School Uniform Controversy

School uniforms are very common in today’s society, but recently they have created controversy, as they have been proven to lead to depression in young adults. Children have always cared about the type of clothes he or she wears, and is constantly being judged by their peers, as well. This is why there has been more controversy over what a child is wearing as of late. In current years, school uniforms have become very common in both private and public schools. School uniforms solve many problems, but they also create conflicts. Though they help in many cases, they do have a downfall: for many families, uniforms are too expensive. They also reduce a child’s creativity. When students get to choose their own clothes, it gives them the chance to

Uniforms are an inconvenience to parents; they do not allow a child to express his or her self, and can cause a child embarrassment. Students are opposed to them, and there is evidence that uniforms do not solve all problems facing schools. Many parents are opposed to uniforms because they cannot afford to buy them; this is seen more in parents of children attending a public school. The Nicolson’s saying “I can’t afford it” because at this time the family is not doing well enough to provide money for uniforms (Campbell). A huge problem with school uniforms that parents and teachers are concerned with is they deny the child of his or her right to express themselves freely through their clothing. The United States First Amendment states, that individual people have the right to express them self freely; this means it cannot be argued that students do not have to shed their right of freedom of expression when walking into the front door of school (“School Uniforms”). When giving children and adolescents the option to choose their own clothes, it allows them to mature and shows one he or she is entitled to these rights (“School Uniforms”). Making one wear a specific outfit contradicts what parents have taught their child about being him or herself. Many parents agree that it is their right to influence their child’s clothing, not the schools (Owen). Additionally, parents feel the school is stepping on their toes because the schools primary job is to teach, not dictate expression (Motsinger). One student said that “ ‘They decide to teach us about people like Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, and Booker T. Washington about how these people express themselves and conquered and we cannot even express ourselves in the hallways’ ” (“School Uniforms” ). Schools are contradicting themselves by preaching to students about individuality, but schools are denying children that