School Uniforms

The idea of school uniforms is commonplace in the United Kingdom today.  Most, if not all secondary modern schools in Britain have a uniform policy. It could be as simple as a certain colored jumper or as formal as a blazer and tie. But there are some people who think that school uniform policies should be abolished. They say that it does not give the children freedom to express themselves in the way they look. I disagree with this and I believe there are several clear advantages of wearing uniforms for society, for the school, and for the student.  These advantages show the benefits of wearing uniforms over wearing casual, everyday clothing.  For one thing, a uniform gives the students a link to the school when they are travelling to and from the school location.  Wearing uniforms also removes the distraction from children to look “cool.”  Additionally, the school can use “non-uniform days” to raise monetary funds or to reward the students for good behavior.

Imagine the chaos school children could cause in town centers across the country if students did not wear uniforms.  When students are wearing their uniforms, they are identified with their school. School children can cause much trouble on their journeys to and from school, but having a uniform restricts them in causing this trouble because they are identifiable by the public.  If a member of the public has a problem with school children, then he/she can contact the school so that the school may take appropriate action.  Also, the student feels easily identifiable, thus limiting his/her confidence about not getting caught doing something he/she should not be doing.

Another good reason in support of school uniforms is that all students look the same.  People against school uniforms may say this is precisely why we should abolish school uniforms; that “school uniforms take away a student’s right to make a statement about him/herself, and that this, in turn, takes away identity.”  I say to these people, that there are many benefits to school uniforms.  There is one primary reason to be at school: to learn.  If a student has any other reason for being at school, it is simply a distraction.  School should be as little about looking “cool,” or looking any other way; school is for learning as much as possible.

In addition to these pro-uniform points, a situation that was used successfully at my own secondary school was “non-uniform day.”  We all looked forward to such days; the days usually marked a special fundraising day, or were a reward to all the students if we had been successful and behaved well.  The ability to wear casual clothing does not sound like a lot, but, at the time, it made these days feel more special.  Therefore, everyone was in a better mood and the general morale was raised.  Also, everyone paid a pound to wear their own clothes, which raised funds for charity or for the school.  If we were to abolish school uniforms, how could we mark these days at school?

I believe that there is a lot of argument for students wearing school uniforms, and little valid reason to wear casual clothing.  For instance, “pop” fashion provides too much distraction from the task of learning.  Therefore, school uniforms should be here to stay.