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Avery Smith

Mr. Droski

English 11B Persuasive Essay

27 March 2010

School Uniforms: A Bad Idea

One of the largest controversies among students and schools is the requirement to wear

school uniforms. Although the majority of those schools do not require uniforms, recently within

the decade, they have been implementing these policies. In fact, according to the US Department

of Education's National Center for Educational Statistics, “nearly 20 percent of all public schools

required students to wear uniforms during the 2017–2018 school year” (School Uniforms). This

percent can only increase as years go on; therefore, school uniforms should be banned because it

is costly, allows for no diversity, shows no improvement for learning, and restricts a student’s

self-expression.

First, school uniforms tend to be expensive. As more public schools require uniforms,

lower-income families will struggle being able to pay for them. Many parents have to make

financial sacrifices or rely on financial aid just to have their kids go to school, and adding

uniforms, would force upon more debt. “In such cases, expensive uniforms can be viewed as a

financial burden that disproportionately affects students from low-income households” (School

Uniforms). Not to mention, due to the number of vendors being small, parents would need to

order them in advance, wait in long lines, travel to acquire needed clothes, etc. Many people do

not have time nor the money to afford it, especially considering that their child’s uniform may
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not fit due to outgrowing or damaging. This not only restricts students, but hurts their parent’s

pockets. School uniforms are too expensive for all class citizens.

Second, school uniforms allow for no diversity. Schools main priority is to prepare

students for their roles as adults in the future. How are students prepared to make difficult

decisions in life if they cannot even choose what they wear each morning. In an article written by

Julie Wilkins, she says, “when students leave school and enter the world of work, they will have

to wake up every day and decide what to wear. It’s a decision made by every human being in all

cultures around the world.” She also mentions that “students should not be denied the

opportunity to participate in a decision-making process that they will need to use for the rest of

their lives” (Wilkins). Being able to choose what they wear is a basic skill and having uniforms

restricts that. Making students wear the exact same clothing stifles diversity and illustrates that

being different is not permitted or okay.

Many in opposition, including school boards and leaders, have a wide belief that

enforcing school uniforms will help with the learning environment and set high academic

standards. Even President Clinton advocated for public school students in his State of Union

speech in 1996. He believes, “children need an environment conducive to learning, uniforms

help create such an environment” (Buckley). As this does create a more serious classroom setting

for better learning, there are too many negatives to outway this theory.

With this said, the third reason why uniforms should be banned is that students' clothes

have no correlation with improved learning. In a study by the National Bureau of Economic

Research, they found “no statistical difference between students in schools with and without

uniforms in the district they studied” (School Uniforms:’Dressed for Success). This can easily be
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proven by the fact that some of the highest-achieving schools and universities do not require

uniforms. If anything, uniforms are more of a distraction. Teachers worry too much about

disciplining students not wearing the correct attire than actually teaching. Therefore, uniforms

prove no effect in contributing to enhancing a student’s education.

Finally, the fourth most common reason why uniforms should be banned is that it limits

one's self-expression. Uniforms restrict a person to be and feel themselves. Not long ago

teenagers fought for their right to black armbands. Enforcing uniforms takes away that spirit and

hard work of freedom. Mark Oppenheimer agrees and says, “we’ve stopped thinking of our sons

and daughters as citizens whose independence we want to cultivate by, as much as possible,

getting out of the way” (Oppenheimer). Students cannot be who they are if they cannot express

themselves. This evidently creates a bland society with no individuality that is their given right.

Forcing children to dress the same suppresses their ability to be different amongst one another.

To conclude, school uniforms would prove to worsen the conditions of an already

stressful but suspenseful time in students' lives. Expenses, no diversity, no statistical

improvement of academic learning, and banning self-expression are all reasons why schools

should stop the use of uniforms.

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Works Cited

Buckley, William F., Jr. "School uniforms?!" National Review, vol. 48, no. 3, 26 Feb.

1996, p. 71. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A18020730/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid=OVIC

&xid=ee7e5ef8. Accessed 18 Mar. 2020.

Oppenheimer, Mark. "The Downsides of School Uniforms." Gale Opposing Viewpoints

Online Collection, Gale, 2020. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CNWCFA271205429/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&

sid=OVIC&xid=ebcef644. Accessed 18 Mar. 2020. Originally published as "The

Downsides of School Uniforms," The New Yorker, 6 Sept. 2017.

"School Uniforms; 'Dressed for Success? The Effect of School Uniforms on Student

Achievement and Behavior'." Education Week, vol. 31, no. 02, 31 Aug. 2011, p. 4.

Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A266754755/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid=OVI

C&xid=511c2de7. Accessed 18 Mar. 2020

"School Uniforms." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2019. Gale In

Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/PC3010999340/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid=O

VIC&xid=862ba59b. Accessed 18 Mar. 2020.

WILKINS, JULIA. "School Uniforms." The Humanist, vol. 59, no. 2, Mar. 1999, p. 19.

Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

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https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A54099133/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid=OVIC

&xid=bd3b4479. Accessed 18 Mar. 2020.