Schoolchildren should have a uniform dress code

I thank Con for his arguments and responses, and also for adhering to the format of this debate. I shall be presenting my counters to his arguments in the following points. Paragraphs 1 and 2: Creativity I agree with Con, that creativity is an important trait to inculcate in children. It does not follow logically, however, that wearing the same uniform makes everyone think the same way. That would suggest that individuality in thought is devoid in many of the professions that populate our world today. If Con had opened the link to my first source, however, you would observe that Katherine Smith, an ex-teacher and the former President of the Group Resolving Anti-Social Problems has opined that the benefits of inculcating creativity through clothing is overshadowed by its disadvantages. She says instead that "individual self-expression can be exercised in school through art, creative writing, music, etc. Self-expression in clothes is appropriate after school, on weekends and vacation." I am sure that Con would not disagree with me when I affirm that art, creative writing and music are examples of more productive avenues for children to realise and express their creative side. In paragraph 2, Con mentions that not allowing children to dress themselves limits their creative potential. I would like to remind Con that their dressing is limited only in school. They are free, as mentioned in the source quoted above, to dress as they please after school, on weekends and on vacation. The positive effects of a free dress code that Con mentions, is thereby not limited by a uniform dress code in school. Paragraph 3 - First Amendment I am rather confused by Con's argument. Con acknowledges that the First Amendment outlines that freedom of speech and religion as a universal right of U.S. citizens, but applies it universally nonetheless. I am also in the dark as to what a uniform dress code has to do with either freedom of speech or religion. Uniforms do not curtain a student's ability to speak on issues that matter to him/her, or his/her ability to profess and practice any religion. Con says that the freedom to "dress and represent your culture, heritage, and religion should not be hindered by any person or any rules". I would like to mention that students seldom come to school in a dress that "expresses their culture, heritage and religion". It would be very odd to see a Indian schoolchild attend an American school class in a sari, a Korean schoolchild attend class in a hanbok, or a Jordanian, in a kaffiyeh. Instead, they would wear clothes that best allows them to assimilate into the environment in the school. This often manifests in chasing after "status clothing", which is not expressive of culture, heritage or religion, and has several negative side effects, as mentioned also in opening arguments. To allow students to express their culture, heritage and religion, it is not necessary to have a free dress code. Indeed, countries such as Singapore have "International Friendship Day", and "Racial Harmony Day", in which students dress up in clothes that represent their cultures, or those of their friends. Paragraph 4: Comfort I agree completely that a student's comfort is essential to a conducive learning environment. I am not convinced, however, that a free dress code can achieve this. As I have mentioned in my initial arguments, a uniform dress code blurs barriers of social and wealth class, acts to bring about unity in team spirit, and erases worry about being judged based on attire. It seems to me that a uniform dress code is far more effective at bringing about comfort for every student than a free dress code is. Another issue here is that a free dress code encourages an unhealthy and unproductive competition in terms of appearance. This is bad especially because it distracts from the objective of learning in school. Paragraph 5: Factory-like education system I am rather confused as to how a uniform dress code limits a student's ability to pursue their own passions and contribute to society in their own way. I am also rather befuddled as to how allowing a student to dress as he/she pleases can improve the school's ability to cater to their "needs". What kind of "needs" can be addressed by students wearing what they like? It appears as though Con is suggesting also that since the system is archaic, therefore it should go. This is a logical fallacy, because the age of a system or policy has very little to do with its effectiveness. If Con has an argument as to why it does not apply in this day and age, I would be delighted to hear it. Paragraph 6: Financial difficulties Con makes a good point that many families may not be able to afford school uniforms. I have two responses to this. Firstly, the solution to financial difficulty is not to get rid of the system. Such families have equal difficulty with purchasing books stationery. We do not solve these by asking them not to buy books and stationery. Instead, schools usually have funds for financially struggling families, which allow them to give their children a decent education at subsidised rates. My second response is that it is exactly these families who will benefit most from having a school uniform. There is a significant potential for their children to be judged (potentially either consciously by students or subconsciously by teachers) based on their social class or wealth (or lack thereof), and this will manifest very obviously in the clothes that they wear. If we are indeed committed to ensuring equal opportunity for all, a uniform dress code offers the best way of achieving this. If there is a concern with the specific uniform worn in a certain school, it would be a good exercise to address the gender stereotypes it propagates in its specific context. Eradicating a uniform dress code instead, is a means of running away from the problems of gender stereotyping in our world and pretending that they don't exist. Even if children grow up with little conception of gender stereotypes in school (which is unlikely, with or without uniform dress codes), they will definitely be exposed to the same when they grow up. It is the duty of authority figures in their lives to ensure that they are prepared for this occurrence, and will not get a rude shock when it happens. I maintain that a uniform dress code policy is the best policy, both in a short-run and a long-run situation. I thank Con for his arguments and await his rebuttal of my points.