Private Schools Should Have Students Wear Uniforms

My Arguments 1. Uniforms may increase a student’s self esteem because they do not have to worry constantly to be better dressed than those around them. Many kids are discouraged by the fact that they don't own, or cannot afford some of the clothing other kids can. Uniforms put all kids at the same level, and takes that much more stress off the students that cannot afford the latest "fashion". 2. Uniforms improve learning by not allowing kids to be distracted. Clothes can be a huge distraction when you are in the classroom, especially if you are bored. Kids always want to know what others are wearing and even judge other students over it. Uniforms eliminate this problem and helps kids to stay focused in class. 3. Uniforms show that everyone there with you is part of your school. It shows you are all part of a team. It promotes school spirit and shows that everyone there is "on the same side". This togetherness helps to eliminate division among students at the school and reduces bullying. 4. Uniforms help the school faculty to quickly identify who is part of the school and in the end could actually help in keeping strangers and potentially dangerous people off the campus. 5. Bullies like to pick on kids who are lesser than them, and therefore tend to pick on kids who do not wear quality or popular clothes. By implementing school uniforms this problem is solved. School uniforms have helped improve schools, as emphasized by one study that finds that “various benefits to wearing uniforms were reported, including decreases in discipline, gang involvement and bullying; and increases in safety, eases of going to school, confidence and self-esteem. Additionally, school police data showed a 63 percent reduction in police log reports during the first year of implementation. Other decreases were noted in reports of gang-related activities and student fights, along with graffiti, property damage, battery and administrative assist. “ [1] Contentions My opponent argues that with the implementation of school uniforms, comes a loss of a sense of individuality. This is simply false. The problem here is that many people assume that once you have to wear a uniform everybody immediately because mindless drones that all act the same. True individuality comes from personality, beliefs, and even minor accessories such as wrist bands, earring, hair styles, ect. which are all still allowed. The argument that students lose their individuality is completely overrated and isn’t reason enough to deny all that exponentially great benefits school uniforms give. “Some parents also worry that when the freedom to express themselves through their wardrobe is removed, kids will resort to more extreme forms of expression like piercings and tattoos. ” Correlation does not equal causation. There is no empirical and logical evidence to suggest that students will go to extreme measures to express themselves when they must conform to school uniforms so the statement can be dismissed. “Kids need to learn to accept and celebrate each other"s differences, up to and including the way that different cultures dress. ” That’s great and all but that’s not how it is. Uniforms solve problems that arise from the inability to be accepting of others, in addition to some other things. “Some religions have strict rules about what is and is not considered acceptable dress, and school uniforms may not always fall in line with those religious requirements. ” The benefits of uniforms completely outweigh this very rare case. “For some parents, being able to purchase clothing at the beginning of the school year that adheres to the uniform code is a financial relief. ” Indeed. “being forced to purchase specific clothing infringes upon their kids" right to a free education” Lolwut [1] . http://www.unr.edu...