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I'm research a topic and would like to generate a bunch of arguments for data collection.
Policy:
Students in public, K-12 schools must wear school uniforms.
Background:
- Uniforms are uniquely designed for each school. (Think Japan)
- Students must purchase their uniform from the school.
- Students must wear their uniforms on school campus at all times. (Strict)
Instructions:
1.) Please state whether you are for or against the policy by labeling ‘PRO’ or ‘CON’ in the title box. In rare cases, you may label ‘NEU’ in the title box if you don’t care about the policy.
2.) State clearly the support for your answer by introducing reasonable arguments. If you can, please provide statistical data and resource locations.
Rules:
- Think logically and be considerate for both sides of the debate before you answer.
- Please do not use answers such as “School uniforms are dumb!”, “School uniforms do nothing to improve the school environment.”, or any other personal taste, absolute remarks along those lines.
I’ll generate a few arguments so you can get an idea of how this will work. Don't let the confusing numbers prevent you from displaying your opinions.
CON 1
School uniforms are expensive because they are designed specifically for that school.
PRO 1 to CON 1
School uniforms would save parents moneyand time because they don’t have to do the traditional ‘back to school’ clothes mass shopping for their children.
PRO 2
In the morning, students would not have to make up their minds on what they should wear for the day.
PRO 3
Students would not be embarrassed or harassed because of their clothes if their parents were not able to buy them the newest fad.
PRO 4
Gangs use clothing to identify themselves and generate an uneasy atmosphere.
CON 2 to PRO 4
Why not simply remove the gang members from the school and place them in an alternative learning environment, like a boot camp?
PRO 5 to CON 2
School administrators have no power to place any student in a different learning environment if they have not caused any problems. Even then, if the problems are minor, they are given detention and still allowed in the school.
PRO 6
Students’ social standing would be based more on individual character and less on economic status.
PRO 7
Some students use baggy clothing to hide weapons or drugs.
CON 3
School uniforms have no use outside of school.
PRO 8
School uniforms make it easy to identify people who do not attend the school.
Hi,
Many, many private schools require wearing uniforms. I know your question addresses public schools, but just thought I would mention that.
I do not have statistics on the subject, but would like to mention some good reasons for wearing uniforms in either public or private schools:
1. Gives a sense of "belonging" to a group, and associating with those from the same group (such as the school).
2. Helps build school pride.
3. Helps the local school board or administration from continuous stating of "dress codes", what is not allowed to be worn.
4. Stops distractions in the classroom from "low cut blouses", other distracting clothing worn by some.
When a student attends a school - public, private, parochial, home - he becomes part of that institution and thus subject to the rules and policies of that institution. A dress code is one of those rules/policies.
David Stern, the commissioner of the NBA, has recently ruled that NBA players dress in suits rather than in gangsta, hip-hop regalia. The players' attitudes have already improved, as have the fans'.
During the 1950s and before, people wore their "good clothing" (dresses, high heels, suits) when traveling, to church, to do their banking, to shop, and even to grocery shop. Casual dress began in the early 1970s when women starting wearing slacks to work and people in general figured out they have "rights". The U.S. has never been the same since.
Don’t mind the rules! I should probably take them down. It’s just a guideline. Here are a few more PROs and CONs. I got most of them from http://www.youdebate.com/DEBATES/school_uniforms.HTM, but I modified the grammar, merged a few together, and deleted the absolute statements.
CON 4
School uniforms cut down on a students’ individuality. Uniforms are not the way to cut down on school violence. An option to prevent violence is parents should pay attention to their children, not let them run wild, keep their children out of trouble, and give them consequences when they disobey.
PRO 9 to CON 4
Sometimes parents do not have time to monitor their kids. That’s why they send their children to school in hopes that the school will teach them valuable things in life. What does the school suggest they do to help prevent violence? Enforce school uniforms of course. Oh, and in many news articles, statistics do show that uniforms do help reduce the number of conflicts and violence in school.
PRO 10
School is in the 'business' of learning. School is the place where the next lawyers, bankers, CPA's, and doctors are given the fundamentals of working in this economy. One of the basics in our culture, in the working world is conservative dressing, dress code, or even uniforms. What is wrong with sending our kids the message that they are in 'the business of learning' by enforcing dress codes, or even ascribing a uniform?
CON 5 to PRO 10
School is also the place where the next actors, musicians, writers, artists, designers, inventors, and politicians are trained. School uniforms send a clear, early-life message to students that conformity is important and creativity is not, that authority is allowed to abuse its’ power and constrain our constitutional right of free speech and expression. Students learn from uniforms that their individuality, political opinions, and religious rights are unimportant, as is their education. Students are regularly suspended for non compliance to the uniform, even if their school work is excellent. If uniform-requiring schools were actually in 'the business of learning' this would not occur.
PRO 11 to CON 5
First off, you would never see politicians wear casual clothing. They express their ideas through their persuasive speech. That’s what they aim for is for people to focus on them and not their clothing. Uniforms do not spell out “your religion/education/opinions are not important”. Isn’t one of the main points of having uniforms is for students to build on their inner individuality? To express their minds more freely?
CON 6
A reason not to have uniforms is for the safety of students. An Example would be during a natural disaster such as an earthquake, tornado, etc... How would a Parent I.D. their child? By the clothes they were wearing when they left home. What if a senior decides to attack a lower classmen? How would the victim describe the attacker?
PRO 12 to CON 6
Many students go to school without seeing their parents in the morning. It’s either the parents are still sleeping when they leave, or the parents already left for work. Natural disasters are rare events. If you want to include rare events, then why not considered the rare occasion of if the student decides to change their clothing when they leave home, or change at school if they spill liquid stains on them? Getting attacked is also rare. The attacker would most likely change clothes after the attack to not be identified. Clothes are not the way to identify someone.
School uniforms are dumb and they do nothing to improve the school environment. I wonder where I came up with that line from?
So, why do I not like school uniforms?
Few reasons:
1) The cost to the parents and child goes up. Not only does The Parent have to buy the school uniform, but he also has to buy other regular clothes for the child when the child goes out to socialzie with theire friends.
2) Children do not ge to learn about freedom of expression or simply how to express themselves. Children need to learn to express themselves and be accepted for the choices they make. School Uniforms simply hinder that process, not help it.
3) All the students will be the same. In the real world, thats not the case. In the real world, people ARE different and it should be reflected like that in the school system. We need to teach the children to get along with others EVER WHEN THEY ARE DIFFERENT. If everyone looks the same with uniforms, you cant really teach the children that lesson now can you?
4) Censorship. School uniforms are a form of censorship. While censorship is sometimes neccesairly in cases or hate crims against religions and races, we cant let it get out of control. School Uniforms are censoring a child's creative side. And alsmost always, Paretns never sees eye to eye with the child, and its the paretns who are trying to impliment school uniform. Look at the 1960s and the hippie revolution. Paretns and Children didnt see eye to eye, so should there have been a school uniform policy then? Perhaps it would have crushed the hippie movement. Would that have been a good thing?
I agree with the cost factors that parents need to buy clothing for their children’s schooling AND socializing, but do uniforms cut down on a student’s freedom? We have been told many times that our outer appearance does not matter, yet it still causes problems in schools, so administrators try to eliminate that problem along with others by introducing school uniforms. Don’t you think this is an opportunity for students to engage in extracurricular activities such as art, music, sports, or some kind of club of interest to express themselves? These activities are a lot more meaningful than expressing oneself through clothing.
Even then, in musical concerts, musicians are forced to wear a type of uniform of dress because they want people to focus on their musical talents. Sports, they wear exact same clothing. In today’s economy, workers in restaurants, business, front desk help, all wear some sort of formal wear or specified clothing. Even going into interviews they have to look professional. There’s absolutely no way anyone can argue about clothing in the work industry because it’s a matter of “if you don’t wear it, no job for you”. Getting students use to uniforms would better prepare them, don’t you think? I’m not saying everyone should wear uniforms in public full time. Just in work/study environments, that should be the case. It’s fine to wear casual clothing when you’re a consumer, or hanging out with friends.
You know what’s interesting? I wonder how students in Japan deal with their school uniform cost. If you know Japan, ALL K-12 schools have an enforced uniform policy.
just a little correction, only kids from junior high through high school in japan have to wear uniforms, elementry school students dont have to, and some high schools let their students wear what clothes they want.
Wonder why people are so against Uniforms? Is it because American School Uniforms are ugly? Peer pressure from friends who also think uniforms are wrong? The whole situation with the freedom is not really strong support for that side. Hm?
The are our kids and I love the idea of a little disipline.no more poor me or rich you-no more sneaking clothes out of the house-no more fashion shows or distractions in class-no more expensive back to school shoppingYEAH-No more baggy clothes or daisy dukesAT SCHOOL-We send kids to school to learn how to be adults and following rules is the first lesson for them to learn if each school had a different uniform there would be no sneaking to other campuses.Tansfers might be a little expensive but on the whole wouldn't the sale of uniforms bring in money to the schools?I'm for uniforms in all public schools-period
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