By Deborah Robinson
Uniforms with attitude.
School uniforms have been a controversial topic of discussion for a long, long time. Whether or not students should wear uniforms is something that no one seems able to agree on. People who actually attend schools would, of course, say we shouldn’t wear uniforms; but many students do believe there are good reasons for uniforms in schools. There are many pros and cons to school uniforms and of course I have my own opinions. But I decided that instead of presenting this topic from only one person’s point of view, I would ask a few different people how they felt about school uniforms. If you want to make sure that your kid’s uniforms get washed thoroughly, you may consider seeking 2ULaundry services.
(RC): “School uniforms have many purposes like ‘taking pride in one’s school.’ School uniforms are good because if we were required to wear school uniforms, we wouldn’t have to spend so much money on clothes.”
(JH): “Also there wouldn’t be competition between people to wear better clothes than others because everyone would be dressed the same.”
(ER): “One big conflict in school is students trying to look better than others, or students being made fun of for not wearing the best name brands, which are usually really expensive. It [having uniforms] would be easier for people who do not have a lot of clothes.”
(RR): “It would be easier for people to fit in because no one can be made fun of for what they wear if everyone is dressed the same . Also, people could be very self conscious about wearing certain clothes because of their body type or other factors.”
(JH): “Another reason why uniforms are good is that wearing uniforms limits the wearing of “inappropriate clothing.”
(ER): “On school trips it is especially important for students to wear school uniforms, because it would be easier to identify who is part of the school, in case anyone got lost.
(JR): “If everyone were to wear uniforms, less time is spent in the morning trying to pick out an outfit.”
There are many practical reasons for school uniforms but many students don’t agree with these purposes. First off, two poll contributors complained that uniforms are “ugly” (ER) and “boring” (SN). Many students also felt that because we had to wear uniforms most of our lives while in middle school or lower grades, that in high school we should get a break and be able to wear what we want. (SN & LH). As you can see below, others offered similarly strong comments against school uniforms.
(LC): “Ugly uniforms limit personal expression.”
(DM): “They strip people of their opportunity to express themselves.”
(LM): “We shouldn’t all be the same. If we’re able to wear what we want, we can be ourselves. We can’t be different if we’re made to wear the same things. Everyone has their own different style.”
(AD): “I feel that student should have the right to dress in any appropriate way.”
(RR): “Wearing our own clothes distinguishes people’s personality traits and characteristics. However, wearing uniforms can alter the way people feel internally because if everyone is dressed the same, one can lose their sense of identity.”
(LH): “School can start to feel like jail with everyone wearing the exact some clothes.”
Uniforms or dress codes can certainly seem unfair, especially when the school says that certain clothes and/or styles and accessories go against codes of conduct. There is a video online about a Catholic school student who was threatened with expulsion if she didn’t change the way she styled her hair. This 12-year-old girl, Vanessa VanDyke, was a student at Orlando’s Faith Christian Academy. She wore an Afro and the school said that her hair was a “distraction;” and that she should style it in a way so it would not distract other students. Supposedly, the school’s dress code states that: “Hair must be a natural color and must not be a distraction.”
There was another case in Florida where some African students were forced to remove their cultural head wraps. The Pinellas County School District has a strict no head-coverings rule, except if worn for religious purposes. This all started when an African-American student was told by a school official and a police officer stationed in her high school to remove her head wrap. Since then, girls at the school have gathered together and protested against these culturally insensitive rules by having “Black Girls Wrap Wednesdays.” Many of the students believe that head wraps should be allowed, because it shows cultural identity.
It is my own opinion that school uniforms can sometimes be unfair and restricting. Many factors should be considered. It is also not fair that school administrators can decree certain things “against dress code.” without first consulting with the student body and their parents so that there are no misunderstandings and all can agree about the school’s decision.
