Anna Giangreco
EDU 535
Opinion Essay
Throughout elementary school and middle school I was the type of person who
truly cared what other people thought of me. I feel this belief of being accepted and liked
began when I was much younger. I had the desire to be with the “in” crowd and would do
anything to be acknowledged. The one thing I knew I needed to change, in order to be
accepted, were my daily outfits. It was very difficult for me to keep up with the fashion
trends and it became very expensive on my mother. I later realized I should not have been
judged by my clothing, but by the person I was inside. This scenario drove me to my
belief that all schools should make students wear uniforms.
There are many reasons why students should be forced to wear school uniforms.
The first reason is it alleviates the pressure of being accepted. As each school year
begins, students have the desire to start fresh and want to earn a spot with the “in” crowd.
The number one factor that plays a role in becoming popular is outfit choice. In USA
Today, an article emphasized how uniforms will take away from being judgmental. “Kids
are trying so hard to one-up each other on everything from hair styles to shoes. It takes
away the daily fashion show and helps level the playing field a little bit with the haves
and have-nots"(Toppo, 2013, para. 8). Multiple times a day students are laughed at for
their clothing, whether it is because it does not match or because it is not the most up-todate. I feel if uniforms were a requirement, the pressure of keeping up with trends and
putting together a new outfit each day would disappear. Students would not have to
decide whether an outfit was already worn (because repeating an outfit is a disgrace) or if
the outfit was pretty enough to be accepted. The pressure of being accepted based on
clothing would be no more! Uniforms create an atmosphere of sameness, therefore no
one would be judged.
The second reason why students should be forced to wear school uniforms is it
will save money. As each school year approaches, parents take children on shopping
sprees to buy bags and bags of clothing (from the most expensive stores, of course).
Children feel the need to wear an outfit only once, causing more spent money on clothing
that will never be worn again. If students were required to wear school uniforms, parents
would save tons of money! Parents would only have to buy a couple of uniforms, wash
them each day, and their child would be set for the school year. However, some students
might argue the fact that if they have to wear uniforms, they would be unable to express
themselves. Expressing yourself should not be done in school, but at home on the
weekends. School is for learning, not for competing with one another as to who is the
best dressed. If we were able to thoroughly express ourselves based on our appearance,
we would not be able to concentrate on schoolwork, but rather social life.
The last reason why schools should enforce wearing uniforms is because this type
of dress will set students up for their future careers. When we become older and attain
professional jobs, we will be required to wear professional clothing. In a Scholastic
Scope article it was stated that “wearing the appropriate clothes for a job interview or
college visit can mean the difference between success and failure”(Tarshis, 2011, p. 23).
If we are required to wear uniforms in school, it will benefit us when we have interviews
or begin college. Having a dress code at an earlier age will give us more responsibility, as
well. It is important for us to have responsibility because our future depends on it.
Incorporating a dress code, such as school uniforms, will benefit all students to become
more mature and ready for the real world. Some students may argue that if we are forced
to wear uniforms and have more responsibility, we will miss out on our younger years. I
do not feel this is true. Having responsibility is what helps us grow and become strong. It
is so important to implant this while we are young so we have a chance to build bright
futures. We will not miss out on our younger years, but we will have a clearer path as to
where we want to be in life.
School uniforms would be beneficial to all students. The use of a dress code
would eliminate many problems resulting in a happier more welcoming environment.
Students will feel less pressure of being accepted and more focused on future aspirations.
I believe schools are for learning and requiring students to wear uniforms will motivate
and encourage them to the realization that appearance is not what matters. I believe it is
necessary for all students to wear uniforms.
References
Tarshis, L. (2011). School Uniforms:—Awesome, or Awful? Scholastic Scope. Retrieved
from http://www.beasleyac.org/ourpages/auto/2014/12/8/37930770/SCOPE112111-Debate.pdf
Toppo, G. (2013). Students wear school-sanctioned dress. USA Today. Retrieved from
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/18/more-schooluniforms/2662387/