Should students have to wear school uniforms?

Pro

School uniforms may improve attendance and discipline.

 A study by researchers at the University of Houston found that the average absence
rate for girls in middle and high school decreased by 7% after the introduction of
uniforms. The study also found that "behavioral problems changed to less severe
infractions." Macquarie University (Australia) researchers found that in schools across
the world where uniform policies are enforced, students "are more disciplined" and
"listen significantly better, there are lower noise levels, and lower teaching waiting
times with classes starting on time."

CON

School uniforms promote conformity over individuality.

 At a time when schools are encouraging an appreciation of diversity, enforcing

standardized dress sends a contradictory message. Troy Shuman, a senior in Harford
County, MD, said the introduction of a mandatory uniform policy to his school would
be "teaching conformity and supressing individual thought. Just think of prisons and
gangs. If a school system starts at clothes, where does it end?" In schools where
uniforms are specifically gendered (girls must wear skirts and boys must wear pants),
transgendered students can feel ostracized. Seamus, a 16-year-old transgendered
boy, stated, "sitting in a blouse and skirt all day made me feel insanely anxious. I
wasn't taken seriously. This is cruel and damaging to a young person's mental health;
that uniform nearly destroyed me." Late satirist George Carlin asked, "Don't these
schools do enough damage, making all these children think alike? Now they're gonna
get them to look alike, too?"
 Should marijuana be a medical option?

Pro
"There is now promising research into the use of marijuana that could impact tens of
thousands of children and adults, including treatment for cancer, epilepsy and
Alzheimer's, to name a few. With regard to pain alone, marijuana could greatly reduce
the demand for narcotics and simultaneously decrease the number of accidental
painkiller overdoses, which are the greatest cause of preventable death in this
country... Marijuana is a medicine, that should be studied and treated like any other
medicine."

Apr. 20, 2016

Con
"[T]here really is no such thing as medical marijuana. The dangers and risks of
marijuana use are well-known by the scientific community, even if they are
downplayed by corporate interests wishing to get rich off of legalization. Apathy, lost
productivity, addictive disease, deterioration in intellectual function, motor vehicle
accidents, and psychosis are all among the negative outcomes. All from a product
that has no demonstrated benefit. For nearly all conditions for which marijuana has
purported benefits, we already have existing medications - safe medications -
demonstrated to have value."

July 13, 2016