school uniforms

Before refuting my opponent"s single line of argumentation, in this round I'll do the following: Offer Background information: -Explain what school uniforms are -Explain what school uniforms do Explore the rationale behind school Uniforms: -Suggest why school uniforms are useful -Examine why school uniforms are in the best interest of students and the schools they attend (1) Background School uniforms are standardized outfits worn by students, the composition of which is dictated by the educational institution which students attend. A typical school uniform may include a blazer, some form of khaki or navy pants, an oxford shirt and a repp tie for male and female students, or may include a skirt for female students. School uniforms are typically very conservative, non-revealing and non-discriminating. Because school uniforms preclude students from dressing as they would like if given the choice, school uniforms prevent brand-driven consumerism in academic settings, minimize differences among the student body, foster a sense of common identity among a student body and reinforce student"s focus on their education rather than their outward appearance. (2) The Rationale Behind School Uniforms School uniforms are useful because of the fact that they not only restrict students" clothing options, but they prevent the problems that come from "individualized" dress. For example, bullying because of appearances is minimized in both sexes because all dress in the same fashion. Because school uniforms are conservative (though still, at least ostensibly "preppy") students retain a sense of style without being judged for their inability to afford brand names, or dress provocatively. Students"s purpose in attending school is not to dress provocatively, to be "fashionable" or to dress in a way that does anything other than reinforce their being educated. On a more practical level, school uniforms solve the problem of "What am I going to wear?" that adolescents face when preparing to attend school. By requiring that students dress in a certain way, the challenge of choosing apparel is preempted and thereby prevented from being a problem. In this way, dress code violations are likewise addressed before they can even occur. My opponent, however, asserts that she thinks that school uniforms should have never been invented. I can only assume that this is because she has never considered the practicality or utility of school uniforms, which I have outlined above. I"ll await her rebuttal. Here are some examples of school uniforms: http://www.solidcolorneckties.com... http://2.bp.blogspot.com... Did I mention, that they wear school uniforms at Hogwarts? http://mugglemeetswizard.files.wordpress.com... http://www.freewebs.com... Oh, and some numbers too: "As of 2009 in the United States, there are 21 states with public school systems requiring their students to wear uniforms. A case study from 1999 conducted in Long Beach, California showed that instituting a uniform policy greatly reduced violence and other issues in the school. Crimes, suspensions and sex offenses were all reduced by at least 90 percent and vandalism dropped by almost 70 percent." Source: http://www.ehow.com... Peace out, YYW