Argumentative Essay on Students in Public Schools should Wear Uniforms

Students in Public Schools should Wear Uniforms

The issue of wearing uniforms in public schools has attracted intense discussions in recent years. Attitudes expressed about uniforms among the students and the stakeholders in the educational sector vary about as much as the reasons for having them. A high number of stakeholders, including parents, seem to love the idea of uniforms in public schools citing that uniforms may discourage negative conduct, which is connected to student dress code like school violence, absenteeism, teasing, and gang-related activities (O'Brien 1). On the other hand, the students only seem to tolerate the uniforms at best. Among the main arguments used by the challengers is that uniforms obstruct the right of students to the choice of dress, which violates their freedom of speech. School uniforms ought to be required of public schools for the reason that their use would promote higher education, limit violence, and reduce costs for parents.

The idea of uniforms in public schools keeps on prevailing in the US as the educational stakeholders, as well as parents, are making efforts to ensure that schools remain a safe environment (Education Bug n.p.). In accordance with a variety of school administrators, there is the belief that criminal tendencies among students have significantly reduced since uniforms were introduced in public schools. For instance, Ruffner Middle School recorded a 42 percent reduction in discipline cases that needed referral upon the introduction of school uniforms. Such evidence has been the source of clamor and advocacy for uniforms in public schools in many regions in the US. School uniforms make it easy for students to be identified, in that, should there be a stranger or an outsider amongst the students, they would easily be recognized (Education Bug n.p.). This aids in the reduction of violence cases thus making the school environment safe for all the students. Instances of fights breaking out due to the theft of designer clothes, which are a preference of many students, as well as shoes, will significantly reduce because the same set of similar school uniforms are not an easy target of theft (O'Brien 1).

School uniforms aid in making the lives of students simpler by promoting better learning in public schools, on the basis of the idea that students spend little time looking at their dress codes (Education Bug n.p.). This eliminates the stress that comes with looking for appropriate cloth in order to be well presented and creates more time to focus on their homework compared to the new fashion trend. Additionally, school uniforms aid in the closure of the economic gap that exists amongst the students because it creates a sense of similarity and equality. Wearing school uniform aids in saving the budget of a parent, given the fact that some students may demand more clothes in order to fashioned or because they want more of a particular type of clothing (Eppinger n.p.). It should be noted that people have different standards of living; therefore some parents may not be able to afford some type of clothes needed by their children. Therefore, school uniforms prevent unnecessary waste of money in buying some types of clothes for every season. A majority of school experts have noted that some students are often made fun of at school if they are not wearing the latest designer clothes. People should remember that a school is a place for study and not a place for the promote fashion (Eppinger n.p.). In this case, school uniforms provide the students with the much-needed distraction from criticizing others that may otherwise cause frustration on the victims. The implementation of mandatory school uniforms would make all the students appear the same regardless of their economic and financial backgrounds. In this regard, it is also true to say that school uniforms aid in raising the self-esteem of the students, who may not be capable of owning fashioned clothing. Additionally, school uniforms eliminate the chances of a student ever feeling embarrassed about their clothes in case their parent(s) were unable to afford them the newest fad (Eppinger n.p.).

School uniforms create a sense of responsibility and good discipline among the students both individual and group dynamics in and outside the classrooms (Education Bug n.p.). It also instills in them a sense of unity with the message that a school is an environment for learning. For instance, when students perform activities together such as plays, presentations, or academic celebrations, the same clothing in form of a uniform would create a sense of community and union amongst the students, teachers, and the school. Considering discipline, students are always aware that their uniforms ought to be tidy as per the school regulations, which is also influential in personal development (Education Bug n.p.). School uniforms encourage a sense of pride among the students as they relate professionally with each other and their teachers, which makes them, take their schoolwork more seriously.

Despite the reasons to justify the need for school uniforms in public schools, the idea has some perceived disadvantages. As mentioned in the introduction, school uniforms are perceived to deny students the freedom of speech. Students should be encouraged to develop a sense of autonomy in every aspect of their lives but the idea of uniforms denies them self-expression (Eppinger n.p.). However, the opponents should note that the uniforms are only worn during school hours and therefore, the students have other chances of expressing themselves. On the safety aspect, the opponents argue that uniforms make it easy for rival schools to identify each other, which provides grounds for picking fights. Unfortunately, this idea is too critical because there is no sense in offering more protection for the students outside the school than it should be inside the school, which is the first priority. Uniforms may also be inappropriate for some type of weather, given the fabric and the length of skirts, with reference to girls, that have to be worn throughout the year, even in winter. A section of the opponents argues that forcing the students into wearing uniforms can make them disruptive as they could turn to an inappropriate mode of dressing. Uniforms impede the much-awaited transition of students from childhood into adulthood because the uniforms practically control their social lives (Education Bug n.p.). They also suggest that school uniforms may contribute, among other factors, to the uneasiness of students, given that they need to utilize their time to the fullest in schools. However, the opponents should realize what the function of a school is, that is, for learning and not a show for displaying wealth or fashion. The future will judge us if we must decide that individual expression through clothes is of more value than the improvement of educational performance.

In conclusion, studies have shown that there many benefits for the implementation of mandatory school uniforms for the students. Evidence has proven that students have better chances of learning, being responsible and disciplined, and achieving more when they wear uniforms. Therefore, public schools ought to make it a requirement for students to wear uniforms for the benefit of both the students and the society as a whole.