Uniformity Essay
In America, we are free to live and to dress in any way desired. So why are so many people suggesting that elementary students should be required to wear uniforms? Uniforms take away the individuality of a student, this meaning that one couldn’t express themselves in their own way. We must really think about why we would make our children wear uniforms, what is the purpose?
Those who argue that elementary students should be required to wear uniforms are forgetting that we are still living in America. If a parent wants his/her child to wear a uniform, then they should send the child to a private school. Then all elementary students won’t have to wear uniforms just because other parents want their own child to wear a uniform.
Numerous people, myself included, don’t concur that elementary students should have to wear uniforms, because it could take their uniqueness away, it is called Freedom of Expression! Parents also argue that wearing uniforms could be too sheltering and could lower a child’s self esteem. Here is one anonymous student’s idea about uniforms; Uniforms are all about making all the kids the same… Hey, why don’t we just get rid of names? Numbers are easier. We’ll give them numbers. So it is my belief that student shouldn’t be made to wear uniforms unless they attend a private school.
On the other side of this dispute, I recognize why parents, teachers, and public schools would like to enforce this uniform dress code. Parents would like it so there is no discrimination between who wears what, being equal with the other children in the school and so there is a slimmer chance of the parents’ children to get labeled. Teachers also have a good reason for wanting uniforms, simply so that teachers don’t have to repeatedly tell the children what they can and cannot wear. Schools want this for similar reasons as both teachers and parents. Here are some questions you might ask yourself; is this a helpful thing? Does it reduce conflict among students based on their ability to wear the latest fashions? Does it allow them to concentrate on schoolwork? So even though I do not support uniforms in public schools there are good reasons for them.
Even though some people claim that they do not care whether grade school children wear uniforms or not, most people do care about a dress code. And most public schools have a dress code, which most likely doesn’t allow little girls to wear spaghetti straps, or the girls’ shorts and skirts aren’t too short. Boys are not allowed to have chains for wallets or watches, because a chain is considered a weapon. This is what uniforms try to enforce and get rid of. That’s fine, but taking it to public schools is going too far.
Uniformity in elementary schools should not be allowed because of all the reasons I already stated. Because in America, the land of the free, we really shouldn’t make elementary school students wear uniforms unless the children were sent to a private school, where uniforms belong.