Students Should Not Wear Uniforms
School uniforms and the reason students wear them has been a topic for long. Though people are of the view that wearing uniforms to school promotes discipline, brings about a sense of community, I think that wearing uniforms has more disadvantages than advantages. Many developed countries, such as the United States, advocate that everyone should have freedom of expression. Forcing students, therefore, to wear school uniforms takes away their right to express themselves and wastes money used to buy overpriced informs.
School uniforms restrict the ability for students to express themselves, promoting conformity. Students strive to find their identity, which is limited when school authorities make it mandatory for students to wear uniforms. Taking away the opportunity for students to select what to wear robs them of a chance for them to express themselves. When students feel good about themselves, they approach their studies with positivity and confidence, which may boost their academics (Sabic et al., 10). A student, for example, aspires to become a fashion designer. They can attend home economics classes and make their attire. They can later wear the designs to school, and their peers can judge their work. This can boost confidence in a student forming the basis of the careers. Individuality forms a foundation of a democratic community and should be instilled when one is young.
Paying for uniforms wastes money for a parent when the students can wear the clothes they have. When students are done with school, they go home and remove clothes that they were forced to wear and wear clothes they feel comfortable with. Parents, therefore, have to buy clothes that are on-trend as well as the school uniform. Most schools require their students to purchase overpriced school uniforms. It would then be a good idea for parents to buy clothes they can access at affordable rates. Many students complain that their uniforms are uncomfortable, which may affect their levels of concentration in class. Students also outgrow their uniforms fast, and parents have to spend more money doing repairs and buying new uniforms (Jones).
Critics may say that allowing students to promote indiscipline in schools as there is a lot of freedom. This untrue, as the kind of dressing, has no connection to the discipline of the students. To prevent indecency, the school can set guidelines on that students should not wear indecent clothing. Others claim that giving children the freedom to wear casual clothes may promote bullying as students from poor backgrounds may be teased because of the way of dressing. Teaching students on the importance of treating people equally is the only way that bullying can be stopped and not be forcing students to wear uniforms.
Conclusively, allowing students to wear casual clothes in school, promotes individuality that is crucial in the diverse community. Allowing students to wear home clothes reduces expenses of buying school uniforms that are often overpriced. There is no guarantee that wearing uniforms prevents bullying in schools; therefore, students should have the freedom to wear what is comfortable to them.
Works Cited
Sabic-El-Rayess, Amra, et al. “School uniform policy’s adverse impact on equity and access to schooling.” Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education (2019): 1-18.
Jones, Aaron B. “Perceptions of School Uniforms in Relation to Socioeconomic Statuses.” (2018).