School Uniforms

School Uniforms It is more common school districts are requiring elementary, middle, and high school students to wear mandated uniforms. The options on what you can wear each day is limited. You can only wear the color shirts and the color pants your principal has chosen for you. Usually you only have a choice between two colored shorts and two colored pants. I know what you are thinking, “that’s it? “Yes it is indeed the truth being told. Every day it is the same routine and every morning you ask yourself, “Hmm should I wear a black or white shirt? and “Should I wear black or khaki pants?”. With only these few choices, the students’ right to express themselves is being taken away. The students should not be required to wear uniforms and should be able to wear what they choose not what the school thinks they should wear.
The money situations for the parents are tight especially with the economy going down. The prices of the uniforms have gradually increased over the past years. In the article “School uniforms may be a hard fit”, Pinto explains how “Officials have discussed packages from DENNIS Uniform, which are $85 to $150, depending on the number of items…” (Pinto). Many parents cannot afford to buy students new uniforms every year. If a parent cannot afford to buy the uniforms every year therefore the student would have to war worn out and ripped clothing. If a student was allowed to choose what to wear for themselves they could wear the clothes that they already have and the parents can just add a couple of outfits here and there. Pinto also expounds on how Councilman John Lewis said “his growing children would likely cost him $1,200 a year in uniforms, a policy he called a “bad idea” in a difficult economy” (Pinto). This amount of money is outrageous and the money will definitely add up, especially if you have more than one child.
School uniforms do not affect a student’s behavior positively. A student is more likely to rebel against the school rules if they are being told what they can and cannot wear. A report concludes uniforms are falsely correlated with improved attendance rates and however “… appear to have little effect otherwise on student behavior and achievement” (The Effect of Uniforms on Student Behavior"). Inanimate objects cannot possibly be a factor in a child’s behavior. The child’s behavior depends on how the environment the child was brought up in was like. Also the type of clothing a person wears does not affect the way a student acts. One thing does not correlate with the other. For example, if a student wants to dress in a way what people call these days “gothic”, does not mean that they are going to act in a bad manner. Even students in uniforms are susceptible to cause trouble as much as the next kid. Here’s another false accusation uniforms “wearing of school uniforms prevents the formation of dress-identified cliques” (Public Uniform Debate). Uniforms do not exempt students from joining gangs or cliques as many administers believe. Wearing a uniform cannot change the fact if a student decides to join a gang or not. Wearing uniforms also do not prevent kids from bullying. The uniform a kid wears cannot physically prevent bullying. Only the child’s parents can help raise the child to be a nice kid and not the uniforms they wear. It is quite ridiculous the way administers and teachers believe much non sense.
"Our biggest problem with a school uniform policy is the anti-individuality message it sends” (Uniforms Stifle Freedom of Expression). School uniforms do not allow the students to express themselves. The most important thing that uniforms are doing to students is taking away their individuality. Since the students has to wear the exact same thing as everyone else, the uniforms blocks the child’s way of showing people who she or he really is. Should students not be able to have their own rights of expression? No every single student, matter of fact everyone is supposed to have the same individual rights as stated in the constitution. Freedom of expression has long been a hallmark of our democracy, and any loss of its privilege is deserving of our careful attention and scrutiny” (Uniforms Stifle freedom of Expressions). With that being said students should be allowed to wear what they want. Some students even believe that the uniforms can be unflattering to their physique. This can cause a whale of a problem with their self-image. It can also affect their confidence and lower their self-esteem. Not one student should feel this way especially if you are in the same place for about 365 days out of the year. Uniforms may make a student feel as though as they were in a military school. If a uniform improves a student’s behavior then a teacher should also wear uniform to help them teach better, right? If the uniforms actually helped improve their behavior then yes a person would understand, however it does not.
In conclusion, it just does not make sense to require students in elementary, middle, and high schools to wear mandated uniforms. First off, school uniforms are way too costly for the students and parents. The cost has been gradually increasing over the years. Secondly, the uniforms do not improve attendance rates, behavior problems, and kids from joining gangs or cliques. The only way these can be prevented is by the parents’ way of disciplining their children to be well mannered and to become mature young adults. Lastly, the student’s rights are being taken away and this is not okay for administrators to do. These kids want to be able to express themselves through the clothing that they wear. If you take their individuality away they will not have much, and will all be the same. Overall students should not be required to wear uniforms and should be able to wear whatever they chose, not what the school thinks that they should wear.

Works Cited
Fetzer, Kent J. "School Uniforms Stifle Freedom of Expression." School Policies. Ed. Jamuna Carroll. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Erosion of Freedom." Salt Lake Tribune 18 Apr. 2002: F2. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 June 2013.
"School Uniforms; 'Dressed for Success? The Effect of School Uniforms on Student Achievement and Behavior '." Education Week 31 Aug. 2011: 4. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 June 2013.
"School uniforms may be hard fit." New Haven Register [New Haven, CT] 28 Mar. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 June 2013.
"Public School Uniform Debate." - Education Bug. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 June 2013

Cited: Fetzer, Kent J. "School Uniforms Stifle Freedom of Expression." School Policies. Ed. Jamuna Carroll. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Erosion of Freedom." Salt Lake Tribune 18 Apr. 2002: F2. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 June 2013. "School Uniforms; 'Dressed for Success? The Effect of School Uniforms on Student Achievement and Behavior '." Education Week 31 Aug. 2011: 4. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 June 2013. "School uniforms may be hard fit." New Haven Register [New Haven, CT] 28 Mar. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 June 2013. "Public School Uniform Debate." - Education Bug. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 June 2013