Should students have to wear school uniforms?

      

  In today's society all students should be required to wear uniforms. The current generation of kids in school are more worried about whether what they are wearing to school is cool or not. Instead they need to be focusing on their studies. By making uniforms mandatory of a students, everyone will look the same. This will remove the notion for the younger generation that it's all about appearance. Individualism is a fundamental value in the United States. All Americans believe in the right to express their own opinion without fear of punishment. This value, however, is coming under fire in an unlikely place. The issue is school uniforms. Should public and private school students be allowed to make individual decisions about clothing, or should all students be required to wear a uniform?  I believe that students should have to wear school uniforms for three reasons.

First, wearing school uniforms would help make students’ lives simpler. They would no longer have to decide what to wear every morning, sometimes trying on outfit after outfit in an effort to choose. Uniforms would not only save time but also would eliminate the stress often associated with this chore. Uniforms being mandatory in all grade schooling would be a positive change. When students are able to pick and choose what they wear to school, there is too much room for discrimination and judgment between peers (Debate.org, 2014). A student who cannot afford to wear fashionable clothes could be ridiculed. A student who dresses provocatively will draw negative attention to themselves. A student who is heavier than other students may stand more without a uniform. Individual styles of clothing and self- expression really has no place in schooling.

Second, school uniforms influence students to act responsibly in groups and as individuals. Uniforms give students the message that school is a special place for learning. In addition, uniforms create a feeling of unity among students. For example, when students do something as a group, such as attend meetings in the auditorium or eat lunch in the cafeteria, the fact that they all wear the same uniform would create a sense of community. Even more important, statistics show the positive effects that school uniforms have on violence and truancy. According to a recent survey in Hillsborough County, Florida, incidents of school violence dropped by 50 per cent, attendance and test scores improved, and student suspensions declined approximately 30 per cent after school uniforms were introduced (Anderson, 2014).

Finally, school uniforms would help make all the students feel equal. People’s standards of living differ greatly, and some people are well-off while others are not. People sometimes forget that school is a place to get education, not to promote a “fashion show.” Implementing mandatory school uniforms would make all the students look the same regardless of their financial status. School uniforms would promote pride and help to raise the self-esteem of students who cannot afford to wear stylish clothing. There are even more advantages to wearing school uniforms in public schools in addition to those previously mentioned. It means lower costs for parents during back-to-school shopping. However, the idea that bullying might be alleviated is the leading reason why schools should implement the wearing of uniforms. The other is the fostering of school pride. Students will not lose their personality but will merely learn new ways to express themselves. (Folse, K., Solomon, E. & Muchmore-Vokoun, A, 2004)

Opponents of mandatory uniforms say that students who wear school uniforms cannot express their individuality. You can't really be you when you wear uniforms. It takes your individuality away. We need freedom.  We have to stick up for who we are, and how we do that is through our clothes. Whether we are happy, dark, or crazy, we show it, without even having to say it, through clothes. This point has some merit on the surface. However, as stated previously, school is a place to learn, not to flaunt wealth and fashion. Society must decide if individual expression through clothing is more valuable than improved educational performance. It is important to remember that school uniforms would be worn only during school hours. Students can express their individuality in the way they dress outside of the classroom.

In conclusion, I believe that there are many benefits to wearing school uniforms. I believe that they are affordable, that they reduce bullying rates in schools and that they foster a sense of equality in schools. For these reasons I believe that all students should wear uniforms.  There are many well-documented benefits to implementing mandatory school uniforms for students. Studies show that students learn better and act more responsibly when they wear uniforms. Public schools and private schools should require uniforms in order to benefit both the students and society as a whole.

References

Anderson, M. (2014, April 21). Reasons Why Schools Should or Shouldn't Use Uniforms. Retrieved from Globalpost: http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/reasons-schools-should-shouldnt-use-uniforms-16854.html

Debate.org. (2014, April 21). Should student wear uniform? Retrieved from Debate.org: http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-students-wear-school-uniforms

Folse, K., Solomon, E. & Muchmore-Vokoun, A. (2004). Great essay (2nd Edition). United States of America: Thomas Heinle .