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School Uniforms Should Be Mandatory

Table of Contents

School uniforms; to wear or not to wear. That is the question.

All the Yes points:

  1. School Uniforms – Yes
  2. It encourages discipline
  3. It contributes to the sense of school’s unity
  4. Creates a sense of equality
  5. Uniform has practical benefits when students are outside the school building.
  6. Uniform prepares students for life after education, when most will be expected to dress smartly.

All the No points:

  1. Expenses
  2. Inappropriate
  3. Too much money
  4. We all have a right to individuality, to make personal choices and to express our personality.
  5. There is no good evidence that links school uniform to improved results.
  6. Personality and Expressing yourself
  7. School Uniforms Not Mandatory
  8. Only a few inner-city schools have had problems with children wearing “gang colours”.
  9. Uniform is often not practical or pleasant to wear.
  10. There is no proper research that shows that introducing uniform cuts crime in schools.
  11. Forcing children to wear uniform can ignore their religious and cultural needs.
  12. Very few countries feel the need to put most of their children in school uniforms.
  13. Schools waste a lot of time trying to enforce uniform rules.
  14. Rather than introduce school uniform, why not have a dress code instead?
  15. Wearing a school uniform is not good preparation for working.

School Uniforms – Yes

Yes because…

From Grade school through HS, uniforms were the norm.
Everyone in school was equal. Rich, Poor, Handicap, etc. – everyone is equal.

Today, a pair of $300 nike’s, cellphone and a Chrysler 300 with chrome rims seperate your from the pack.

Why?

What does that teach?

What did the child learn?

As a parent, are you succeeding by enabling?

No because…

Why do we need the uniforms. It would just cost the school more money and not all kids can get a new clean unifrom in one day. if they wear it once and get it dirty it might take a few days to get it washed. Then if the school were to but two uniforms for the students then it would cost the schools even more money. (Think about how many students are in schools) School uniforms would be a wate of money and time.

It encourages discipline

Yes because…

By allowing pupils to challenge one aspect of the school rules, it will give them license and encourage them to break others. By making everybody wear the same uniform to school each day it reminds them of where they are and how they are supposed to behave. I.e. not how they would at home or in leisure time. This makes pupils easier to teach and they will learn more, which will benefit them in the long run.

No because…

Gives more leeway to break rules. A uniform shirt not tucked for example can lead to detention, as can nail polish or grown nails or wearing a hat or getting ink on a tie etc etc.
The school staff is then, more focused on correcting/controlling the way students dress than actually teaching. Those with cleaner, well-ironed and at times more visibly expensive( richer students wear designer or custom-made/made-to-fit blouses/pants/skirts etc, not to mention better socks/stockings, shoes, shoe polish etc) uniforms are automated to become teacher favorites and therefore get more attention in class and are thought of as bright only because they are neat and privileged.

It contributes to the sense of school’s unity

Yes because…

Having pupils not wear a school uniform means that it’s impossible to tell who is a student there just by looking at them. By wearing a uniform, pupils are bound together by what they’re wearing and will feel closer together. By allowing pupils to wear what they choose, cliques develop based on clothing, and this will disadvantage poorer students as well as teaching children to make judgements on what someone wears. Wouldn’t be rather have our young people grow up not being prejudiced against people just because of what clothes they have on?

No because…

Some people wear shorter skirts, kohl/mascara and lip gloss. Stockings,socks, shirts, shoes everything differs in quality. Better schools have nicer uniforms.

Poorer students are disadvantaged because they can not afford as many uniforms or uniforms as nice as their richer counterparts. Wearing the same uniform everyday, means extra washing, which in turn equates to a higher probability to fade, wear and tear. Whereas those with three uniforms don’t have to wash each uniform regularly and can get uniforms dry-cleaned over the weekend, richer families can afford better detergent that treats clothes with TLC.

Creates a sense of equality

Yes because…

All the students of the same school are expected to wear uniform, irrespective of social/economic status. There are no designer uniforms and there are no uniform rags. They say clothes make a man, uniforms make an equal student body.

No because…

There are differences on how many uniforms a student has or how well s/he wears it. the lengths of skirts, sleeves & tops can be customized, as can the fit . Not all uniform shops/stores sell the same quality uniforms. Any white blouse can replace the uniform shirt and certain white blouses are more fashionable than others.

The same can be said about accessories such as ties, hair bands, scrunchies, broaches, clips,make-up,hair-gel,hairspray,hair-dye,other hair-products etc. The class divide exists despite uniforms and is visible wearing a uniform, doesn’t mean everyone’s dressed the same.

Uniforms are also all about going to a preppy public-U.K/private-the-rest-the-world school vs an inferior school.

Uniforms also create class divides between schools; thus.

Uniform has practical benefits when students are outside the school building.

Yes because…

Uniform has practical benefits when students are outside the school building. Being readily identified with a particular institution may make students more aware of their behaviour while travelling to and from the school, leading them to act more considerately, e.g. to other passengers on buses or trains. On organised trips away from the school it is much easier for teachers to ensure they haven’t lost anyone and to monitor behaviour, than if students wore their own clothes and blended in with the crowds.

No because…

Uniform makes students very identifiable and emphasises the divisions between schools, making it very easy for bullying and fights to develop between students from rival institutions as they travel to and from school.

Uniform prepares students for life after education, when most will be expected to dress smartly.

Yes because…

Uniform prepares students for life after education, when most will be expected to dress smartly and appropriately for work, adhering to a corporate dress code.

No because…

The business world is increasingly relaxed about dress codes, making those schools that insist on uniform increasingly anachronistic. Adults who attended schools without uniform do not appear to struggle in the workplace.

Expenses

No because…

School Uniforms are often very expensive and have no use out side of school.

Yes because…

Expensiveness of the school uniform can be reduced by paying it in installment. And of course expensive school uniform will give the student a confidence when they are being compared to other school students. And, uniforms are not meant to use outside of school, unless they are involved in activities related to school. Uniforms show your identity not personality.

Inappropriate

No because…

Often it is uniform that is inappropriate, being too cold in winter or too hot in summer, largely because it is badly designed and cheaply produced in small quantities for a captive market. Girls in particular complain at being forced to wear skirts even in the coldest months, when many would generally wear trousers from choice and some, e.g. Muslims, for cultural reasons. Students will always attempt to subvert any dress code, strict or lenient, requiring staff vigilance in any case.

Yes because…

Uniform is appropiate,considering the fact that those school children,come from different backgrounds,Not all of them can afford wearing their own clothes,because one wants to change everyday and doesn’t want to be seen in the same clothes,everyday.In the case of badly designed it depends on the designer making it for you,and uniforms are made in large quantities because it is known that there are many learners,even though it’s the approximate, if there’s shortage more uniforms can be produced.Girls who are forced to wear skirts in winter,can wear winter stockings and leggings,provided that leggings are worn inside the Stockings.Remember that school children did not go to school to advertise their uniform,hence the uniform makes them look equal as students,afterall all they are there for is education and nothing more. Even former scholars can contribute their uniforms to the needy,so that all students are One,and that’s how the scholar is recognised,especially in case of some accident happening or any crisis,when no one is there.

Too much money

No because…

Why pay $30 for a uniform you have to wear 180 days and not the rest of the year. When you can go to Good Will and get clothes for $10 and you can wear them all year.

Yes because…

The opposition here is living in a dream world… let’s start thinking reality here and ask the question this way: Why pay $30 for uniforms, when you can go and buy cheap clothes from a cheap store then go to school come back and complain to your parents that other kids are mocking you for having cheap clothes. After this story your parents (as I’m sure won’t leave their kid to be different from the rest if they can afford it) will start buying you clothes from more and more expensive stores where only a pair of trousers costs $30. So yeah…why pay $30 for uniforms when you have no limits and can go all the way to $200-$300

And does it really matter if you don’t wear your school clothes outside of the school. I mean come on….no one is asking the lawyers, doctors and policeman if they are ok with wearing a uniform at work, but guess what? It’s their duty to do it…and I think duty is the key word in this debate…kids should start thinking about what they have to do in order to do what they want to do in the future…

We all have a right to individuality, to make personal choices and to express our personality.

No because…

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.

Yes because…

Having all the students wearing the same uniform helps to create a sense of belonging and a good school ethos (culture or spirit). By showing that the school expects high standards, expectations are raised and students respond with better behaviour. US schools which introduced school uniform reported improved discipline.

There is no good evidence that links school uniform to improved results.

No because…

There is no good evidence that links school uniform to improved results. A few schools in the USA reported better test scores after they started having uniform, but most of these made other changes to the running of the school which could have helped instead. Studies looking at lots of schools, with and without uniform, have not found any link between what children wear and school results.

Yes because…

Schools with uniforms obtain better educational results. This is because there is better discipline and so the school setting makes learning easier. Without the distraction of checking out what all the other students are wearing (or how much flesh they are showing), students find it easier to concentrate and do better in tests.

Personality and Expressing yourself

No because…

In my opinion I think that if students wear uniforms it won’t show my personality and it won’t express who I am. Some students especially girls can’t wear uniforms because skirts are uncomfortable for them or maybe just because there not allowed to wear skirts in their religion. Uniforms are really expensive too and you might only get 3 sets which you have to put in the laundry almost everyday.

I really like wearing different clothes most of the times because of the latest styles or maybe just because I love different style of clothing.

But, it is good wearing uniforms because it shows discipline of the school and if there is a fire drill or lockdown then you can easily recognize a student and say that he/she is not an intruder.

But I personally don’t like wearing uniforms.

Yes because…

We do not go to school to express our personality. Schools are instituitions of learning, and are not social clubs. Express yourself on your own time, not during time that should be spent studying. In that regard, I contend that the wearing of casual clothing can actually be a distraction from ones studies- i would spend more time worrying if i’m wearing the right (‘cool’) clothing than worrying about my my education.

I did not enjoy wearing uniforms when i was in school, but on the odd day we were allowed to wear casual clothes, we regarded it as a treat.

But just because i did not enjoy wearing uniforms does not mean I think they should not be mandatory.

School Uniforms Not Mandatory

No because…

In my opinion school uniforms should not be mandatory. Students should have the will to express themselves through there clothing. Some girls don’t like to wear skirts or can’t wear skirts. Boys like to play. they wear t – shirts and shorts so they can move around. Not every boy likes to be dressed up. Then theres also the money problem. Uniforms aren’t the cheapest clothing and some familys can barely buy normal clothing. Wearing a uniform does not make kids smarter or beahve better what so ever so there really is no point in wearing uniforms.

A Website With Cons:
http://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Pros_and_Cons_of_School_Uniforms

Yes because…

Who said that girls school uniforms HAD to be skirts? Just because the Uniform is Formal, doesn’t mean it has to be skirts. Boys and girls can wear the dress pants and shirts just that the girls can be specially fitted for girls and girls styles. Also there are study’s that say that girls and boys do better in schools while they are in uniforms. The following was taken off of E HOW:

A case study from 1999 conducted in Long Beach, California showed that instituting a uniform policy greatly reduced violence and other issues in the school. Crimes, suspensions and sex offenses were all reduced by at least 90 percent and vandalism dropped by almost 70 percent.
The following is from president Bill Clinton:

“This morning I want to talk with you about what we can do to break hold of gangs and violence in our schools and what we can do to create an atmosphere in our schools that promotes discipline and order and learning … I believe we should give strong support to school districts that decide to require young students to wear school uniforms. We’ve all seen the tragic headlines screaming of the death of a teenager who was killed for a pair of sneakers or jewelry or a designer jacket. In Detroit, a 15-year old boy was shot for his $86 basketball shoes. In Fort Lauderdale, a 15-year old student was robbed of his jewelry. Just this past December in Oxon Hill, Maryland, a 17-year old honor student was killed at a bus stop, caught in the cross fire during the robbery of another students designer jacket” (Clinton, “Transcript,” 1-2).

The only reason I would be against School uniforms would be the inability for the student to express him/her self. The other point would be that the dress code might go against a person’s religion.

Only a few inner-city schools have had problems with children wearing “gang colours”.

No because…

Only a few inner-city schools have had problems with children wearing “gang colours”. Many of these have got rid of the problem not by introducing uniform, but by simply having a dress code which bans such gang clothes and symbols. In fact, uniform boosts a “gang state of mind” by marking children out and dividing students from different schools against each other. This can increase conflict between young people outside school, leading to bullying and violence.

Yes because…

Uniform is a social leveller – it makes all the children at a school equal no matter what their family background or income. If students can choose their own clothes, then the rich kids compete to show off their expensive designer labels and costly sneakers (trainers). Children from poorer families get picked on for not being able to afford lots of pricey outfits.

Schools in the USA have used uniform to overcome the problem of students wearing “gang colours” if they were allowed to choose their own clothes. Clothes with particular colours or symbols marked rival groups of students out as linked to street gangs. This often led to fighting inside and outside the classroom. If everyone has to wear the same clothes to school, this problem is removed.

Uniform is often not practical or pleasant to wear.

No because…

Uniform is often not practical or pleasant to wear. Designs are often old-fashioned and ugly. Clothes that are designed to be worn by all shapes and sizes of student fit no one really well. For cheapness uniform items are often made of polycottons which are hot in warm weather but don’t keep children properly warm in winter. Children in uncomfortable outfits are unlikely to learn much.

Yes because…

Uniform has practical advantages. Students don’t have to waste time thinking what to wear at the start of each school day. The clothes are designed to be comfortable and safe, with no long trailing sleeves, skirts or hoods to catch on dangerous equipment in workshops or science lessons. It is also very helpful on trips as staff can quickly spot all the students from their school, keeping them out of trouble and making sure no one gets lost.

There is no proper research that shows that introducing uniform cuts crime in schools.

No because…

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.

Yes because…

Introducing uniform can reduce crime in schools, especially violence and theft. Headteachers at several US schools report lower levels of violence and crime after uniforms were introduced. This is partly due to better discipline, but also because students no longer come to school wearing desirable designer clothes or $100 trainers (sneakers).

Uniform also helps makes schools safer as it makes intruders much easier to spot. Anyone not in uniform can easily be seen and reported.

Forcing children to wear uniform can ignore their religious and cultural needs.

No because…

Forcing children to wear uniform can ignore their religious and cultural needs. For example, Sikh boys, Orthodox Jews and Islamic girls all express their religious beliefs through the way they dress, and uniform stops them doing this. In particular, school uniforms are often not modest enough in covering the female body to suit Muslims. Taking away this freedom of religious expression can also lead parents to choose private faith schools, limiting integration and the mixing of different cultures.

Yes because…

School uniform can satisfy religious and cultural needs. In areas with lots of children from different backgrounds (such as British cities) it is common to consult parents and the local community. For example, Muslim girls can be allowed to wear loose long trousers and tops in school colours, instead of the skirts or dresses worn by other female students.

Very few countries feel the need to put most of their children in school uniforms.

No because…

Very few countries feel the need to put most of their children in school uniforms. Mostly it is a British thing not shared by the rest of the world. Outside Britain, most schools with uniforms are private schools trying to set themselves apart from the state education system. Uniform is almost unknown in European countries, yet their schools often have high standards of behaviour and learning. Until the 1990s uniform was very rare in the USA. Since then some US schools and districts have introduced uniform, but the large majority of schools still do not have it. Some of those which did adopt uniform have since given up on it again.

Yes because…

School uniform is a tradition worth keeping. In countries like Britain many schools have had uniforms for over a hundred years. The exact clothes can be updated with the times, but the overall look of the uniform provides a link with the school’s past. Wearing it encourages pride in the school and gives out a good image to outsiders.

Schools waste a lot of time trying to enforce uniform rules.

No because…

Schools waste a lot of time trying to enforce uniform rules. Because children don’t like wearing uniform, they fight against it in many clever ways (e.g. shortening skirts, wearing non-regulation shoes and hosiery, tying their ties in funny ways, etc.). Schools in the US often allow parents an “opt-out” from uniform, which means teachers have to check what list a child is on at the start of every lesson.

Yes because…

Students will always kick against the system, whatever that is. If there is a dress code instead of a uniform, they will try to bend those rules instead. For example, how short a skirt is too short? Are crop-tops allowed? What about hats or hoods which hide the student’s face? Most problems of enforcing uniform rules in the USA are because uniform is voluntary, or students are allowed an opt-out from it. If uniform must be worn by everyone there is much less confusion and enforcing the rules is quicker and simpler.

Rather than introduce school uniform, why not have a dress code instead?

No because…

Rather than introduce school uniform, why not have a dress code instead? This has all the benefits of uniform without the many disadvantages. While uniforms force all children to wear the same clothes, dress codes give students a lot of choice what to wear. Only a few unsuitable things are banned – for example, gang colours, very short skirts, crop tops, bare shoulders, etc.

Yes because…

Having a uniform helps students and parents resist peer pressure. In schools with no uniform, children may feel the need to dress in certain ways in order to fit in. This can often mean buying a lot of expensive and fashionable clothes that families cannot really afford. It can also mean girls being pressured into wearing skimpy clothes to try and look sexy at a very young age. It could even include Muslim girls feeling that they must wear a headscarf even though they don’t want to.

Wearing a school uniform is not good preparation for working.

No because…

Wearing a school uniform is not good preparation for working. Only a few jobs require uniforms, and many of these are low-paid service jobs – not what we want our young people to aim for. After all, their main role-models at school – the teachers – don’t have to wear a uniform. Well-paid jobs used to require a suit, but this has been changing in recent years and smart-casual clothes are much more common now. Even if you have to wear a suit, you still have a huge choice of styles, colour and accessories with which to express your personality. This isn’t true of school uniform.

Yes because…

Wearing a uniform helps to prepare students for the world of work, where uniforms are often worn. People like nurses, soldiers, shop assistants, the police and railway staff wear uniform as part of their job. Many other workers are expected to wear suits – really just a grown up sort of uniform, with little choice about it. Just like these adults, students should dress in uniform when they are in school, getting on with work. After all, students and adults can both change into their own casual clothes at the end of the working day, when they are “off duty”.

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kyrsten
3 years ago

yes because it stops bulling

Ana
3 years ago

I love this website because I have a debate on Monday and I am 99,9999 convinced that I’m going to do it grate thank to thins website!!!

Dylan Asitimbay
3 years ago

it should be allowed because for take notes and emergency like something happen and it should be banned because people taking selfie during class and u will get distracted

Aurora
3 years ago

i think that this is a great website for debating!!!😄

Lauryn
5 years ago

I think school uniforms should not be mandatory because kids can feel especially uncomfortable in their uniforms. In addition, girls can be uncomfortable wearing a skirt or whatever the school has gave them. And boys may want to run around in a t-shirt and shorts instead of “dressing up”

Catherine
3 years ago
Reply to  Lauryn

But it’ll cause discrimination by the rich kids against the poorer kids .

Noneya
5 years ago

“I think that school uniforms should not be mandatory because as a student myself, I like to have the ability to express myself through my clothing. I also as you would expect, am not the biggest fan of dressing up which usually uniforms require you to do. I like the ability to wear comfortable clothes whenever I want. I also like the fact that I won’t have to stress in the mornings, worried that I won’t find my clothes before school starts.” my friend co

Bob dillpickle
7 years ago

“should not force their students to wear dress uniforms to school. If kids wear even nail polish they could get detention, suspended, or even expelled. That is not right, kids should be able to express them selves through clothing. Also some kids hate being cooped up in tight clothing, some like to wear t-shirts and shorts to feel more free to move around, furthermore School uniforms should not be mandatory.”

-Billy fibbington One of the greatest leaders of all

Shehryarahmad
5 years ago
Reply to  Bob dillpickle

School uniform are not bad as they can be taken in different sizes and if the student was to feel free then take a bigger size for his/her shirt or pant.
Also students come to school to learn not to participate in an fashion show and this teaches them to think before taking any step.

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