The School Uniform Debate

909 Words2 Pages

The requirement of school uniforms in our public schools is a big issue in our community. Among our teachers, parents, and students, everyone has a different opinion. School uniforms will help solve many issues inside and outside our school walls. For the students, uniforms will help eliminate the everyday worries of trying to fit in with other students, parents will not have to deal with the financial stress of buying fashionable and expensive clothes, and teachers will have a better advantage with providing a better learning environment with students more focus on their education, rather than what their wearing to school.

Trying to fit in is one issue that students deal with at school, and requirement of uniforms can eliminate that stress. With all the different fashion trends coming out every day, keeping up with them are stressful, but a student being picked on for not following in that fashion trend is even more stressful. Uniforms can help encourage students to accept each other for who they are, and not for what they are wearing. MPS Superintendent, Barbara Thompson, believes uniforms “will create unity among the school system,” and “create a level playing field for all students” (Johnson, 2010). Some people that are against the requirement of uniforms believe that they interfere with the students’ right to self- expression, but how can a student express themselves if they are being picked on about what they are wearing? We believe that without the interference of fashion, students will be more focused inside the classroom rather than being the next fashion queen or king. President Clinton, in 1996, said “if it means teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to r...

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References

Holyoke, C. (2010, July 28). 'Opt Out' policy added to MPS uniform code. Retrieved August 3, 2010, from

WSFA 12 News: http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=12881301

Johnson, M. (2010, February 6). MPS Superintendent Thompson suggests uniforms for all students.

Retrieved August 3, 2010, from WSFA 12 News:

http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=11946613

Weisburd, A., & Silverman, J. (2009, March 25). School Uniforms: Contributions and Consequences.

Retrieved August 3, 2010, from NY Teachers:

http://nyteachers.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/school-uniforms-contributions-and-

consequences-by-amy-weisburd-and-jackie-silverman/

Wilde, M. (n.d.). Do Uniforms Make Schools Better? Retrieved August 3, 2010, from GreatSchools:

http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/defining-your-ideal/school-

uniforms.gs?content=121&page=all

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