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Example research essay topic: Freedom Of Expression 1 St Amendment - 1,761 words

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... their school boards and administrators applied dress codes and uniform policies. As the result, by 1999, 675 elementary schools of New York Citys (almost 72 percent) decided to introduce a standardized dress code. In 2000, a districtwide policy requiring some type of uniform was adopted by the Philadelphia School Board.

The same year, in Miami, school uniforms were applied in 60 percent of the public schools, in Chicago - 80 percent, 65 percent - in Boston and 95 percent - in New Orleans. Most of all, 37 states enforced their own uniform policies legislatively. So, as it is seen, the trend towards prescribing what students wear to class has been constantly growing and changing. Along with it the tension and debates among teachers, school officials, children, their parents and politicians has grown. There were several reasons for implementing school uniforms. New strategy should help to maintain discipline in unruly classrooms, improve self-esteem among students, and invoke a higher feeling of school pride.

There were some other reasons: reduce peer pressure (competition), help to concentrate more on learning and diminish distractions, create a more work-like atmosphere. Reasons of opposition were based on oppression of freedom of expression and inhibition of individuality. Finally, the school uniform movement reveals a great deal about the politics, social realities, and highly contested terrain of educational reform and the process of schooling in the United States. It is for sure that a school uniform policy should be examined carefully the crucial empirical, sociological, cultural, political, and legal dimensions. And a successful introduction and implementation of a school uniform program depends on communication between the system, the teachers, the parents and the students. The hottest debates are about the influence of school uniforms.

Is it productive or passive? Are dress codes better than school uniforms because they celebrate diversity over uniformity? As it was said before, some people are sure that introduction of school uniforms improves student behavior, reduces differences among socioeconomic levels, and enhances students's elf-confidence. But the others speak against the policy.

They say that dress codes and school uniforms infringe upon students' First Amendment rights, stifle individuality, and impose unnecessary means of control. The debates arise two fundamental questions: Does introduction of school-uniform policy decrease school violence and increase performance? Though a lot of researches were made there were not noticed an absolutely clear connection between dress and students behavior or performance. But there were no a lot of facts testifying negative impact of the policy.

Many teachers and parents, especially in elementary and middle schools, support school-uniform policy. They are sure that school uniforms are seen as a concrete and visible means of restoring order to the classrooms. Uniforms conjure up visions of parochial schools, which are perceived as safe, secure, and orderly learning environments (Education Week 2001). But from the other side, there are some parents, civil libertarians, and students, particularly older ones. They prove that uniform policies oppress childrens right on freedom of expression. Critics point to the fact that uniform requirements cramp students freedom of expression and amount to nothing more than a band-aid [sic] solution to the illness that ails our schools.

They also point to the financial burden uniforms put on lower-income families (Wills 2001). The right to freedom of expression is guaranteed by the 1 st Amendment. And implementation of school uniforms and dress codes is violation of it. The 1 st Amendment says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of expression, speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Most of all, the opposition says that the policy provokes imposing and teaching values that may be in conflict with the values of the student's family. A lot of cases have been examined by the courts for recent years. In 2002, several cases were sent to the Court. The cases Benjamin B. v. Natalia Independent School District and Katie T.

v. Forney Independent School District were about the Texas Education Code. The parents of the children made a bona fide religious and philosophical objection in writing. But in spite of it, respondents required students to wear uniforms.

One of the petitioners objected to uniforms because the petitioner believed uniforms stifle diversity and diversity is an important social good. The other ones objection to wearing a uniform was based on the petitioners understanding of the Bible. According to the Texas Education Code school districts are allowed to require school uniforms but students have a right to be exempted if their parents state in writing a bona fide religious or philosophical objection to the requirement. (Tex. Educ.

Code 11. 162 (c). ) It should be said that there are a lot of debates about the interpretation of religion and philosophy. The High Court has often interpreted the meaning of religion and philosophy widely. According to Merriam Websters College Dictionary, 873 (10 th ed. ), philosophy has too broad definition. But it is evident that the term philosophical as used in Texas Education Code section 11. 162 (c) means of or relating to the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group.

The word principles is a key part of this definition. Religious, in its turn, has been defined as relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity a person attitudes; of, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs or observances, according to Merriam Websters Collegiate Dictionary, 988 (10 th ed. ). It is important to say that a mere preference is not enough. One must be able to show that there are principles of conduct or manifest faithful devotion to religious beliefs that cause the parent to object to uniforms in order to state philosophical or religious objections to uniforms. The term bona fide is not defined in the Texas Education Code. Blacks Law Dictionary (177 (6 th Ed. ) 1990) defines bona fide as: in or with good faith; honestly, openly, sincerely; without deceit or fraud.

From this definition, it appears that a bona fide belief is one that is sincerely held. The question for a board of trustees is not whether a belief is true but whether the parent or guardian truly holds the belief. For a written statement to successfully invoke an exemption, it must sincerely state an objection that is rooted in either religion or philosophy. Thus, parents who are against uniforms on philosophical grounds are protected by the 1 st Amendment because school uniforms may be regarded as a violent, oppressive and dictatorial mindset; and parents may object their children to be indoctrinated with. But there are some parents who dont regard themselves as religious but objecting the introduction of school uniforms based on their believes. The UN's International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the UN's ICCP) supported the view that "religion" should be interpreted widely to include the moral education of, say, atheist families.

It says that government should "undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions" (article 18. 4). So, there are two main documents that allow students to reject wearing school uniforms: the 1 st Amendment and the UN's ICCP. The documents guarantee freedom of expression and the right to reject wearing school uniforms the ground that they may indoctrinate students with values opposed to what their families believe in. Parents as usual are worried about concepts like equity, ease and cost. The implementation of the uniform policy at schools demands the huge and increasing cost associated with administrating, dealing with appeals and court cases. But there is a strong tendency among teachers and school principles in support of the policy.

Recently, the researchers have gathered their opinions. The polls included principals of elementary, middle, and high schools. The results showed that almost all principles believe that some sort of dress code is necessary at their school. Most principals are sure that dress codes and school-uniform policy help schools to improve students behavior and reduce peer sexual harassment. Most of all they say that the policy prepares students for the work world; because it is pointed that almost all firms demand certain uniforms for their employees. But from the other side it is evident that workers who wear uniforms dont occupy high positions and their work is not highly-paid.

The facts testify that highly-paid employees and those who occupy higher positions dont wear uniforms but follow the rules of dress codes. There are different points of view among middle-school and high-school principals. Middle-school principals support mandatory uniforms and principals from high-school are for dress codes but less enthusiastic about uniforms. It is interesting to emphasize that principals in rural areas showed greater support for dress codes than principals in suburban and urban schools.

Teachers and principles comment school uniform programs. They point that the program will work best if it is mandatory. The implementation of the policy should be started in lower grades (K- 5). A school-uniform policy should deal with a uniform retailer and give some discount and it should be supplied by American-made products.

A lot of debates were made and is going to be made about dress codes and school uniforms but it is evident that student clothes do not cause or will not cure all the ills facing schools. The standards in schools should be improved and implementation of a dress code or uniform policy should be one of the first steps in it. Jay Goldman, editor of School Administrator, says that a dress code and school-uniform policy as part of a wider array of policies and practices is probably a very good thing, he said. If done as a supposed quick fix, it is a terrible idea. Nothing is a quick fix in education (Goldman in Marchant 1999). And it is true.

The policy needs time to be proved and a strong support of the government. Bibliography: Anderson, W. (2003). School dress codes and uniform policies. Clearinghouse on educational policy and management. College of Education, University of Oregon. Retrieved June 9, 2006 from web Garrison, J. (1999, October 10).

John Dewey. Encyclopedia of Philosophy of Education. Retrieved June 9, 2006 from web School uniforms - now more than ever! (1997). Childrens World. St. John Communities Online.

Retrieved June 9, 2006 from web Those disgusting school uniforms (B). (1998, October). Optionality Magazine. Retrieved June 9, 2006 from web


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Research essay sample on Freedom Of Expression 1 St Amendment

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