the right to wear one without challenge? (Patterson, 2016, para. 9)

Although hoodies are a "no-no" for ​ all ​ students (with an exception I will further discuss below), we are, inadvertently, equating the hoodie with crime - a microaggression again when we look to where the trend originated.

The hoodie becomes an escape, when we look to trauma - a form of protection. "The behavior of wearing a hoodie pulled tight over their heads, curled up, head down on a desk or sitting quietly in the corner of the classroom, is similar to what they may have had to do at home" says Izard (2016) from the National Education Association in a "Teaching Children from Poverty and Trauma" Handbook: "They try to become invisible so that they are not seen by a drunken care- giver or abuser who comes home looking for a punching bag or worse. The smaller their footprint, they reason, the less likely they are of being seen and hurt again" (p. 9). Jim Walters (2018) reiterated a personal account of his own trauma while he was a student titled "Dear Trauma-Informed Teacher":

You may not have remembered me by name but I was that student that sat in the back of your 4th hour English Literature class by the windows. I came to school every day with the same Oklahoma City Thunder hoodie pulled over my head. On my good days when teachers allowed, I made myself invisible by pulling my hoodie strings so tight that only a fraction of my face was exposed. I've convinced my friends along the way that I was a huge Russell Westbrook fan which granted me a social pass to wear this same hoodie every single day... that hoodie was my way not only to conceal my pain but it also allowed me not to be on a heightened state of alert 24/7 to defend my poverty. (para. 4-7)

It is a rare occurrence in many classrooms, however, that a student does get a "pass" when it comes to wearing a hood. To meet the "standard" one must definitely have a documented diagnosis and a legal document created by the school (IPP, SEP, SSP, IEP, what-have-you) and it must be stated in this document that their hood is a coping strategy. The argument for abolishing hoodies along with hats is never a go because someone could come into the school unrecognized because of their hood (again, the hood is equated with crime). The hood rule (or better, no hood rule) is about ​ safety ​.

We allow Hijabs in our school however we must recount how it was a journey to get to this point - one that was fought for, and is it still an issue in other parts of our society today. Reminding us we are still fighting for rights in the form of dress for others. Part of the history of the Hijab can be recounted here:

Many women began to adopt it as a militant act in the 1970s when they became involved in political action through their participation in the Islamist political projects that formed part of a belated revolt, in many places, against the violent colonial project of westernisation or as a means of political resistance. As a consequence of these battles, the hijab was legitimised and many women felt more dignified and freer wearing it. (Ramírez, 2015, p. 672)

Contrary to popular belief, the Hijab actually gave women more freedom in Islamic culture: "The hijab went from being a sign of submission in the eyes of colonial modernity to becoming a sign of assertiveness, and women actively appropriated it" (Göle, 2003, p. 673). It is the notion of the white saviour that has ever sparked the Hijab to be problematic. Much like Black culture and dress, it comes back to the policing of the female body: "[F]rom the Western point of view, the headscarf is always explained as a symbol of backwardness and the subordination of women. It formed part of the con- struction of a colonial discourse that differentiated the coloniser from the colonised, and even today continues to dominate relationships with Muslims" (Ahmed, 1992, p. 673). What begins to fall apart when we analyze it from a colonial perspective is "[t]he main argument for banning its use is the liberation of women" (p. 674). To control what both men and women of global majorities wear "intensifies the sense of domination and control" (p. 682), so, ultimately, is it this control we as educators must surrender in order to create a truly equitable and accepting institution.

All in all, especially in the wake of mass-protests around the world in the name of Black Lives Matter, there are changes that can, and must, be made in educational institutions. While changes can be made in individual classrooms, there are larger, institutional practices that must be adapted as well. We must look at our practices from an equitable, anti-racist, and trauma-informed stance, rather than considering what we have always done out of sheer tradition. We must ask ourselves not only where our traditions are rooted and how they have been harmful to others throughout our history, but also how they are still harmful in our present.
References
Baker, A. (2017, December 9). "Take your hood off" and other teacher microaggressions. SpoonVision. https://spoonvision.wordpress.com/2017/12/09/take-your-hood-off-and-other-teacher-microaggressions/

Izard, E. (2016). Teaching children from poverty and trauma. National Education Association. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED594465.pdf

Koppel, N. (2007, August 31). Are your jeans sagging? Go directly to jail. The New York Times. https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20070831friday.html

Lorenz, S. L., & Murray, R. (2014). "Goodbye to the Gangstas": The NBA dress code, Ray Emery, and the policing of Blackness in basketball and hockey. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 38(1) 23-50.

McCarthy, J. F. (1994, August 12). Milford bans hats in school. Telegram & Gazette,​ B3​.

McCormick, P. (2008). Healing colonial trauma. Journal of Black Studies, 39(2), 252-265.

Moor, A. (2019, January 10). This is why it's rude to wear a hat indoors. https://bestlifeonline.com/rude-to-wear-a-hat-indoors/​

Nittle, N. (2018, September 13). Students are waging war on sexist and racist school dress codes - and they are winning. Vox. https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/9/13/17847542/students-waging-war-sexist-racist-school-dress-codes

Patterson, T. (2016, March 2). The politics of the hoodie. The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/06/magazine/the-politics-of-the-hoodie.html​

Pember, M. A. (8 March 2019). Death by civilization. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/03/traumatic-legacy-indian-boarding-schools/584293/

Ramírez, Á. (2015). Control over female 'Muslim' bodies: Culture, politics and dress code laws in some Muslim and Non-Muslim Countries. Identities: Interrogating Intersectionalities, Gendering Mobilities, Racializing Trans/nationalism, 22(6), 671-86.

Samuels, R. (2012, March 29). In the wake of Trayvon Martin's death the hoodie takes on a greater meaning. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/in-the-wake-of-trayvon-martins-de ath-the-hoodie-takes-on-a-greater-meaning/2012/03/29/gIQA44hHjS_blog.html ​

Wade, L. (2011, August 2). Racist-color blind dress codes. The Society Pages https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/08/02/racist-color-blind-dress-codes/

Walters, J. (2018, April 9). Dear trauma-informed teacher. Medium. https://medium.com/@drjimwalters/dear-trauma-informed-teacher-75d3df9f4be4​

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"No Hats Allowed" - A Euro-Centric Tradition that Upholds the Racist Practices Embedded in Colonialism

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As you enter the school you see signs that state, "Please Remove Your Hat" and "We Are a Hat-Free School." Yet a Black student came to class wearing a durag.

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Petition by a Student

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We believe that students should be allowed to wear hoods in school. Some teachers argue that wearing hoods could potentially be a safety hazard. This is because a hood obscures part of a person's face and identity-making it harder to spot an intruder or to identify a student who has done something wrong.It is presumably for this reason that many malls restrict hoods being worn.

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Many different reasons - from students and teachers - why hats shouldn't be worn at school.

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Hat-wearing is prohibited in many schools. This includes public and private schools. Wearing a hat to class can land a student in trouble. Teachers and school administrators frown at it.

Students can bring a hat to school. Some even wear theirs in class when there's no teacher. But such a student can land in big trouble if a teacher suddenly walks in and find him, or her wearing a hat.

Primary, middle school, and high school students don't wear hats to school.

Now this leaves us with a debatable question. Continue reading!
Why can't you wear hats in school? People wear hats to keep the head warm and prevent sun rays. They also wear it for religious reasons and so on. Unfortunately, you can't wear a hat in class or on the school premises. Teachers find it disrespectful, and etiquette experts are in support of this. Furthermore, besides being disrespectful, wearing a hat in class can cause distraction. It can make it difficult for students sitting at the back to view the whiteboard. Most teachers also believe hats-wearing can cause students to pay more attention to fashion instead of their studies. They argue that a school is a place of learning, not a fashion show or an opportunity for students to show off. Schools frown at hat-wearing because it can cover students' faces, making it difficult to identify their facial expressions. All of these are the reasons many schools don't allow students to wear hats. Keep reading for more information.
Can You Wear Hats In High School?

High school students comprise mainly of teenagers who would soon become university students. And there are limits to what high school students can do, owing to their educational level and age.

Unfortunately, you can't wear a hat to class in high school. Don't let teachers or school administrators find you wearing one on the school premises. You're free to put on your hat before arriving at the school compound or heading back home. Of course, once school closes and you're heading home, no one would scold or punish you for wearing a hat.

But while you're in the school compound or the classroom, do not wear a hat. If you're a new student, find out if the school administrators permit hat-wearing. Please don't assume they do because you find others wearing one. There could be special reasons the students why those students wear hats to school without confrontation.

Can You Wear Hats In The University?

The university is another world on its own. There, every student is presumably adults and independent. Teachers pay close attention and discipline students in high school. They could even recall every student's name.

However, professors don't have much time to monitor every student. You have to discipline yourself and take responsibility for all your actions.

Certain outfits worn in the university can land you in trouble if worn in high school. So, yes, you can wear hats in some universities without being harassed. It all boils down to the professor in class at the time. Some even order students to take off their hats.

However, most colleges and universities allow students to wear hats without confrontation. You can wear a hat on the school premises or in class if the professor permits it.

Notwithstanding, specific departments take behavioral-related issues more seriously. Dress code matters a great deal in such departments or faculties too. Examples include law school, medical school, and pharmacy. Wearing a hat in these faculties will make you look unserious. You could face disciplinary action for doing such too.

Can A School Make You Take Off Your Hat Legally?

The straightforward answer is yes, as long as you're a student. Any law governing the school binds on every student.

Schools and teachers are empowered to discipline students and control their behavior the way parents do. So, if you're in high school, chances are your school won't allow you to wear a hat. They can even state tons of reasons why.

One reason teachers prevent students from wearing hats in school is to avoid distraction. They feel the hat could be blocking someone else's view. Teachers like it when all students give maximum concentration in class.

Teachers also find it disrespectful when students wear hats to class. Even most parents do. Disobedience and stubbornness hurt a teacher just as much as academic failure.

Keep in mind that good grades and good behavior are crucial for those looking to pursue higher education after high school. Teachers and school administrators know this. That's why they keep tabs on almost every student and punish those that exhibit bad behaviors accordingly.

So, while in high school, your teacher can ask you to take off your hat and punish you for such behavior. The same can also happen in the university, but it barely does. Most professors don't care whether you're wearing a hat in class or not. It's up to the students to decide how they want to dress.

Why Students Should Be Allowed To Wear Hats In School

Hat-wearing at school has been a debatable matter for a long. Teachers believe hat-wearing is a sign of disregard, disrespect, distraction, and even danger, as most students can carry a weapon there.

However, many people don't believe the reasons given by teachers and school administrators are enough to stop students from wearing hats.

Here are some good reasons students should be allowed to wear hats in school.

It makes them feel at ease:

An easy way to make children learn more effectively is to give them some freedom. Let them play and wear hats, even if it's a baseball team or a snapback.

Most of these kids wear hats at home, and no one yells at them. Some have gotten used to hat-wearing, and they feel more comfortable anytime they wear one.

So it's high time that schools started considering hats wearing. It may make children feel at home and learn better. A relaxed kid will most likely be more attentive in class. And that's what schools want.

There's no point yelling at children because they brought hats to school. Doing so will only make them unsettled. Most kids may even hate going to school after being treated that way.

Used for covering up a bad hair day:

Having a bad hair day can be so embarrassing. It could give other students room to make jest of the affected student.

Using a hat, students can cover their bad haircuts and avoid bullying. But how can this happen when most schools find hat-wearing disrespectful, dangerous, and distracting?

A child with a bad haircut will find it difficult to concentrate in class. He will become a laughing stock in class and the entire school.

On the other hand, it might not be a bad hair day; that's the problem. A student may have a severe hair loss problem, a boil on the head, or something else that doesn't look presentable.

So teachers should not be too hard on any student that wears a hat to school. They may have done so for a reason. Instead of yelling or punishing the child, teachers should try to determine the reason behind such action. Then give the child a proper explanation of why they can't continue to wear hats to school.

Keep the head warm:

Cold during the winter season can make most students inactive or tired. Many find it difficult to concentrate properly in the class.

School's lack of physical activities during winter makes things even worst. With physical exercise, students would be able to burn some energy and be active in class.

Added to the lack of physical exercises is the restriction of hats. Most schools still confront students wearing hats during the winter period, forgetting that they need one to keep their heads warm.

So, it won't be a bad idea for schools to allow children to put on hats during the winter months.

Conclusion

Why can't you wear hats in school? Well, the reasons are numerous. One is because schools think wearing hats in class is a sign of disrespect for the teachers and other students.

Another reason is that the hats could be blocking the view of other students sitting behind the wearer. In other words, it could deprive some students of learning or participating in the class.

Most schools also claim that allowing students to wear hats would make it difficult for teachers and school administrators to identify their facial expressions. It will make it more challenging to identify the angry ones among the students.

But then, many people believe the reasons schools restrict students from wearing hats are not valid enough. They believe students should be allowed to wear hats.

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Why Can't You Wear Hats In School? The Reasons Are Shocking

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Hat-wearing is prohibited in many schools. This includes public and private schools. Wearing a hat to class can land a student in trouble. Teachers and school administrators frown at it. Students can bring a hat to school. Some even wear theirs in class when there's no teacher.

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Most middle and high schools have a dress code governing what students can and cannot wear. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 15 percent of America's high/combined schools have strict dress codes requiring school uniforms; however, other schools still have many rules and regulations for appropriate clothing.

School Appropriate Dress Includes Decency and Modesty

Many dress codes call for clothing teens wear to school to be reasonably modest, meaning clothes cover the body well, and decent. Guidelines surrounding modesty seek to minimize distraction and improve the safety of students, but are often open to interpretation based on personal values.

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Skirts and Shorts

Many schools define the appropriate length of skirts and shorts by the "fingertip rule." For example, the Socorro Independent School District states, "The length of skirts, skorts, and shorts must extend below the student's fingertips when the student's arms are extended at his/her sides." While many districts don't distinguish between boy and girl guidelines, some do have separate sections for boys and girls. The shorts regulation, however, is the same for both: "Shorts for boys and girls...must be knee-length and be worn above the hips."

Leggings

Many schools require Spandex leggings, or yoga pants, to be worn under skirts, long tops, or other clothing that covers the bottom and genital region. Warren Central School states in their dress code that "tights, leggings, or other types of hosiery must be accompanied by a fingertip length or longer top or dress."

Pajamas

Pajamas are often allowed for spirit days at school, but tend to be discouraged otherwise because they violate other dress code rules like no wearing of baggy clothes or tank tops. Southern High School lumps pajama pants in with other types of bottoms that may show skin through the fabric when excluding them from acceptable attire. Coast High School includes pajamas in the category of provocative clothing.

Dress Codes and Safety

School dress codes geared towards safety focus on a few areas including gang activity, theft, violence, and physical safety. They seek to eliminate clothing under which students can hide weapons as well as clothes that may make students more accident-prone. Some apparel is also banned because it may cause damage to school property. These may include items such as spiked jewelry and wallet chains.

No Gang-Related Clothing

These items may include specific colors, head coverings like a do rag, jewelry, emblems, or graffiti of any kind. James Logan High School prohibits any gang-related clothing on school property or at school-sponsored events. Since gang identification will vary regionally, the specific codes will be different depending on gang activity in the area.

No Overly Bulky Clothing

This might include heavy coats, trench coats, or baggy clothing of any kind and is meant to help schools prevent students from hiding weapons. Thompson Middle School says students can't wear "extremely baggy" clothing and must keep all outerwear, including coats and zipped-hood sweatshirts, in their lockers during the school day.

Appropriate Footwear

While the definition of appropriate footwear varies, common banned shoes include anything without a back strap or that poses a falling risk. For example, a school may not allow flip flops, platform shoes, or shoes with wheels for safety reasons like the ability to respond appropriately during fire alarms or other emergencies.

Preventing Distractions With School Appropriate Dress

Some apparel isn't allowed in school because it is considered a distraction from the education process.

Piercings

Many schools prohibit visible facial or body piercings and gauging, except for pierced ears. Some ditricts feel extreme body piercings may cause a distraction or threaten student safety, so they are not allowed.

Following School Rules

Regardless of how you personally feel about school dress codes, students who consistently break them may be subject to disciplinary processes. Therefore, it's best to know your school's dress code before the school year begins.

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Most middle and high schools have a dress code governing what students can and cannot wear. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 15 percent of America's high/combined schools have strict dress codes requiring school uniforms; however, other schools still have many rules and regulations for appropriate clothing.