Uniforms, what is the big deal?

Question

I hear a lot of parents and kids complaining about having to wear uniforms to school, saying it's their right to wear whatever they want to school etc etc.

I spend most of my school yrs wearing uniforms and I never though it violated my rights :)

So why make a big deal about it?

Answer 1

Some people are just born rebels at heart -- "nobody can tell THEM what to do!"

If they only knew how much easier it is to have a uniform and not have to get sucked into the peer-pressure clothing competitions, they'd be first in line at the uniform store!

Then again, maybe they are the ones that like flaunting their money by allowing their kids to wear expensive clothing!

Answer 2

I wore a uniform through all my school days - from Kindergarden until graduation.
I fully support the uniform policy, I think it should be implemated in ALL public and private schools.

Reasons -

They elevate problems such as kids getting into trouble based on inappropriate dress. Some girls and boys these days dress WAY beyond their age.
Also, there is a lot of unnecessary competition between young adults on what is "cool". If everyone dressed the same, these issues wouldn't be at hand, and kids can concentrate their energies on more important matters, such as school work.
They can be huge money-savers for parents. They just need to purchase a few of them and some blouses, socks and shoes, and the child is set for the year.

Based on these points, I really don't see why people argue against uniforms either.

Answer 3

Many people believe (mistakenly) that a mandatory school uniform somehow inhibits a child's creativity and their ability to express their individuality. The truth is school uniforms promote the ideas of equality and unity. If you're all wearing the same uniform, you're no better than the person sitting next to you, and the person sitting next to you is a member of your team. What a lot of these so-called free-thinking people don't realize is school has been turned into a popularity contest dictated largely by fashion. Children whose parents can't afford the latest fads or the expensive designer names get ridiculed by the other, "more fortunate" children for no other reason than what they're wearing. Nothing like promoting bigotry, right?

Answer 4

I think uniforms are a great idea in public schools. Many other countries have their students in uniforms and their children don't have a real problem with it. I think that uniforms for kids in school are the great equalizers...and that girls can concentrate on the stuff that really matters, like getting a good education and finding real friends...and not wasting time or money on trying to "look cool". Plus...children are children and don't have "rights" they need clothes, food, shelter and appropriate medical care. They need love and caring. They WANT cool clothes...when we all realize that there is a big difference between WANT and NEED we will all be better off.

Answer 5

There are people that simply oppose being told what to do, or what to wear. They ignore the reasons behind something to complain about how it impedes their free will.

My high school discussed a uniform policy. I was against it at the time, but only because I was a slob and didn't want to have to dress up for school.

I think it's something more schools should consider. Especially with some of the clothing young people are wearing now, it gets a bit ridiculous.

Answer 6

When I was in high school, my district considered trying a uniform policy. Honestly, the only reason I was against it is because I think almost every school uniform I see is ugly. I know how shallow this sound, but I was 15-16 at the time. In retrospect, I don't think it would have bothered me so much. I could still wear what I wanted to on my own time.

Answer 7

If you want to live like the middle of the bell curve, that is a choice, and most people make the same one. That's great: if you want to live by production quotas, politically correct 'blending', and never being offended by anything. It works for some.
Actually, most of the people who whine about uniforms are just whining because everyone else is whining, ergo, they shouldn't be so concerned about it because they simply want the uniform to be goth or ear chains or something like that. They still want to conform, but they want to be 'nonconformists' like everyone else.
The irony is pathetic.
True individuals will wear what is actually comfortable for them to wear. If they are comfortable being in a uniform by choice, that is fine. In the grand scheme of things, if you offered two identical schools, and one required uniforms and one didn't, it isn't like everyone would go to the one without uniforms.
Uniforms are used to reduce identity conflicts that shouldn't become problems to start with. Their purpose is to make life easier for school administration and teachers so they don't have to get to know the kids as individuals. If they see everyone wearing the same thing, to them, all is well. When they see a tall kid and a short kid, they start calling the parents to find out if they've seen a doctor for hormone treatments to bring them back into line with 'normal'.

Answer 8

Don't bother with it. Those who say "whatever" to uniforms are those who tend to be successful in life. Those who rail against it or have parents that think dress and rights are most important are those who end up with lousy families.

Answer 9

Wearing uniforms has the advantage of not having to think what to wear everyday. I also removes the need to match clothes.
It has even another advantage: not damaging people's clothes, so when they are not in school they would have what to wear.

Answer 10

It's about that false sense of security that uniforms make students better. It's also about choice. People want to make their own personal choices about who they are, what they are, and what they wear is apart of all that.