The School Uniform Question
School is one of the most important parts of our lives because we learn how to socialize,
play sports, perform academically, and become responsible adults in the world. As individualism is
also a fundamental part of society, the debate about wearing uniforms in schools is thus an
important one. Requiring school uniforms is the better choice because uniforms make students’
lives easier, make them act more maturely, and create equality between everyone.
First, students must wear uniforms to make their lives simpler. They would no longer have to
decide what to wear every morning, trying on outfit after outfit in an effort to choose. Uniforms
would not only save time but would eliminate the stress often associated with this chore. Also,
parents could save a lot of money instead of buying new outfits for each day of school. According to
Sir Hackberry, UK Minister of Education, “British families save £1200 every year if their child wears a
uniform to school” (Palmer, 2011).
Second, school uniforms influence students to act responsibly in groups and as individuals.
Adults must give students the message that school is a special place for learning. In addition,
uniforms create a feeling of unity among students. While they do things together while wearing the
same uniform, it gives them a sense of community. Even more important, statistics show that the
positive effects that uniforms have on violence and academics. At one school in Florida where
uniforms were introduced, violence dropped by 50 percent and test scores improved by 30 percent
(Dixon, 2014).
Finally, schools must make students feel equal by requiring uniforms. Students standards
of living can differ greatly, some people are wealthy, and some are not. Also, students may forget
that school is for education, not a fashion show. School uniforms would make all students look the
same no matter how rich they were. This would promote pride in themselves and make it easier to
be friends with people with different backgrounds.
People who are against school uniforms might say that students are unable to express their
individuality. This might seem like a good point; however, school is a place to learn, not a place to
show off wealth and fashion. If we must decide between individual expression and improved
educational performance, the choice should be obvious. Besides, students have the freedom to
express themselves in many other ways through their writing, speeches, performances, sports, art,
and how they talk to each other.
In conclusion, there are many well-documented benefits of having school uniforms. Studies
have proven that students learn better and act more responsibly when they wear uniforms. All
schools must require uniforms in order to benefit the students, the schools, and all of society.
References:
Dixon, J. (2014). Uniforms for Florida. Scholastic View Magazine, 22, 43-47.
Palmer-Tomkinson, T. (2011). Future of UK Education. The Sunday Express.
Retrieved December 7, 2019, from https://www.sundayexpress.com/uk/tpt010111
Post Reading:
1. The topic of this essay is school uniforms. What is the ‘hook’ in the introduction. Is it interesting
or surprising? ___________________________________________________________________
2. What is the thesis statement? ______________________________________________________
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3. Does the introduction preview the body? _____________________________________________
4. What are the three reasons the writer gives supporting uniforms in schools?
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5. What is the counterargument? _____________________________________________________
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6. What is the refutation? ___________________________________________________________
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7. Identify all the modals that you can find. _____________________________________________
8. Which transitions or connectors were used? _________________________________________
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9. Which sentence in the conclusion restates the thesis? __________________________________
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10. Which sentence in the conclusion tells the author’s opinion?
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11. What’s the name of the magazine where the author got their information for paragraph three?
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12. What is the name of the online newspaper article where the author got the quote?
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13. What is your opinion about this essay? _______________________________________________
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