WEARING OF SCHOOL UNIFORM

(ANTI)

JID GAYTANO

School uniforms are something that appear in many different schools. Wearing a school
uniform means that children are robbed of one of their primary means of self-expression while at
school. While school uniforms may sometimes help to eliminate the differences between pupils,
and may also provide a barrier between school time and every other time, the benefits do not
outweigh the disadvantages. School uniforms limit creativity and freedom of expression, and
they can represent a huge cost outlet for the parents involved. Not only that, but when schools
require specific items, it gives rise to possible fraud.
School uniforms limit creativity. The teenage years is when children need to be able to
show their emotions and their inner selves even more than normal, and a school uniform takes
away one of the prime ways that they can do so. With no way of showing themselves and who
they are (or experimenting with those things), teenagers quite often turn to acting out, in a bid to
separate themselves from the herd. This particularly becomes an issue when there are several
children from the same family are in school.
Uniforms already cost a lot of money, and do so every year when children grow up. This
is exacerbated if the family has more than one child in uniform at the school. Uniforms can be
very expensive, since they are limited in scope, and they all have to look the same, and be made
of the same materials. Add into this that children tend to grow, and naturally wear out their
clothes anyway, and you have a recipe for a huge outlay of money which may not be sustainable
in the long term, particularly if families need to rely on certain shops to get what they need.
If families can only get their uniforms at a certain number of shops, this can lead to those
shops taking advantage of their position. Uniforms normally have particular logos and crests on
them – this can be used by shops as a way of putting the prices up to unknown levels. Since there
are few places to actually get the uniforms from, many people have to pay the asked for a price.
It has been said that school uniforms will cut down on bullying, and will make school
children safer. It has never been proven that bullying is stopped or reduced by the use of
uniforms, and having an easily identifiable uniform could be argued as a point against general
safety.
People who are in favor of school uniforms often argue that they are helpful on a variety
of levels, including when it comes to preventing bullying. Wearing a school uniform means that
children are robbed of one of their primary means of self-expression while at school. What
uniforms actually do, is take away one of the primary means for children to find themselves,
thereby encouraging acting out. Uniforms can also end up being a significant outlay of money
for not much return, particularly if you have multiple children, or need to use a certain shop, or a
number of shops, for your needs.
 WEARING OF SCHOOL UNIFORM
(PRO)

GLENN OLIVER P. GERONIMO

Wearing school uniforms are becoming a trend in schools nowadays. However, students,
parents and teachers have opposing views about the need for students to wear proper uniform at
school. Wearing school uniform must be implemented in schools as it promotes discipline and
protection to students against bullying and discrimination. While some point out that the
requirement for all learners to wear uniforms should not be mandatory, they should also consider
the positive effects of wearing school uniforms to students.
A common argument raised against the use of school uniforms is that it denies students a
chance to fully express themselves. While this is true in some extent, self-expression does not
only involve clothes. The student can express him or herself through, for instance, doing hair in
their style of choice, and wearing bracelets. Just because the learner is not allowed to dress in the
latest, trendy jeans does not imply that they have been denied their rights. Furthermore, students
can wear the clothes of their choice outside the school. From this perspective, uniforms give all
students a homogenous look, putting them on an equal playing ground, thus eliminating the
likelihood of discrimination and bullying. In fact, the essence of schooling is to acquire, among
other things, education. Fashion should not be emphasized at school.
Schools which require that students use uniforms look more formal. The campus
generally tends to have a professional look. In addition, school uniforms dissolve the concept of
social classes. Allowing students to wear clothes of their choice provides a leeway for students to
categorize and possibly label each other based on whether they come from wealthy or poor
families. Such discrimination at school could lead to a rise in bullying cases, reduction in some
students’ self-esteem, and poor performance in school.
Uniforms also include pride in a student, as each student identifies with the others and the
school hence each of them feels proud to be associated with their institution. That way, student
feel more closely connected to their classmates. A sense of community emerges, and this leads to
a reduction in crime and gang affiliated behaviors. In fact, the sense of belonging that emerges
from wearing of school uniforms helps to boost the students’ self-confidence. Also, bullying is a
major issue in schools. Some students face physical, verbal, and social harassment from their
schoolmates. Without school uniforms, it becomes easy for bullies to target the students who
look different and who are not wearing the right clothes.
In conclusion, school uniforms ensure that all students have a level playing field in terms
of social classes and education. Bullying would be more prevalent if students were allowed to
dress as they wish. Students, parents and teachers have an easy time undertaking their
responsibilities in cases where students have a standard uniform.
 WEARING OF SCHOOL UNIFORMS
(Anti)

EDJAYLYN P. CRESENCIO

Teenagers spend between six and eight hours in high schools sitting at their desks,
listening to their teachers, and doing their school work. In some schools, they are also required to
dress in school uniforms. Students should not be required to wear uniforms because they do not
allow for a student’s self-expression, and they are not affordable for parents.

Teenagers are at an age where they are trying to establish their identity. High school is
typically a time when students begin to develop their own sense of personal style, desperately
trying to both fit in and stand out. Being self-conscious and often lacking confidence, some teens
use clothing and outward appearance to express this individuality. It is not fair to prevent them
from exploring self-expression by making them wear uniforms. By taking away a student’s right
to choose what to wear, the opportunity to express oneself is taken away. Clothes play an
enormous role in that they, more so than makeup, jewelry, and accessories are able to reflect the
inner thoughts, feelings, and attitudes of students. To entirely take away students’ rights to
choose what they wear is to remove an avenue through which they can express themselves.
Mandating uniforms not only takes away a student’s right to express themselves, but it also puts
a burden on parents.

Additionally, uniforms are not affordable for families. Requiring students to wear
uniforms mean that students must own uniforms. With school budgets limited, the financial
burden of buying uniforms will fall to the parents. Parents will no longer have a choice in the
type of clothing they buy or the price they pay. Also, parents will have the added cost of
purchasing clothes that their child wears outside of school. Furthermore, uniforms become a
more significant cost when parents have more than one child to buy for. Because most parents
have to buy a lot of necessities for their children on a daily basis, they are not left with extra
money when it comes to school shopping. Uniforms will add heavily to the overall cost of a new
school year and are just asking too much out the pockets of parents who work hard for the money
they have. While others believe uniforms are affordable, their reasoning is wrong because school
uniforms are costly and in today’s up and down economy, they are an unnecessary added
expense.

In conclusion, students should not be forced to wear uniforms because they do not allow
for self-expression and they are not affordable. There are already plenty of restrictions upon high
school students, and mandating school uniforms would not be a helpful regulation.
 WEARING OF SCHOOL UNIFORMS
(Pro)

IRIZH MAE FRANCISCO

In schools today, there are problems that take the focus off education and make it more
difficult for students to learn. School uniforms can eliminate the problems that arise and distract
students from the main focus of school, their education. Students should wear school uniforms
because it will help eliminate bullying and produce a more positive school environment.

First, one of the biggest concerns in schools is bullying. Students are harassed physically,
verbally, and socially. Often, the cause of bullying stems from people being different for not
wearing the “right” clothes. If someone looks richer, most people feel like they have a higher
social status or more power. However, uniforms allow students to learn on a more level playing
field, with less judgment about clothing choices, brands of clothing, or physical appearance.
Furthermore, school uniforms eliminate the cliques that are formed according to a particular
fashion and the negative self-image due to the lack of “in-style” clothes. The feelings of being
left out or not accepted by a clique could create a very distractive environment in school.

Additionally, school uniforms will produce a more positive school environment. School
uniforms will increase focus therefore enhancing education. Uniforms help sharpen students'
focus on the task at hand, schoolwork. It will create structure and guidelines for the student to
follow which is an aspect of life that a student needs to learn. Also, school uniforms will create a
sense of school unity, pride and spirit. Wearing school colors gives students a feeling of being
more connected to their school and classmates. If there is a sense of community and
connectedness among the students, a more positive environment has been created. While others
believe that wearing uniforms suppresses individuality, their reasoning is wrong because wearing
school uniforms can also help people gain more self-confidence because they are a part of
something bigger. School uniforms emphasize that the purpose of school is not to make a fashion
statement but to learn.

The benefits far outweigh the oppositions, and school uniforms should be considered as a
means to the end. The problems that take the focus off education and make it more difficult for
students to learn will all be dealt with positive results. With the implementation of school
uniforms, bullying will be eliminated and a more positive school environment will be created.