Uniforms Or Free Choice: The Debate Continues

Uniforms or Free Choice: The Debate Continues When it comes to the debate of free dress versus school uniforms, many people have varying views. Some believe that students should be able to express themselves through the clothes they wear. Others believe that wearing uniforms takes away the distractions of brands, price tags and whose wearing what. So should students in grades K-12 have to wear school uniforms? I believe that students in grades K-12 should wear uniforms. Wearing uniforms can decrease bullying, increase focus on studies and also bring a sense of unity among the students and school. Bullying is a problem that many students face throughout their education. The number of students being bullied by the clothes they wear could easily be diminished with a change in the dress code. Some students are essentially getting bullied because of their social class and what their parents can and cannot afford, which is seen through the clothes one wears. This bullying lowers students’

Arguably, middle school is the time where students begin to learn about themselves, as they find their likes and dislikes. If middle schoolers were forced to wear uniforms, limitations would be placed on their freedom of self-expression. It would also stop them from being able to dress how they feel that day. Students would no longer be able to wear sweatpants or yoga pants if they do not feel well but would rather have to dress up every day. Being forced to wear something they do not to wear could in turn have a negative effect on students’ academics, as they could chose to not attend school because of the dress code. Ultimately, in a society that promotes originality and creativity everywhere else, uniforms in schools could hinder one’s