Essay Example on School Uniform Debate: Pros and Cons

The debate on the need for uniforms in school is diverse, with both antagonists and protagonists presenting supporting evidence worth considering. It was never an issue until the 1980s when public schools adopted the wearing of uniform, a practice that was only common among parochial and private schools. Criticism and support of the idea rose in equal measure and has progressed to date. School uniform is often considered an additional cost to the student's regular wardrobe, but the benefits of all students wearing similar clothes surpass the claim. Some students also hate having to wear the same outfit for a whole week while they have a variety of and trendy clothes in their closets. Although those who oppose students wearing school uniforms have a valid point, and while considering both opinions without bias, school uniforms do more good than harm.

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School uniforms create order in a classroom. A mixture of colors in a group of twenty students would look chaotic, especially when accompanied by different hairstyles and school bags. The students seem to be more controllable when they look similar. School uniforms were also first worn in parochial schools, which are considered secure and orderly; thus, teachers feel the orderliness (Anderson, 2002). Students might not like the idea, but it gives the teacher a sense of control over the classroom. Teachers also feel more in control since students do not depict their social classes while in a classroom setting. In a situation where students do not wear school uniforms, some may look down upon the teacher since they are not as well dressed. All students being in a similar outfit ensures the teacher remains superior.

Identification of students, especially when mixed up with outsiders, is easier when they have their school uniform. In the case of an intruder in the school, they stand out from the rest of the people and become easier to see, thus ensuring students' safety. The likelihood of being noticed all discourages potential intruders. When students are away from school, the teacher has an easier time managing them as they can track their movement and notice students who may want to stray away (Anderson, 2002). In scenarios where students are unable to express themselves, such as being unconscious, by-passers can reach their schools based on the uniform and hasten their rescue, as school addresses are always public. Outsiders also stay out of trouble by avoiding selling alcohol or drugs to children in uniform. The law does not stipulate that offenders will be set free because they were unaware that the buyers were students, thus the presence of school uniform acts as the first warning that it is prohibited. Students may not like the uniformity, but it raises their safety.

Schools should be ground to teach children the importance of cohesion despite diversity. School uniform eliminates the wealth gap, thus reinforces the lesson. If there were no school uniforms, school time would be a fashion show, with the wealthy parents dressing up their kids to show their fashion prowess and trendiness (Anderson, 2002). However, uniform ensures students are not encouraged to drift apart by the difference in wealth, but rather focus on the happiness and friendship they draw from each other. In schools without uniform, it is common to hear some students desire a designer outfit worn by another student, and others talk ill about clothes obtained from a thrift store. Contrary to the opinion, teaching students to forget their diversity can be a threat to their development. Given that school encompasses students with different backgrounds, cultures, and races, it should be a learning ground on the importance of diversity, not a covering ground (Deane, 2015). School uniform achieves order at the cost of letting students appreciate their diversity and work in line with that. For instance, on wealth disparity, the absence of a school uniform would mean students dress in their best attire. The difference in dressing would be a constant reminder to students on their aspirations, and what they are working towards. The uniformity is likely to make them forget they have different paths of life.

However, even as more people support the idea of school uniforms and their evident positive effect, everyone ought to agree that school uniforms do not solve all illnesses in school (Diane, 2015). In the 1980s, before the introduction of school uniforms or strict dress codes, gangs were a common nuisance to school administrations. Besides, certain sections of students used to dress up to depict a particular belief, which divided the school into cliques and deteriorated teacher-student relations since the groups professed anti-obedience beliefs. Even in present-day schools, the gangs still happen despite school uniform. It can be termed as a practice that is deep-rooted in society, thus cannot be solved by wearing school uniforms to emphasize equality.

Parents who are not well-off also find uniforms an additional burden to already cumbersome costs of education. The majority of parents in the US have not felt the pinch of buying uniforms for their children often, because most schools only have a dress code, but in countries like the UK, school uniforms are a constant bother. Students also prefer being accorded the freedom to wear whatever they like. Having a particular outfit depresses their freedom of expression since dressing is perceived as an expression of character and preferences. However, comparing a school uniform and a dress code, most students would rather have a dress code. A dress code gives them a little bit of freedom since they can choose the outfit they desire, as long as it adheres to the stipulated regulations.

Both the protagonist and antagonists have valid points of view; thus, schools must consider the community's opinion before implementing mandatory school uniform requirements in schools. What the particular community considers best should be the determinant of the school's decision.

Reflection

I discussed articles by Anderson Wendell and Samantha Deane. Both of the articles were arguing for and against schools having uniforms by presenting diverse opinions on the same, backed up by evidence and statistics. The first article(by Anderson) provided a detailed explanation of the history and effect of school uniforms. In contrast, the second article examined whether the projected positive results are happening in the real world. The Rogerian model helped me understand the importance of looking at both sides of an argument to avoid bias. It also made me realize the importance of flexibility in research. Acknowledging both sides of an argument provides a broader perspective on why some things that maybe consider obvious in some parts of the world are not in other parts. I will use the approach for my argumentative essay.

References

Anderson, W. (2002). School Dress Codes and Uniform Policies. Policy Report.

Deane, S. (2015). Dressing Diversity: Politics of Difference and the Case of School Uniforms. Philosophical Studies in Education, 46, 111-120.