Journal #30: Uniforms or No Uniforms

School uniforms are usually a big question with schools these days. From one standpoint they create equality in dress and have neatness and order. However, from the opposite standpoint, they restrict a student's freedom to express themselves through dress, and they take away uniqueness. Usually with a student, there should be no issue; there should be no uniforms. I agree with this standpoint. Students should not be forced to wear uniforms for school because it restricts their freedom of expression, their uniqueness, and a way to be comfortable.

First off, uniforms create a restriction of freedom of dress and expression. With a uniform, you have a set shirt, set pants or skirt, set colors, and strict guidelines on the clothing. Without a uniform, students are allowed to dress how they choose (as long as it is appropriate!), and they can express themselves through that. For example, a girl who is very vibrant and likes to wear clothing that is fun, colorful, and has a loud personality to it, would be quieted if she was made to wear a uniform. Along the same lines, someone who is comfortable in sweatpants and a sweatshirt would feel awkward and uncomfortable in dress pants and a collar shirt that a uniform would enforce. Plus, everyone is different and unique. Enforcing uniforms would take that uniqueness away, because everyone would be dressed the same. High school is a chance to find out who one wants to be. School uniforms would be taking away from that chance.

In taking a small survey, eight people were asked if they were for or against school uniforms. seven out of the eight were against school uniforms, the one being against it because of inappropriate dress at school at times. True, this can be a problem, but a way to fix this is to put in guidelines for dress and rules that prohibit inappropriate attire, but not to the point of a uniform where everyone is the exact same. One should not be half dressed for school, obviously, but also one should not be made to look like someone else during the school year. Even though the survey covered a minority of students, predictions point that the majority of the student body would be against the installment of school uniforms.