Schools across the country are increasingly concerned about violence and safety. One way they control this problem is through the use of school uniforms. One in five schools across the country, both public and private, now require a school uniform. (Daniels) Students oppose the use of uniforms in schools due to the lack of expression. “My belief is that when you go to school, you go to school to learn.” said Montgomery Schools Superintendent Barbara Thompson. (Nettles) Students go to school to learn and not to worry about what they wear Yes, freedom of expression may be stifled in the process, however there are more important reasons why there is a need for uniforms. We tend to understand that there is a difference between a dress code and a uniform. However, most school dress codes have become as strict as uniforms. (Daniels) Dress codes require a certain set of rules for a student. pay attention to when they get dressed for school in the morning. Some rules may include the length of shorts or the width of a strap on a top. While many agree with these codes, many disagree with uniforms such as a pair of dress pants and a dress shirt. (Daniels) School uniforms and dress codes in schools are becoming more and more specific. Schools are changing with the world around them to update policies. Although many students object to the uniforms' lack of self-expression, parents and teachers are the same for them. Uniforms come at an additional cost to parents but eliminate extra shopping trips before school starts. Parents spend less money on clothes and eliminate the need for new clothes every year. School officials say school uniforms... are at the heart of the paper... in terms of productivity. As President Clinton said, "If it means that classrooms will be tidier and more disciplined, and that our young people will learn to evaluate themselves by what they are on the inside, rather than what they wear on the outside , so our public schools should be able to require their students to wear uniforms." Ultimately it seems that there have been more positive results of the uniforms than negative ones. Students are less pressured to dress like others just to fit in, just as parents have to worry about their students' performance in school. Yes, it costs a little more but you don't need an entire wardrobe, just a few outfits. Soon it will come down to the need for safety rather than self-expression in schools and you will see more uniforms in schools across the country.