The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
44°F
Current Conditions
Broken clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

The Vox Box

  1. Blogs
  2. The Vox Box
  3. The Battle: Individuality vs. Peer Pressure

The Battle: Individuality vs. Peer Pressure

Should schools enforce school uniforms?

With the current school year winding down, several school administrators are considering changing policies within the school districts.  For example, the Post Falls School District may opt to elect a four-day week for the 2009-2010 school year as opposed to a five-day week, in order to allow for more teacher planning and preparation time.

One major issue that is affecting school districts right now is schools uniforms.  As unneccessary as they may seem, the idea is quickly becoming more and more appealing.  Schools that have enstated uniforms have been proven time and time again to have lower violence rates, and with the number of lockdowns our district saw this year, violence has become quite the issue.

In addition, school uniforms alert staff members and security officers in the schools of intruders, particularly those who pose a dangerous threat to students.

Perhaps the largest issue that has been addressed by the potential school policy of school uniforms is peer pressure.  By enforcing a school uniform dress code, students are relieved of any pressure to act, dress, and BE who everyone else wants him or her to be.  One of the very first parts of a student's routine every morning is to get dressed.  Think about it.  With a school uniform dress code, every student within the district would practice defeating peer pressure within the schools with the very simple act of dressing EACH MORNING.  That is a lot of practice towards a very wothwhile goal.  Just like anything, eliminating peer pressure will take practice.

Consider this issue within modern high schools.  Sure, sacrificing the freedom of dress will prove to be diffilcult, but the purpose behind enforcing school uniform dress codes is much greater than the cause of individaulity.

In 2006, then-editor Steve Smith of The Spokesman-Review had the idea of starting a publication for an often forgotten audience: teenagers. The Vox Box was a continuation of the Vox, an all-student staffed newspaper published by The Spokesman-Review. High school student journalists who staffed the Vox made all content decisions as they learn about the trade of journalism. This blog's mission was to give students an opportunity to publish their voices. The Vox Box and the Vox wrapped up in June 2009, but you can follow former staffers' new blog at http://voxxiez.blogspot.com.