Argumentative Essay - 6

Rache’ Hunter
English 101-0201
December 10th, 2007
Argumentative Essay
If you observe the difference between grammar school students and secondary school students, what do you see? In grammar school about eighty-five percent of the students are wearing uniforms where it’s required which is pretty good but in a uniform required secondary school at the maximum there’s probably one out of every fifty students complying with this particular rule. For some years now parents, local politicians, the school board, and about every high school student has been debating over something so small to the public but a major issue to the students. Wondering what the big issue is? Well, all the fuss is about school uniforms and if high school students should be required to wear them. Because of their low cost, business casual appearance, and means of reducing distraction of the learning process, As a high school graduate I feel school uniforms are excellent for the learning environment.
So, who wouldn’t want to wear their regular clothes to school everyday and show off all the name brand stuff they have? The answer is simple the less fortunate students in the public school system. The fact of the matter is uniforms are inexpensive and convenient for parents as well as students. The basic uniform consists of a polo style shirt and slacks or a polo style shirt and a pleated skirt which cost at the maximum about fifteen to twenty dollars. With this being said the less fortunate families as well as the other families can get as many school uniforms as needed. This can make living conditions better for some of these students because parents can save money. And because of easy access to school uniforms if damaged, they can easily be replaced. Now, who wouldn’t want to wear uniforms?
As parenting goes, I’m pretty sure parents want their kids to be active in today’s business world. Well, school uniforms can help encourage this by the business casual appearance these uniforms give. School uniforms can prepare students for the business world at an early age since they’re used in grammar school. Kids will definitely gain a certain level of confidence when encouraged to wear the uniforms. Because of every student wearing these uniforms they’ll learn to want to look different then others by adding certain accessories to their outfits or wanting the uniform to look a particular way so they can standout. This will encourage students to dress in this manner on a daily basis and make finding a job no problem in the future.
Due to not being taught at an early age some students tease other students about the way they look causing plenty of classroom distractions as well as mental and emotional abuse. As for distractions, this probably is why some kids skip school and maybe the reason for other negative decisions such as drug use, violence, etc... Because we all know kids can be cruel at times school uniforms can put all classroom distractions to a halt. This will make school a place students want to wake up in the morning and go to. If everyone just wore the same name brand or same style of clothing no one will be able to ridicule innocent kids whose parents sent them to school to learn like everybody else. With little class disturbances students will be able to obtain more from the learning process and school will become a fun place for students again.
Although it’s known that less fortunate kids are tormented on a daily basis by their fellow classmates, people against school uniforms feel the money used for uniforms could go into teacher salaries. As a supporter of this argument on school uniforms I feel like regular clothes cost a whole lot more than basic uniforms. And as for the increase on teacher salaries, if the teacher got into the educational field for the money then the educational field isn’t the place for him or her. The whole point of being a teacher is to see kids make it in life with guidance and assistance by educating them. This privilege to do so is priceless.
Because almost every public school is in some way lacking textbooks and things of that nature protesters of uniforms use this as a crutch as well. But as said before regular clothes costs a whole lot more than uniforms leaving plenty of extra money for textbooks and other necessities in the school system. Because school officials have been aware of lack of textbooks and other materials in the school system why haven’t they did anything to solve this problem? Why blame it on uniforms instead? The staffs at these needy schools play a role in helping to get learning material for the school as well. Solutions for this problem could be simple bake sales, car washes, or event little talent shows for low costs but still going towards what’s needed in the school.
As a product of the public school system I know the struggles of students are faced with everyday. I was thankful for uniforms as a child and wished I wore them in high school because of being faced with peer pressure to looking cool in name brand clothes. The fact that my mother is a single parent didn’t bother me at all because all I knew was I wanted to be “in”. Well, being “in” doesn’t pay the bills so my mother always had to find an extra part time job to satisfy the needs of myself and three other siblings which puts a lot of strain on her as well as plenty of other parents I’m sure. Now I’ve come to see uniforms don’t block freedom of expression or the fact of you being cool because with that uniform you can add your own sense of style to differ you from others and your definitely still in the “in” crowd. Uniforms build safe learning environments, kids who grow up to be mayors and senators; not criminals and poverty stricken families, uniforms encourage kids to do what they came to school to do and that’s learn” not to torment others. School uniforms are great and if people would just give them a chance they’ll feel the same way I do.