| This study was based upon the qualitative method of inquiry, using a phenomenological approach. The purpose of this study was to discover teachers' perceptions about the impact of school uniforms on school climate, academic achievement, and student behavior in a public alternative school, and to discover themes related to teachers' experiences with school uniforms in this unique setting.; The sample for this study consisted of eight teachers, both male and female, from a public alternative school in the western region of the United States. The school used in the study was an expulsion school with approximately 40 students per year, both male and female, in grades seven through twelve. The data for this study were gathered through face-to-face interviews with the participants using the following grand tour question: “Describe your experiences with school uniforms in this setting.” Interviews were taped for the purpose of transcription, and both inductive and deductive coding were used to discover statements and themes.; As teachers described their experiences with school uniforms, the following topics emerged: gangs and gang-related activity, student attitude, school safety, competition and socioeconomic status, and individuality. There was division among the participants on several issues regarding the effects of school uniforms on students and the learning environment, and participants gave specific reason, for their beliefs. The positive effects of uniforms included improvement in student attitudes, student bonding, reduction of gang-related activities, increase in school safety, reduction in competition through clothing, diffusion of the effects of socioeconomic differences, improvement in overall school climate, and reduction of bad behavior. The negative effects of uniforms included initial belligerence among students resulting from the mandate to wear uniforms, and the restriction of expression in individuality. Some participants felt that uniforms helped to improve academic achievement, while some were unsure, and others felt that uniforms had no impact on academics.; The four overall themes that emerged from the data analysis were Rigidity and Conformity, Learning Life Lessons, Student Bonding, and Contradictions Among Teachers. Recommendations were given as to how the data from this study could be helpful to the educational community in considering evaluating and implementing school uniform policies. |
