Reema--Are school uniforms really necessary?

Are school uniforms really necessary?

 School uniforms are an extremely debatable topic. Some students love it, while others despise it. Statistics show that 400 voters in the American Southwest voted no for school uniforms and only 64 voted yes. When I was put into a charter school all through middle school, I always thought school uniforms should only be enforced for high school students, and not in middle school. High school is usually the place kids get bullied the most whether it is for their clothes not being too expensive or not wearing designer clothes. Wearing uniforms would prevent gangs or cliques from forming. It would also limit the school rules on dress code. Parents wouldn’t need to keep up with the prices that come with the trends. Modesty and respect will become important in the eyes of teenagers a lot more because they won’t be so worried about what to wear the next day. Now that I’m a freshman in high school I still agree with my statement about school uniforms but at the same time I disagree. When I was in the charter school I had to wear a uniform and I personally did not like it. It was plain and just not me. Although I was forced to wear it I feel like it made everyone’s lives so much easier.

 Some of the pros of school uniforms are less students will be bullied for the clothes they wear. Another pro is some people aren’t as fortunate as others to constantly buy clothes. Students are harassed for the clothes they wear or the designer shoes they have on verbally, physically, and socially but when wearing a uniform all of that would stop. Every child would feel equal. School uniforms also show your school spirit. A lot of students who wear uniforms say that they feel more proud of their school. Wearing school colors or even the logo gives students a feeling of being more connected to their school and classmates.

Following the pros are some cons about school uniforms. Designer clothes are generally expensive, but so are uniforms. Some students stated that they are scratchy and either too cold or too hot. As students grow they have to replace the uniforms.  Some people think if their child wears the same thing as everyone else their individuality will be suppressed. In some schools that’s not the case. Accessories like hair clips, bracelets, and necklaces can make the uniforms look better. Some schools don’t allow it. Some parents also say that by wearing school uniforms their child can’t express themselves through clothing. I disagree. Students have after school, weekends, and holidays to express themselves.    

Teachers think if there students wear uniforms it would focus on learning with the removal of unnecessary distractions. They also think that students won’t be bullied as much; students will find any reason to make fun of the person they don’t seem to like. The researcher, Virginia Draa of Youngstown State University, reported that the graduation rates have gone up 11 % in schools that require a uniform. Non-uniform school’s graduations rates have gone down 4.6%.There are some pros and some cons to wearing school uniforms. In other words students are far more likely to succeed when wearing a uniform. Wearing a uniform for 3 years definitely opened my eyes to the bigger things in life and not just the clothes you wear.