Charlene Han Ms. Cheney AP Lang and Comp – period 6 2 December 2014 Why Student Uniforms Should Be Enforced in Schools In 1996, President Bill Clinton earned much attention for supporting school uniforms in his State of Union. The decision as to whether school uniforms should be implemented in schools not only affects students but the students’ parents as well, since they are responsible for the cost of the clothes. School uniforms should be enforced in schools because they provide a safe and distraction free environment for students; students are additionally able to maintain their identities as distinct individuals despite wearing uniforms. Schools should implement uniforms because they will create a secure environment in which bullying …show more content…
By having students focus on learning, students will be better prepared and more exposed to the workforce. For instance, in “The Return of School Uniforms,” Linda Moore, the principal of Will Rogers Middle School, states that “formal clothing puts students in the right mindset to learn” (Source C). Schools implementing student uniforms have put the ritual of wearing formal attire in important occasions, like interviews, into action. Since school uniforms influence students to work and learn like professionals, students become more active in learning and grasping knowledge. In another example, a school uniform company, French Toast, agrees with Moore, stating that because students are so focused on what kind of clothes they wear, they are “killing each other over designer jackets and expensive sneakers,” (Source B). Students are forced to compete with each other over clothes that they are wearing, a pitiful reality for students who should, instead, focus on learning. By implementing school uniforms, students will shift their focus from clothes to learning, preventing distractions from getting into the way of the …show more content…
This inspires students to go on different paths and have various careers. For instance, Jafeth Sanchez and George Hill, research assistant professors, surveyed students who were required to wear uniforms at schools. Survey results showed that 52% of students still had their identities despite wearing uniforms (Source A). This percentage reveals that more than half of the students surveyed were not affected by the enforcement of student uniforms. Since students are not stripped off their identities, they are not forced to pursue certain careers that schools urge for. Instead, they are encouraged to be open-minded to various careers. However, Kent J. Fetzer in “School Uniforms Stifle Freedom of Expression” criticized uniforms, stating that they hinder students from expressing who they are, prevent them from wearing what they want to wear, and the “loss of [this] privilege [deserves] our careful attention” (Source G). This critic has possibly forgotten that freedom of expression does not necessarily have to be expressed by the clothes students wear. Students can fully differentiate themselves from others and define themselves through their aptitudes, talents, and hobbies. Many fail to realize that appearance is not everything; one’s personality and talents significantly outweigh his or her appearance. Although students are hindered from wearing the clothes that they want to wear, they can