Argument Against Wearing Uniforms in School - Research Paper Example

Argument Against Wearing Uniforms in School A growing debate over whether should be made to wear school uniforms has been brewing lately due to the rising costs of educational expenses. With the cost of sending children to both public and private schools now entailing increased costs in school materials and school fees, the time has come to actually rethink the position that school uniforms are a good idea. To begin with, the argument in support of school uniforms is based on the very simple theory that uniforms erase bullying, social status, and clique mentality in schools. This is a theory that has been shown to be without any factual basis in the real school system. Peter Houghton (“Arguments About Uniforms”), an anti-uniform advocate goes on the explain that uniforms will not serve as a barrier or preventive measure against bullying in school mostly because students will always find a way to be mean and bully each other through : hair style hair colour height weight accessories odor mannerisms smoking habits The uniforms do not serve as a social barrier in this instance. Most private schools actually have a problem with the students accessorizing their school uniform in order to make themselves stand out from the pack that the school insists on creating. These students, whose creative voices are stifled by the school by not allowing them to express themselves artistically in their mode of dress more often than not end up being the problem students who are under constant observation and meetings with guidance counselors and the school principal for being “problem students”. Courtney Williams (“Why Students Shouldnt Have to Wear Uniforms”) who runs a petition site against her schools move to impose uniforms explained it best in the following statement: Teenagers, these days, have such a great sense of their own unique style and they should be able to show this but, schools are making us wear uniforms. How are we, as students, going to express our style? This is an argument supported by Alistair Endersby who explained in his argumentative paper (“Should School Uniforms Be Got Rid Of?”) that uniforms are a violation of a students right to Freedom of Expression. He explains: We all have a right to individuality, to make personal choices and to express our personality. This right of free expression includes the way we choose to dress. Making everyone wear the same school uniform infringes on (goes against) our rights and is a misuse of authority. The right to choose what to wear is particularly important for young people, who often have few other ways of expressing their personality or making choices about their lives. There is also this belief that school uniforms will protect the students from possible gang violence when out in public on a school day. However, anybody who has worn a school uniform knows that the uniform only increases the chances of gang violence on the individual as the school uniform immediately marks the person as being from an opposing school or school team. Rather than protecting the student, the uniform makes him or her an easy target. Therefore wearing a school uniform may not be a good idea in school districts where team rivalries rank high. In fact, if a student accidentally finds himself in a seedy part of town, dressed in his school uniform after classes as it sometimes happens in the case of adventurous youths, the uniform delivers the message that they are “moneyed” and the student is then targeted by the more devious characters of the area. Endersby (Should School Uniforms Be Got Rid Of?”) provides evidence in support of this statement by explaining that: There is no proper research that shows that introducing uniform cuts crime in schools. Uniforms can actually lead to more violence, as they make students from rival schools much more obvious in the street or on the bus. “Us-and-them” feelings are made worse by uniform, and bullying and fighting between students from different schools can increase. The next argument in support of school uniforms is that it lessens the clothes expenses for the parents of the students during the school year. Do the math again and parents will find that they actually spend double on their childrens clothes by making the them wear uniforms in school. The kids still need to wear civilian clothes when not in school thus forcing the parents to buy both uniform and street wear clothes for the children. This expense sometimes equates to a uniform set of 2 golf shirts, 1 sweatshirt, and 1 vest adding up to $250 more or less. For the same amount, a frugal parent will be able to purchase 7 all purpose shirts and 3 pairs of pants. (Houghton, “Arguments About Uniforms”) Think of it this way, if a parent truly wants to save money on clothing expenses for the child, isnt it more logical to spend on street clothes that the child can also wear during the weekends and off school days? If clothes are not multipurpose in nature, I dont see how it can save the parents money now or in the immediate future. School uniforms easily wear out due to the constant wear and tear on the garments. Therefore the uniforms need to be replaced towards the middle or end of the school year. If the student is lucky enough to have his uniform survive in one piece for the next school year, the fading and other signs of aging on the fabric will make it shameful for the student to be seen wearing the same uniform the next school year. So the parents has to buy a new set for the next year. Unlike in the case of normal clothing, the parents and students do not mind the wear and tear so much on the clothes because simply pairing it with new accessories or stylishly repairing the tears on the clothing will be more than sufficient to create a totally new wardrobe for the student the next year. Fixing up their normal clothes for the next year actually turns into a fun summer project for the student and parents concerned. Less money is spent on getting new clothes for the student at the start of the year so the money can be spent on more important matters. The clothes of the student can instead be updated at a more normal pace that the parents can afford. Like say during the students birthday and Christmas or other special occasions. It does not become a single large expense on the parents credit card or cash flow. However, I am not against enforcing dress codes in schools that do not have uniforms as dress codes are not as restrictive as school uniforms. These dress codes offer a sense of uniformity and instills discipline in the students. This has been proven to be effective in a public school in Napa, California where according to a report by Marian Wilde (“Do Uniforms Make Schools Better?”) students are allowed to wear solid colors of any kind provided the article of clothing does not have any images or declarations of any sort on the front or back. Ms. Wilde also quoted research by David Brunsma of the University of Missouri that indicated (qtd. in Wilde) ; In his 2004 book, The School Uniform Movement and What It Tells Us About American Education: A Symbolic Crusade, Brunsma reviewed past studies on the effect of uniforms on academic performance. He also conducted his own analysis of two enormous databases, the 1988 National Educational Longitudinal Study and the 1998 Early Childhood Longitudinal Study. Brunsma concluded that there is no positive correlation between uniforms and school safety or academic achievement. (Wilde, “Do School Uniforms Make Schools Better?”) The dangers in terms of gang violence, drugs, assult, and bullying will exist in schools regardless of the what the students are wearing. A uniform does not make it easier to prevent school based violence. Rather, it only serves to make it harder to identify the suspects as they are all dressed the same way. Clothes also do not indicate the intelligence quotient of a student. That is discovered through proepr academic testing methods instead. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that wearing a school uniform does not really serve a meaningful purpose in the school system. In closing I would like the reiterate that the right to choose is a first amendment right for one and all. That amendment includes an individuals right to choose. In the case of students, they have the right to choose what they want to wear to school. It is their right to express their individuality through their choice of clothes. Schools do not have the right to dictate that their students conform to uniformity in order to promote unity in school. There is no such thing as unity in schools Works Cited Endersby, Alistair. “School Uniform (Junior)”. International Debate Education Association. idebate.org. 27 Apr. 2006. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. Houghton, Peter. “Arguments About Uniforms”. Why I Oppose School Uniforms and My Arguments Page. The School Uniforms Page. n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. Wilde, Marian. “Do Uniforms Make Schools Better?”. Defining Your Ideal School. Great Schools. greatschools.org. 26 Oct. 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2012. Williams, Courtney. “Why Students Should Not Have To Wear School Uniforms”. Care2 Petition Site. thepetitionsite.com. n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2012. Read More