Analysis: Should Students Have To Wear School Uniforms

In 1987, a public school in Baltimore, Maryland became the first to instill a school uniform policy in the United States. This idea of all students dressing alike spread throughout the country, and by 1994 a school district in Long Beach, CA became the first to require a whole school district to wear school uniforms (Background of the Issue - School Uniforms - ProCon.org). Today, an average of 23% of public and private schools enforce a school uniform system (School Uniform Statistics). But this change in dress code policy did not come about without controversy. Although some will argue uniforms promote safety, focus, and an even playing field in schools, school uniform policies oppress student’s freedom of expression, advocate for conformity, and cause more problems than they fix.

Schools shouldn’t make kids uniforms because it takes away students individuality. Uniforms also shouldn’t be used because the it takes away students freedom to express them self and individuality also, it’s hard to prove the clothing they wear makes students smarter finally once again.

This claim is outweighed by the facts that freedom of speech does not apply to the use of school uniforms and that students' education are more essential than expressing themselves through their choice of clothing. Uniforms do not stop students from expressing themselves; they can do this by styling other ways they present themselves.

The debate about public school uniforms in America is an issue that has been around for a very long time. This issue was even mentioned by President Bill Clinton in a previous State of the Union address in 1996. In his 1996 State of the Union Address, President Clinton decreed,” I challenge all of our schools to teach character education, to teach good values and good citizenship and if it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms” (Clinton 1996). Public schools requiring mandatory uniforms for their students are a major topic as it deals with moral and economic concerns about how America’s public schools are operated.

Most commonly found in private schools, school uniforms are slowly being adopted by public schools in the US. In the 2003-2004 school year every one in eight schools required uniforms; in the 2011-2012 school year that number had increased to every one in five schools (ProCon.org). As violence increased, schools started enforcing uniforms thinking that it would solve the violence. School uniforms were created in England in the 16th century for students referred to as the “charity children” (ProCon.org). In later centuries, high-class schools were the most commonly known for requiring their students to wear uniforms. The first recorded time a public school in the US required uniforms was in 1987, a school in Maryland put out an optional uniform policy (ProCon.org). Uniforms have been being enforced by private schools for years, but now public schools are trying to enforce them. Students should not be required to wear uniforms because it refuses students the ability to express themselves, dress codes are more effective, and uniforms can cause a detrimental effect on self-image.

As a society we value the individual choices that we are able to decide upon in our everyday life. School uniforms have a negative effect on students, due to the lack of individuality and self-image that they are able to express. Therefore passing student policies requiring school uniforms is misleading as it creates more issues than it solves. Students should feel they are different from everyone else and have to freedom to act the way they want and wear what they want. Enforcing school uniforms does not affect academic situations in any way for uniforms to be mandatory. Schools need to re-think their decision on school uniform policies for the mental and physical well-being of their students.

At a young age, many students in Australia attend a public school that are required to include uniforms. For example, an elementary school in Beaumont Hills of Sydney has handy and safe uniforms that bring the community together. Since the temperature is very high from the dramatic heat of the sunrays, all students are required to wear their sunproof hat to eat lunch outside. Despite the fact that this is a public school, uniforms can give the environment improved assistance and equality. Should students still have to wear uniforms? Students at Cosumnes Oaks need to wear uniforms.

The student’s family may be really poor and won't be able to purchase the uniforms. Parents don’t want to spend more money on school uniforms that the child would use only for a couple years and the child would have to trash it after they're finished with school. Parents already have to spend money on casual clothes for their child for trips, sleepovers and other things. This is the reason why school uniforms should not be required at

The idea of uniforms being required for public school students has been a widely controversial topic in the recent past. In the 2003-2004 school year, only one in eight public schools required students to wear uniforms (ProConorg Headlines). In the 2013-2014 school year, one in five public schools required students to wear uniforms (ProConorg Headlines). This essay will discuss the reasons that uniforms restrict the individuality of students, burdens families that cannot afford two sets of clothes for each of their children (Farrell), and serve little to none purpose in benefitting the education of students. Uniforms are meant for the workforce, not school children.

“Opponents say school uniforms infringe upon students’ right to express their individuality, have no positive effect on behavior and academic achievement, and emphasize the socio economic disparities they are intended to disguise.” (Procon.org 1). I think that Crestwood High School should not require school uniforms because parents spend about one billion dollars per year on school uniforms. While some believe that Crestwood High School should require uniforms because they may deter crime and increase students safety.(Procon.org 1). I strongly maintain that we should not require uniforms, so students could have a right to express their thoughts. School uniforms would not be good for Crestwood because it restricts students’ freedom of expression

Despite their reported benefits, mandatory uniforms are controversial because a lot of parents and students don’t like the idea of forcing children to dress alike, which they say suppresses freedom of expression. Some families complain about the financial burden of purchasing uniforms in addition to their kids’ other clothing. Years ago, parents also complained that it was difficult to find uniforms, but that ceased to be an issue after large chain stores like Target and Wal-Mart began selling

Yes and no the experts explained in the article and the heated debate over school uniforms show no sign of chilling. The article first explains how researchers are divided over how much of an impact if any dress policies have upon the student learning. Secondly, it explains why some schools have uniforms and it says President Clinton provided momentum to the school uniform movement when he said in his 1996 State of the Union speech. Finally the article lists some pros and cons about school

For years, there have been hundreds of debates about whether students should wear uniforms or not. Many schools agreed with the idea and have already required school uniforms, while others are still considering it. Some say that school uniforms represent discipline and instill school pride, but others think that it is not creativity and comfortable. Despite that there are still arguments about it; school uniforms have increasingly demonstrated their importance and influence in many ways. Students should have to wear uniforms because it will help students to perform better at school, give students a sense of discipline, lower the cost for parents, and decrease the rate of crime.

For years, school uniforms have been stereotyped as “Only less funded and violent schools get school uniforms” when in fact that's not true at all. The argument of discussion whether school uniforms should be worn or not have been a topic of discussion on several occasions in school board meetings, the media, and even being recognized by the 42nd U.S President Bill Clinton. During a 1996 State of The Union Address, Clinton stated “ The entire United States of America is in your debt because you took the first step to show that elementary and middle school students couldn’t wear uniforms to class”.

School systems have debated for years if they should make school uniforms mandatory for all students. Some parents do not want school systems to mandate uniforms due to pressure from their children to be able to maintain their individuality through clothing, while other parents prefer uniforms to reduce spending money on name brand school clothes and to minimize associations with gangs. More school systems across the United States of America are going to uniforms from grades one through twelve where students are still impressionable by their peers. I believe public schools should require students to wear school uniforms to help parents save money in these hard economic times, to limit the number of incidents of violence in the school systems due to gangs and gang associates such as colors, and to prepare students for the job force after school where some places make it mandatory to wear uniforms to work every day.