End Required School Uniforms in Beauregard Parish
The Issue
The Beauregard Parish school district has required uniforms since 2001. Minor policy adjustments have been made since then, but the core remains the same. The main claims in favor of school uniforms are based on illogical guesses that are largely unsupported by scientific research. School uniforms require conformity among students that is not proven to improve behavior or safety. They dull self-expression among students in exchange for benefits that don't exist.
Arguments in favor of school uniforms include:
- Reducing bullying based on the brand/price of clothes
- Improving safety by making it easier to identify intruders against students
- Increasing school pride and sense of belonging
- Helping low-income families
Counter arguments include:
- While school uniforms could reduce teasing in theory, this comes at the cost of individuality. Additionally, teasing based on clothes is not prevented; it is only diverted to other aspects. Uniforms do not fix the problem. If they cannot harass you for your shirt or pants, it's your shoes. If not your shoes, your hair, your face, your interests. The only way to improve bullying is by improving the attitude towards differences rather than trying to eliminate differences.
- Intruders can very easily look like students. Anyone in a white polo and blue jeans could walk onto campus without immediately raising suspicion.
- Uniforms cannot change how someone feels towards the school or other students. T-shirts and khakis will not fix the environment of the school if students feel out of place.
- School uniforms cost money too. Low-income families will be buying clothes that they can only wear for a year, and these clothes are in addition to the wardrobes that students already have.
A study can be found here revealing that social behavior and school attendance are unaffected by the presence of uniforms in elementary schools.
As a student at DeRidder High School, I want these uniforms abolished for me and my peers. Everyone is different and we should be able to express that rather than being forced to conform to a dress code based on arbitrary standards.
504
The Issue
The Beauregard Parish school district has required uniforms since 2001. Minor policy adjustments have been made since then, but the core remains the same. The main claims in favor of school uniforms are based on illogical guesses that are largely unsupported by scientific research. School uniforms require conformity among students that is not proven to improve behavior or safety. They dull self-expression among students in exchange for benefits that don't exist.
Arguments in favor of school uniforms include:
- Reducing bullying based on the brand/price of clothes
- Improving safety by making it easier to identify intruders against students
- Increasing school pride and sense of belonging
- Helping low-income families
Counter arguments include:
- While school uniforms could reduce teasing in theory, this comes at the cost of individuality. Additionally, teasing based on clothes is not prevented; it is only diverted to other aspects. Uniforms do not fix the problem. If they cannot harass you for your shirt or pants, it's your shoes. If not your shoes, your hair, your face, your interests. The only way to improve bullying is by improving the attitude towards differences rather than trying to eliminate differences.
- Intruders can very easily look like students. Anyone in a white polo and blue jeans could walk onto campus without immediately raising suspicion.
- Uniforms cannot change how someone feels towards the school or other students. T-shirts and khakis will not fix the environment of the school if students feel out of place.
- School uniforms cost money too. Low-income families will be buying clothes that they can only wear for a year, and these clothes are in addition to the wardrobes that students already have.
A study can be found here revealing that social behavior and school attendance are unaffected by the presence of uniforms in elementary schools.
As a student at DeRidder High School, I want these uniforms abolished for me and my peers. Everyone is different and we should be able to express that rather than being forced to conform to a dress code based on arbitrary standards.
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Petition created on June 23, 2026