CONS OF SCHOOL UNIFORMS

1. School Uniforms Stifle Creativity and Individuality

There are many school uniforms pros and cons -- one major argument against school
uniforms often posed by students in the school uniforms debate is that school uniforms stifle
creativity and freedom of expression.
Students may say they have a right to their individual identity and that school uniforms
prevent them from expressing who they are. School is a time when students are just working
out who they are -- it is unfair and unwise to stop students from expressing who they are at
this vital stage by stifling their options in their choice of clothing. This sends a contradictory
message to students when, on one hand, they're taught to be who they are and not pretend to
be someone else while they are simultaneously being forced to dress exactly the same and to
conform to strict unified standards.

2. School Uniforms Are Too Expensive

Another argument commonly raised by parents in the school uniform debate is how costly
they are. Parents may argue that having to buy expensive school uniforms on top of regular
after school and weekend clothes can become a financial burden on families, especially those
with multiple school-aged children.
School is already expensive enough, with parents having to pay for school excursions, books,
stationary and transport. Adding the cost of often expensive school uniforms can make
balancing the budget very difficult for many families, especially those from low
socioeconomic backgrounds. School uniforms could be made cheaper, but doing so may
affect the quality and comfort of the clothing. Ultimately, however, the greatest reason school
uniforms are expensive is because they force parents to buy two separate sets of clothes --
this is an inherent problem for school uniforms in that whenever school uniforms are
required, two sets of wardrobes (doubling the cost) are required.
In conclusion, while many parents acknowledge that there are pros and cons to having school
uniforms, the cost is still just too much for many families.
Girls lining up for class via Wikimedia Commons | Source

3. School Uniforms Infringe On Religious Freedom

School uniforms, as argued by religious organizations, may often lead to religious
discrimination. These organizations may claim that, in turn, school uniforms infringe on a
student's religious freedom. Because many faiths have quite specific dress standards which
must be followed, school uniforms mean that many students aren't able to meet the dress
standards of their particular faith. Often, due to the two codes of dress being contradictory, a
student is forced to choose between following the school's rules and the rules of their faith.
While it may be possible for there to be exceptions to the uniform rules, this can often create
more problems. In fact, these exceptions may be even less equalizing -- for example, Islamic
students' school uniforms mean that they are the only ones wearing something different and
this can lead to isolation, bullying and cultural intolerance.

4. School Uniforms Are Uncomfortable and Impractical

School uniforms are uncomfortable to wear and impractical for learning. This is an argument
raised in the debate against school uniforms by students having to wear them because the
uniform may be made out of uncomfortable material. Students will claim also that they're
better off wearing their own clothes.
School uniforms, for whatever reason, are often made of uncomfortable materials which
students often despise. Therefore, it is reasonable to argue that if school children were
allowed to pick their own clothes, then they would learn better because they feel more
comfortable. The problem seems to be an inherent one -- school uniforms need to be
uncomfortable to keep costs down and achieve the desired look. Therefore, making a
comfortable school uniform simply would not be possible.
When considering school uniform pros and cons, it is vital that the purpose of school
uniforms is discussed. If uniforms don't meet the purpose they were intended for, then they
should be abolished.

5. Dress Codes Are a Practical Alternative to School Uniforms

A practical alternative to school uniforms is instilling dress codes. This means that the school can
continue to enforce dress standards without forcing all students to wear the exact same thing.
This way, the school uniforms debate can be side-stepped completely. While it is reasonable to
want students to meet some minimum standards of dress, having a compulsory uniform is not
necessary to achieve this. By having an enforceable dress code, it's possible to have the best of
both worlds. All of the arguments against school uniforms simply fall away when you replace it
with a dress code instead.