Based on the Structures of Selection and Differentiation at page 4 in the book. 

This news is in relation to the complexity of the organizational environment. The differentiation between students is one of the principal features of school organization. The pedagogy and curriculum is varied among the student groups. The main element schools use for dividing the students is by their age and grade. Regarding our topic uniforms, we can use school uniforms as a tool to differentiate the students. Like the news said, any school is free to design their own uniform. School uniforms could look similar to each other but they are unique in their own way with some features like color or the patch of the school. By wearing the same uniform, students are being in a union and it shows a collective identity. However, our problem touches on the limitation of personal expression caused by wearing the same uniform. As our news said, some students might reject this regulation and show it by not wearing their socks properly or not wearing the uniform at all. Moreover, it is stated in our news that mainly in parochial and private schools that uniforms were mandatory and this is related to school organization as well.

Quotes:

-“It really communicates a sense of belonging,” said Mhairi Maxwell, co-curator of the exhibition “Tartan,” which showed at the V&A museum in Dundee, Scotland, last year. “Any club, any society, any school, can design their own tartan. You’re part of this larger club, but you’re also your own little clique within it.”

-“It creates this collective identity that’s important. It gives students this kind of embodied pride that they have regarding their school — or they can also express their rejection of that uniformity by letting their socks fall down to their ankles,” she joked.”

-”Uniforms were only associated with parochial and private schools until the late 1980s, but public schools began piloting them as well, allowing plaid’s influence in American classrooms to spread.”

  This news is about a movement in Togo that originated from the issue of uniforms. In summary, an organization was founded for creating adjustable school uniforms for girls. In this way, the cost of sending girls to schools was decreased.This news is in relation to the complexity of social, cultural and political changes. As stated in the book, market-based forces started to get involved in order to decrease the control of bureaucracy over schools. Not only private schools, but also public schools started to make contracts with private brands to get their food, security, transportation, after-school programs, and tutoring services. We can add uniforms to these services as well. School uniforms cost money and not every family is in the same financial state for affording it. In Togo, many families cannot send their daughters to school because of the financial need for tuition fees, school supplies, and uniforms. It is stated that uniforms’ prices are expensive and it's taking away the girls’ rights to get education. Regarding our problem, uniforms are considered to ensure equality but not every family is equally capable of buying the uniforms. 

Quotes:

-“A uniform is typically one of the more expensive pieces,” McGriff said. “They can be one of the most cost-effective ways to keep girls in school.”

"Studies have shown that providing free uniforms can reduce dropout rates by 16 percent and absenteeism by more than 35 percent."

-“Talent and resilience and resourcefulness is equally distributed worldwide, but opportunity is not.”

-"McGriff interviewed groups of girls about obstacles that made attending school difficult. They mentioned a lack of money and support, but when she asked about uniforms, the reaction was immediate."

-"The dress now has adjustable cords running along the side that create a tailored fit for every body type, while extra fabric hemmed underneath enables it to grow up to a foot in length. The uniform can fit a girl for up to three years, adjusting six sizes; when finally outgrown, it can be handed down to younger girls."

This news article shows how an imposed policy moved students to assist the cause. These boys wore skirts to challenge the no-shorts policy during a heatwave. This event likely strengthened student unity as they worked together for change. It also provoked discussions about gender norms and fairness, with some students supporting the movement while others reacted with disagreement. The act of defying school rules temporarily shifted power dynamics, making students feel more influential in decision-making. However, it may have also created divisions among those with different views. The event increased interactions between students, teachers, and even parents, encouraging conversations about school policies, self-expression, and the role of uniforms in student life. 

Quotes:

-One pupil said: “We aren't allowed to wear shorts and I'm not sitting there in trousers the whole day. It's a bit hot. Girls are allowed to wear skirts all year round and we have to sit there sweating.”

-One pupil was allegedly told to take off his skirt because it was too short and another was told his legs were too hairy.

This news is about future directions. As stated in the book, many elements of schools are prone to change and they originate from educational policies, social movements, or local factors. The regulations about uniforms are open to debate and change as well. This study investigated whether there is a relation between school uniforms and child behavior. On the contrary of general belief of many parents and teachers, there seems to be no influence of school uniforms on young students’ behavior or attendance overall. Regarding our problem, the study found that low-income students had better attendance in schools with uniforms but the difference is so little. Also, the level of belonging was found to be lower in the students who have to wear uniforms than those not. In other words, wearing a uniform can cause an negative effect since it restricts individuality. This kind of study should be done to investigate the outcomes of changes in certain educational elements and to make necessary changes based on reliable data. In this way, the regulations would be up-to-date and aligned with today’s world’s circumstances.

Quotes:

- “Even after considering a wide range of other factors that could affect students’ behavior, school uniforms did not affect any of the three dimensions of behavior in any grade.”

- “Students reported their sense of school belonging, such as their closeness to teachers and classmates.”

- “While uniforms are supposed to build a sense of community, they may have the opposite effect,”. "Fashion is one way that students express themselves, and that may be an important part of the school experience. When students can’t show their individuality, they may not feel like they belong as much.”

Students wearing the wrong uniform at Sir Harry SmithCommunity College in Cambridgeshire were sent to the school hall rather than taking lessons on their first post-holidays day back. Parents expressed frustration, saying their children were humiliated and unfairly singled out. Some were financially challenged in meeting uniform requirements, including one mother who had already spent £500 and could not afford new shoes immediately. The school defended its policy, stating parents had been reminded of the rules in advance.

→This situation connects to the debate on whether mandatory uniforms promote equality or restrict individuality. And it begs the question of whether the cost of uniformity is worth it in terms of students’ emotional and educational well-being. While uniforms can create a sense of unity and reduce visible socioeconomic differences, strict enforcement, especially when it disrupts education, can have the opposite effect, making students feel excluded and unfairly treated.