Exploring the School Uniform Debate

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"People will learn to evaluate themselves by what they are on the inside, instead of what they're wearing on the outside, then our public schools should be able to require students to wear school uniforms."

This was a what Bill Clinton said in a speech he had given endorsing school uniforms in 1996. There are many opinions on the subject of school uniforms, but whose opinion should we listen too? What I am about to present to you will consist of opinions from threes sides. Those who oppose school uniforms, those that support, and my own.

According to the Texas Education Code 11.162 a parent or guardian of a student attending a school at which students are required to wear school uniforms may choose for the student to be exempted from the requirement or they may choose to transfer to a school which students are not required to wear uniforms if space is available and if the parent or guardian provides a written statement that,

as determined by the board of trustees, states a bona fide religious or philosophical objection to the requirement. This law is what many parents in Texas who oppose the school uniform requirement use to fight against the decision of the schools to impose uniforms.

When some parents from Forney, Texas requested exemptions for their children, the school denied them causing lawsuits to be filed against the districts. The reason these parents opposed the uniform dress code? Because they believed it took away their children's freedom to express themselves. Other parents who oppose the uniforms also state that their parental rights are being stripped away. They have even gone so far as to set up web sites to draw others into their fight.

On the other hand, parents who support school uniforms share the same belief that President Clinton had, which was that having children wear a uniform to school might help eliminate some of the problems children face throughout their school years. Some advantages would be, it could prevent gang members from displaying their colors, it could help children not feel ashamed because their families do not have money to purchase brand name clothing, and it may help reduce the cost of purchasing new clothing each school year.

In my opinion, I believe that school uniforms bring many benefits for the schools, the parents, and most importantly the children.

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