Do school uniforms stop bullying?

The thread on cyber-bullying made me think of this.

A lot of people support school uniforms because they claim it stops bullying by putting kids "on level ground."

I do not agree at all. I attended Catholic uniform schools for about four years, and I clearly remember that dressing us all up like clowns did nothing to "level the ground"--or to stop bullying. The bullies simply found other things to torment their victims about: being fat or very thin, being very short or very tall, wearing glasses, etc. There was zero difference between the level of bullying at uniform Catholic schools and the level at non-uniform public schools.

Dressing "differently" does not cause bullying; being bullied for dressing "differently" is instead a symptom of a negative behavior pattern on the part of the bully. It's my theory that bullies learn to be bullies from their parents. I picture their parents as being the types who always have something rotten to say about the neighbors, co-workers, and even other family members. The kid hears their parents continually disparaging the adults in their social circle, and they turn around and mimic the behavior in their social circle. The best way to prevent bullying is for parents to teach their kids to be respectful, or at least civil, to others.

I don't suppport uniforms. I feel a dress code is a good idea, but not because I have a delusion that it will impact bullying. I just think it's a good way to teach kids how to dress and groom in ways consistent with what will be expected of them in an adult workplace.

It also keeps them from wearing belly shirts, t-shirts with logos or sayings, etc...

That's why I like the idea of a dress code. Perhaps children, who play and roughhouse, are better off with a simple dress code like a polo shirt and khakis or Dockers. But I picture a high school dress code being just like the ones adults follow while working in offices: slacks, collared shirts and ties for boys, skirts/dress slacks and blouses or dresses for girls. No jeans, no sneakers, no tee-shirts, no flip-flops. Maybe throw a Casual Friday in every now and then.

A lot of teens get out of high school not having a clue how they're supposed to dress for an interview or office job; they show up in flip-flops and belly shirts. Making them dress like ladies and gentlemen in high school would teach them how to select appropriate business clothing.

I could have written the above, except I attended them for 12 years!!!!

But all of your points are valid. I'm not sure uniforms are necessary, but i do believe in a strictly enforced dress code, and not just in HS, but starting from the very beginning. A strictly enforced dress code does make life on the wallet a bit easier as well.

I'm really torn on the issue. I can see points on both sides of the debate, and can agree with some of them on both sides.

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