Morgan Isenberger

ELA 1-2
May 8, 2015
How would you feel if someone else was telling your child what to do? Right now there is
a worldwide debate on whether schools should require kids to wear uniforms or not. Schools
should not require students to wear uniforms simply because it's demeaning to the student and
causes controversial problems.
Requiring kids to wear uniforms will emphasize on the socioeconomic separations they
are supposed to get rid of. In 2013, while 47% of high-poverty public schools required school
uniforms, only 6% of low-poverty schools required them, according to the National Center for
Education Statistics (1). Given that this was 2013 and things might have changed since then;
the division between the people and children will only cause them to not want to go to school.
Not only that, parents think that a public school where children wear uniforms is an unsafe place
to send their child (1). Parents feeling this way is linking school uniforms with school violence
issues. Along with socioeconomic division, school uniforms will also cause racial division.
If schools make kids wear uniforms it will deprive the students of their individuality,
causing them to act out against authority. Denying students the ability to express individualism
and belief in a sub-culture, whether preppy, hip-hop, punk, or jock, could stymie the students'
transition from childhood into adulthood (2). This could potentially harm the students as they
enter the adult world because they would not be prepared for the amount of judgement they will
receive on what they are wearing. When students are limited through what they may wear, they
will find other ways to react against authority and the limits uniform policies place on their
individual nature (2). Students will start to take drastic measures such as changing other parts
of their appearance.
Not only do school uniforms make the students feel uncomfortable they also cause
problems between the genders. Rules like "girls wear skirts" can be perceived as perverted or
sexist, while girls not being allowed to wear skirts can upset a lot of the girls (3). This applies to
guys too, requiring this will cause controversial gender equality problems, but we can avoid this
by not requiring schools to make students wear uniforms. During an interview with my mom who
went to an all girls school with uniforms this question was asked: "What do you think about the
controversy of gender equality it will cause?" and her answer was: "I think that is was different
back when I went to high school compared to now, because now we have a lot more people
who are transgender, so forcing them to dress in clothes they don't feel comfortable wearing will
just take away form their learning." (4). I couldn't agree more with what she said. Gender
equality is a touchy subject and should not be taken lightly.
Schools should not require school uniforms because of the restraints it will have on the
students individuality. In addition to that it will cause the students to find various ways to act out
negatively toward authorities. Forcing school uniforms will also cause social class and racial
divisions among the students. It will cause problems with gender equality and the
comfortableness of the students. We already live in a society full of prejudice, judgmental
bullies, why give them another reason to hurt and judge us?
Works Cited
1. ProCon.org. "School Uniforms ProCon.org." ProCon.org. 12 Sep. 2014. Web. 9 May. 2015.
2. publicschoolreview.com "Public school uniforms pros and cons publicschoolreview.com" 17
May. 2014. Web. 3 March. 2015.
3. healthguidance.com "Pros and Cons of School Uniforms healthguidance.com." 13 April.
2013. 4 May. 2015.

4. Interview
Name: Jennifer Isenberger Why chosen: Went to a high school with uniforms Age: 38
Interview date: Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Full Text:
Q: Should school uniforms be required in high school?
A: No, I don't think they should be just for the fact that it will create more problems than we
already have in school systems.
Q: Do you think that requiring uniforms will suppress individuality?
A: I think it will, but not everything you can do to express yourself will be taken away. I mean you
still have the option to do what you want with your facial/hair appearance.
Q: Do you think requiring school uniforms is fair to low income families that could have more
than one child to worry about?
A: No, I don't think it's fair to those families because I know what it feels like trying to support
more than one kid with very little money.
Q: What do you think about the controversy of gender equality it will cause?
A: I think that is was different back when I went to high school compared to now, because now
we have a lot more people who are transgender, so forcing them to dress in clothes they don't
feel comfortable wearing will just take away form their learning.
Q: Would you personally want your kids going to a school with uniforms?
A: I would personally want my kids going to a school with uniforms because the education tends
to be better there, but I'm not going to force my kids to do something they don't feel comfortable
doing.
Q: How would you deal with making sure everyone is comfortable?
A: I would simply just make sure everyone's need were satisfied.