Supporters of school uniforms assert that when students wear uniforms their attendance improves. They claim that students who we
ar uniforms have more school spirit which encourages students to attend more often. In Irving, Texas, schools have been able to improve average daily attendance through a strict uniform policy. Though students do not wear official uniforms, they wear white shirts, khaki pants, and leather shoes that must meet certain uniform requirements. However, in nearby Euless, Texas, no uniforms are required, and yet students have higher average daily attendance rates than at the charter school in Irving. This seems to demonstrate that higher attendance rates have little to do with uniforms. A school in Polk County, Florida, has the most restrictive uniform policy in the nation. It was enacted in 1999, and since then, the school has found that its average daily attendance has fallen dramatically. In 2000, the school broke a national scholastic absentee record for the same school year. These results show that uniforms have no effect on attendance. In fact, it shows evidence to the contrary; strict uniform policies have a negative effect on attendance.
Moreover, the enforcement of uniform policies consumes resources in terms of time and manpower. Teachers and administrators must constantly be on the alert for students who do not maintain the policy. Also, students who come into violation of the policy must be disciplined, which causes stress and additional work that might take up time they could otherwise spend studying. One of the most extreme cases of uniform policy violations occurred at the school in Polk County in 1999. An assistant principal reprimanded a student for wearing pants with a 4% spandex weave because spandex pants were not permitted by uniform policy. Events like this are common. In Polk County, parents and teachers once worked together for the best of their students. Now, there is a rift between the two groups over the uniform issue.
3
Select the correct answer.
What type of claim is the author making?
A.
policy claim
B.
value claim
C.
fact claim
D.
cause claim
