Why do you think that about half the schools in the world...
School Uniforms are a Good Idea.
Why do you think that about half the schools in the world are required to wear uniforms? Thanks for debating with me :)
Pro vs. con view
Pro vs. con view
Topic space view
PRO
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PRO It was just in the year of 2003 when teenage women (or...
Mandatory School Uniforms are a violation of free expression
Many thanks to my opponent for initiating this debate. To be clear, I am assuming that the resolution pertains to the students' free expression rather than to the schools' free expression. With that being said, the contentions of my opening statement are simple: Clothing is used as a means of self-expression. The implementation of school uniforms seeks to eliminate the problems that result from an unequal or suggestive range of clothing by eliminating the students' freedom to express themselves through clothing. Clothing as a Means of Free Expression: Medieval era and Renaissance For the purposes of this discussion, it is imperative to understand that the use of clothing as a means of expression is evident throughout the course of human history. The Medieval era, for instance, features a use of clothing as an expression of nobility and wealth; often times, a coat of arms was implemented onto a suit of armor to demonstrate the wearer's nobility via hereditary means [1]. Even the colors of the clothing itself was used to represent something of its wearer during the medieval era and the renaissance. I will name a few to show you, the reader, the significance of coloration in medieval and renaissance clothing: Red-renaissance: High social standing; royalty Power and Prestige Religious authority in the church or the color of hellfire Red-medieval: The color of kings, usually as a demonstration of a king's valor and successes in war Love; lovers have worn vermilion Wealth Orange: Peasants and middle-class men have used cheap orange-red and russet dyes in an attempt to emulate the red of the nobility in the renaissance Black-renaissance: Seriousness mourning Purple, green, blue, gray, brown, yellow, and white colors in medieval and renaissance clothing had symbolic significance as well. For a longer list, see source 2. Of course, colors are not used by people today as an symbolic expression as they have been in the medieval era and the renaissance (at least, not in the same way; the color of black can still represent mourning when worn during funerals, the color of white still symbolizes purity in a woman's dress, but white clothing is also worn to demonstrate mourning in china [3] ). Rather, the emulation of fashion trends [4] and the act of wearing certain articles of clothing in a specific way (sagging, wearing hats backwards, tearing jeans, etc.) are used as a means of expression through clothing today. So— Without furthur ado, let's jump straight to the chase—Clothing as a Means of Free Expression: Kids and Adolescents Today Young women's sense for fashon is very evident in various studies that show how much they spend on clothing annually and the number of young women who buy a certain number of articles of clothing; from around the 8th of March in 2012 to around the 8th of September in 2012, 41% of girls aged 13-18 purchased 10 or more articles of clothing [5]. It was just in the year of 2003 when teenage women (or their parents) spent a staggering amount of money on their clothing: over $170 billion [6]. Why do teenage girls spend so much money on clothing? Well, let's hear it from them: Teenage girls spend so much money on clothing with particular designer labels because they contribute to their social standing; they don't want to stand out in a negative way. "There's almost like this … boundary that you don't want to cross … because then you'll just be like, weird" -Melanie Burg, a 13-year-old from suburban New York. This quote is justified by findings from the study in source 5; 81 percent of the girls in the study said that they were influenced by their friends and peers while 68 percent said that they were influenced by fashion magazines and advertisements. One would argue that because so much of the average American teenage girl's fashion sense is dictated by fashion trends, the implementation of school uniforms would not violate the adolescents' freedom of expression through clothing, since they are not essentially expressing themselves but the fashion trends. However, that person would be wrong in making that argument; the act of wearing clothing that reflects the latest in fashion trends is still a form of expression nevertheless, even if it does not necessarily showcase the wearer's purely unique personality, fashion sense, or anything else that is unique to the wearer. Expression is expression, regardless of whom or what is expressed. What about adolescent guys? They do not indulge themselves in the fashion trends to the same degree as adolescent girls. That is true, but do not forget that many guys wear clothing in a certain way to express themselves. Here are two articles of clothing associated with adolescent men today and their significance in expressing the adolescent male wearer: Skinny Jeans In addition to hopping onto the fashion bandwagon, guys may choose to wear skinny jeans because it is "aesthetically pleasing" [7]. Personally, I knew of a young man who did a coming-out prestation, if you may, while wearing skinny jeans to emulate the homosexual stereotype associated with them. Sagging Jeans There are several theories arguing why the act of sagging pants became popular in the 1990's. One such theory is that homosexual inmates began to sag their pants to display their sexual orientation [8]. However, more often than not, adolescent men do not sag their pants to convey their sexual orientation. On the contrary, men may sag their pants to emulate characteristics associated with the masculinity of men; they may sag their jeans to look formidable [9]. Need I say more in support of why clothing is used as a form of expression? School Uniorms are a Violation of Free Expression I will make this brief. Compulsory school uniforms restrict students to one outfit, therefore taking away the students' right to express themselves by freely choosing what to wear. Here's chapter 1, section 1 of the School Uniform Policy implemented on the 16th of August in 2004: "A school uniform consists of a limited range of clothing, including footwear and headwear. It identifies students as belonging to a particular school. Schools usually expect students to wear the uniform during school hours, while travelling to and from school, and when engaged in school activities out of school hours." [10] The key words here are "limited" and "expect." In the case with school uniforms, expressing one's self through unique clothing (or "unique" clothing) is out of the question. Likewise, the key word in the definition provided for "free expression" is "we;" free expression pertains to the expression of the students, not to the expression the schools wish for the students to emulate. It does not matter whether or not a student feels that his or her freedom of expression is repressed, like this author in source 11; policies are policies and the policy expressed in compulsory school uniforms is uniformity. I await my opponent's statement(s) or rebuttal(s) supporting why school uniforms are not a violation of free expression. (Just for the record, I am not arguing against school uniforms, just for "pro.") As of 2/2/2013, all of the sources listed below are active: 1) http://www.medieval-castle.com... 2) http://renaissanceclothing.blogspot.com... 3) http://chineseculture.about.com... 4) http://fashion1in1.com... 5) http://www.statisticbrain.com... 6) http://abcnews.go.com... 7) http://www.sassybella.com... 8) http://articles.chicagotribune.com... 9) http://www.whyguides.com... 10) https://www.det.nsw.edu.au... 11) http://www.teenink.com...
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PRO Beware, debaters, for I am actually prepared for this...
School Uniforms Should not be Required
I argue schools should not require uniforms. Beware, debaters, for I am actually prepared for this one, planned the rounds out, and did my research. So, who's ready for my first serious debate?
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PRO Besides, if representing the school somewhere, pupils...
should kids wear uniforms
Children wearing school uniforms is far from 'nonsence'. It could save a child's life. Imagine a little kindergartner, wandering willy-nilly out of their school. Without their school uniform, nobody would know that they were missing from the school. And think how much grief that would bring to their parents. Besides, if representing the school somewhere, pupils can't just wear Nikes and a hoodie. They should wear their school uniform because they want people thinking 'Wow, how polite these people are. I think I should send MY children to this school.' School uniforms are a necessity.
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PRO Some students may protest, yes, but tat can not be said...
Puclic Schools Should Require Uniforms
Schools need to acquire money to survive. If they don't, they are subject to cutting teachers, classes, and programs. Yes, the intention of a school is to teach students, but it needs money to do so. If the schools provide the means for the uniforms, they can make a profit enough that could be considerable enough to save a teacher or class. Yes, kids could reuse their regular outfits, but trends for students change basically over night. Parents would have to continue buying new brands of shirts, shoes and pants more frequently than they would have to purchase uniforms. A little goes a long way. The public schools in America are greatly suffering, and money at all could help them prosper a bit more. Some students may protest, yes, but tat can not be said for every student. One boy wearing a skirt to school to protest uniforms isn't enough to suggest students as a whole hate the idea of school uniforms. I'm sure students who are picked on for their clothing wouldn't mind uniforms, for they would be wearing the same clothing as the people who pick on them. One researchers findings isn't enough to rule out every single case of school uniforms. "In Reno, Nevada, school uniforms have made the life of one autistic student much easier while helping him advance in his cognitive development at school. With the help of intensive therapy and the CLS program at Roy Gomm, he now can do most things a typical developing student can do, including putting on his school uniform." Saying one researchers findings completely rules out any chance of the opposite is ludicrous. Ask a white racist male how they feel about other races, is their answer enough to rule out a another white male's opinion? Until Brunsma studies every single school to use school uniforms, there is no saying that any claims made otherwise are ruled out. In a survey conducted at Roy Gumm 80% of parents liked the school uniform requirements. One can express themselves while their young through other avenues such as the music they listen to, the films and television programs they watch, their hair, and jewlery. Having students wear uniforms doesn't completely strip them of individuality. In the same respect, adults can do the same. Actually, students can wear offensive clothing, whether depicting an offensive act, or even it being too revealing. THeir clothing can be just as offensive as words can be. At Warren Hills Regional High School one student wore a shirt with the offensive term "redneck" on it, while another wore a shirt with the confederate flag. The students could've been targeting a particular student with their choice of attire - there's no way to know. Clothing can caused just as many problems as words can. http://www.mynews4.com... http://www.cir-usa.org...
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PRO Because their children do indeed need clothing to wear to...
Puclic Schools Should Require Uniforms
The debate of whether public schools should require uniforms is forever an ongoing, and often a touchy subject. However, I feel it is vital that public school students be required to wear a school uniform. Especially in this economy, it's important that money be saved wherever and whenever for families struggling to make ends meet. Requiring students to wear uniforms would, in the long run, save parents or guardians a boat load of money. Rather than having to buy their children a plethora of expensive clothing, the parents would simply purchase a few uniforms that the children would wear five days out of the week. The amount of "regular" clothes they would be forced to purchase would significantly decrease, allowing for parents to use that money elsewhere. Children often desire expensive shoes, shirts, and pants (not to mention accessories). Because their children do indeed need clothing to wear to school, parents are often roped into buying their children over priced clothing. Children want to fit in with the latest craze, often prompting parents to have to shell out thousands on Uggs, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Juicy Couture – for example – when that is just not necessary. If uniforms were enforced in public schools, children wouldn't be as fascinated with the latest crazes, for all of the students would be wearing the same things anyway. Money would also be saved in the sense that children and students could get multiple years out of the uniforms. For example, I'm a college freshman and still often wear some articles of clothing I wore in the seventh grade. After puberty, most students won't do much growing and could even get most of their high school careers out of the uniforms. Even at the least, students could get two years out of the uniforms, which would cause parents not to have to keep spending money year after year on clothing because the children's clothing from the last year went out of style. Also to be considered is that if the uniforms don't change for multiple years, parents could save the uniforms and give them to younger siblings of the same gender to wear, which would help them save even more money! The uniforms could also be considered lucrative for the public schools themselves for they can make a small profit from the purchasing of the uniforms and use that money to improve things around the school. Requirng public school students to wear school uniforms is a simple way for public schools to make money, as we all know that is extremely dire in this world today. Requring public school students to wear school uniforms proves to be quite lucrative for all of those involved. Businesses that make school uniforms would prosper as well, which would help in job creation. Those companies and businesses that students currently wear wouldn't suffer too much damage either, for they often make clothing for all ages, and a small decrease shouldn't hurt much.
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PRO school uniforms would be better for schools because a lot...
uniforms for kids
school uniforms would be better for schools because a lot of kids dress inappropriate these days.
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PRO While this could be considered true, it's the...
Puclic Schools Should Require Uniforms
I concede that it's not the responsibility of the school to clothes its students. However, requiring uniforms would help both parents and the school out, making it a win-win for everyone. Unfortunately, the money schools receive is not enough. Schools are constantly being faced with budgets cuts and having to cut programs and teachers. While their funds may be at an all time high, it's still not enough to cover each and every expense they are faced with. In New Jersey particularly, budget cuts have left schools unable a thorough and efficient education for its students. since when does one size fit all? I'm sure uniforms would be provided in all shapes to accommodate every kind of student. Just because a few students can't get the right clothes or are bullied does not mean the government should make everyone that goes to a public school wear the same thing. While this could be considered true, it's the government's responsibility to protect the well being of its people. When children's lives are threatened (whether by another person or by themselves) it's imperative to take every measure possible to protect them. If the uniforms in place save even just one bullied student's life, I would consider it a success. In this country especially, majority rules. It's simply the type of voting system in place. 80% vs 20% is an overwhelming majority rule. I concede that an eight year study would hold accurate results, but the results may not be the same for every public school afflicted. Children can find other ways to express themselves besides their clothing, such as hair, activities, jewlery, music, etc. Their identities aren't being stripped. To conclude: Public schools requiring school uniforms is a good idea, and should be practiced. Uniforms can help save parents money in the long run, for they wouldn't have to keep buying their children new, trendy clothes as often as they would if regular outfits were allowed. If the style of uniforms were to stay stagnant, parents could reuse them for their other children. Students would also be able to reuse their uniforms for upwards of three-fours years. School uniforms would help appease the epidemic of bullying. Children would all be wearing the same thing and would no longer be teased for their outfits and what they can't afford to buy. Uniforms would ease some distractions in classes (i.e., outfits revealing too much, offensive slogans) and put the focus on learning, rather than fashion. Uniforms would prepare students for the workplace where there will be strict codes on what they will be able to wear (sort of like uniforms in their own right) All in all, uniforms would be beneficiary to parents, students, and public schools. Thank you for accepting this debate. I look forward to your concluding arguments. http://www.nj.com...
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PRO Schools should not have uniforms because it uniforms...
schools should not have uniforms
Schools should not have uniforms because it uniforms don't allow freedom of expression. It would also cost parents a lot of money. they would have to buy new uniforms ever time there kids grow out of them. which could add up depending on how fast your kid grows and how many kids you have. Second of all. it will only cause the school more problems. kids will more then likely disobey the rules to wearing the uniforms. such as not wearing the uniforms at all. Everyone has the right to the freedom of expression.
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PRO Changing this policy would require meetings, discussing,...
Should Uniforms be Required in Public Schools
"School uniforms indeed encourage different ways of expression--but this nevertheless clashes against the uniform's goal at unifying everyone." Kids wearing the same styles or colors of certain articles of clothing, such as shirts, pants, socks, ties, ect., unifies them. Wearingg different articles at different times separates them. Take these pictures for example: These two girls are unified by wearing the same colors, but show self expression. The girl on the left is wearing a navy and white cross-tie, white blouse, and navy skirt. The girl on the right is wearing a white long sleeved shirt with a collar, underneath a navy dresss. All of these uniforms look diverse, yet would work for a school whose colors are red and yellow. No two uniforms match, yet it is evident that they would all be from the same school. Also, this argument depends on your definition of unify. According to http://www.merriam-webster.com... , unify means "to cause (people or things) to be joined or brought together". An example of this is "two very different people unified by a common belief". Uniforms can unify people by using the same colors or styles, while self-expression allows variation within these boundaries. You can unify a group of people without forcing them to give up their individuality. Boy Scouts wear the same uniform, but due to their different badges, patches, pins, and beads, they are allowed to show their personal achievements and preferences. Letterman jackets also allow people in schools to be unified while showing personal achievements. http://www.wisegeek.org... explains what Letterman jackets are and how kids personalize it, while keeping the school pride. "My opponent concedes that uniforms does not necessarily halt bullying. Even experts say that uniforms won't stop bullying." I have already addressed this. See previous arguments. "Changing this policy would require meetings, discussing, agreement, and lots of money to buy all the uniforms from the school. While private schools may earn money, most public schools are free. Therefore there not only remains the problem of time and process needed to change this no-uniform policy, public schools would have problem garnering up enough money for buying uniforms every year for new students in the school." I do agree that changing this policy would require all of these things- initially. After initial cost, and time, is settled, uniforms are greatly inexpensive and durable. It is not the school's responsibility to provide uniforms, but to provide a path to obtaining school approved uniforms through resources such as magazines, websites, and catalogs. If parents could not provide uniforms to start with, then schools could provide interest-free loans to help offset the cost. Unless public schools wanted to completely take the whole burden of the cost, which they could do through fundraisers, they would not need to collect money for uniforms. Besides that, uniforms and their costs are as diverse as the school districts they will be representing. In other words, each school district will have to decide for themselves the economic situation of their student body and decide how costly a uniform can be to represent them. Each school would have to choose a uniform that falls within the student body's economic range. Through the implementation of small uniform swap stores, parents wouldn't need to "buy uniforms every year for new students in the school". The uniforms would be turned in and exchanged for uniforms of a different size or for cash. "Opponent contradicts himself. Uniforms do not change the students' physique. They will still be worried about looking fat. Uniforms do not solve the problem my opponent proposes." Uniforms will not solve the problem of looking fat. Uniforms, will however, solve the problem of kids becoming obsessed over whether or not they have a certain style of clothing. By looking the same, I in no way meant that they would become identical in stature or weight. My opponent twisted my argument of not having to worry about not looking good in name-brand clothes. Allowing free-dress also is not the solution to kids being self-conscious about how they look. Allowing kids to dress however they please will not only put down the kids who can't afford designer clothing, but will also make the kids who don't look good in clothing made for smaller kids self-conscious. "In addition, poor people will be unable to afford the uniforms at once." I refuted that in my argument about interest-free loans and swap stores. "Ah, see? School uniforms are so restricting even my opponent thinks that they shouldn't be required all the time." This was not the argument that we were having. My opponent claimed in the second round that "Not all work requires uniforms. For those that don't require uniforms, using uniforms will decrease the students' abilities to chose their clothing wisely." Due to this argument, I conceded that to have practice choosing clothing wisely, free dress days once monthly would be sufficient, in addition to weekends. I do not believe that uniforms are restricting whatsoever, but in order to gain favor with children that are opposed to uniforms, I see the point in opening up dress once monthly. "My opponent gives us two statistic websites, yet do not tell us what they show and why they are credible." I do apologize for giving statistic sites and not explaining what they mean. I will now explain them. http://www.statisticbrain.com... shows how many percent of parents marked "Agree" or "Strongly Agree" on the following questions survey asked the Survey was taken after the implementation of uniforms. The questions are stated below. Survey Question Parents Teachers Policy has hindered self expression and creativity 34 % 5 % Policy has hindered individual student’s personal liberty 36 % 0 % Has promoted a sense of security 41 % 86 % Has increased school pride and has created a sense of community 42 % 80 % The school uniform has been financially beneficial for my household 49 % 86 % Has addressed the peer pressure issue of "fitting in" by wearing specific brands 47 % 90 % Has promoted positive student behavior 37 % 95 % Policy has minimized disruption and distractions 38 % 81 % Has eliminated competition among students 36 % 52 % School uniforms have improved the learning environment 35 % 81 % The Board should extend the school uniform policy indefinitely 42 % 81 % http://kids.lovetoknow.com... gives specific advantages in why uniforms are beneficial in the areas of academia, behavior, and emotion. It also shows the financial effects being primarily the same. Back to you.
CON
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CON School uniforms negatively enforce the idea that all...
Whether students should wear uniforms
While it"s true that less wealthy students can"t always afford to compete with other students, lesser fortunate students won"t always be able to afford the high prices of school uniforms. Other efforts can be made to make students feel more united that don"t include stripping them of their individuality. School uniforms negatively enforce the idea that all people are the same, should look the same, and should fit in with everyone else. Schools should promote individuality rather than enforcing conformity. Pro"s argument can be considered a Red Herring fallacy argument because their focal points are centered on bullying instead of school uniforms. Conclusion: All schools should not mandate or require school uniforms.
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CON we should not have school uniforms we have freedome for a...
uniforms for kids
we should not have school uniforms we have freedome for a reason for goodnes sakes freedome people fawght for it and now we have it
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CON School uniform is a tradition worth keeping. In countries...
Very few countries feel the need to put most of their children in school uniforms.
School uniform is a tradition worth keeping. In countries like Britain many schools have had uniforms for over a hundred years. The exact clothes can be updated with the times, but the overall look of the uniform provides a link with the school’s past. Wearing it encourages pride in the school and gives out a good image to outsiders.
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CON kids will more then likely disobey the rules to wearing...
schools should not have uniforms
"Uniforms don't allow the freedom of expression..... Everyone has the right to the freedom of expression" The U.S. supreme court has ruled that public schools can limit free speech rights as long as there is a valid basis[1]. There are some States that allow strict dress codes. [1] This is because even though you have the freedom of expression, you are not supposed to bully others just because they wear clothing that are different. In this case, uniforms prevent bullying, which is fighting words and is not protected by the first amendment. "It would also cost parents a lot of money. they would have to buy new uniforms ever time there kids grow out of them. " Is just buying school uniforms when your children grow cheaper, or is buying tons of different clothes for your children to go to school in cheaper? This argument is flawed in that it does not address the fact that you would still have to buy new clothes regardless of whether or not they are uniforms or normal clothing. "it will only cause the school more problems. kids will more then likely disobey the rules to wearing the uniforms. such as not wearing the uniforms at all." This argument is also flawed. Why make murder and theft illegal if people are still doing it after it is made illegal? Why does the UN sign contracts to ban weapons of mass distruction if they are still used? The point is, just because people would do things purposefully just because you made rules against them or violate the rules you made, does not mean you should not make those rules. [1]http://education-law.lawyers.com...
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CON Additionally, you had to do laundry far more often than...
Uniforms In Schools K-12
Thanks for the debate, Pro. To clarify, I went to a Catholic HS and absolutely loved wearing uniforms. That said, I'll proceed to negate the resolution at hand. [ Rebuttal of Pro's Arguments ] 1. School uniforms make getting dressed easier and less time consuming. While the decision process of what to wear might be easier, it's not true that uniforms are always convenient. For instance, suppose you have 4 uniforms that you rotate. For one thing, what happens if some of your uniforms are dirty, and the ones that aren't get ripped or somehow soiled? This is a problem that everyone I know who were required to wear uniforms has had, including myself. If a part of your uniform was missing or unavailable to you, then you essentially could not attend school that day. Additionally, you had to do laundry far more often than you would if you didn't have to rely on just a few uniforms for continued use, making the clothing process not any less time consuming (perhaps even more time consuming) and also economically and environmentally unfriendly considering the amount of water being used on a frequent basis. 2. Uniforms are less expensive than current clothing trends, thus they are more economical. Actually, it depends on the uniform. Some uniforms are more expensive than others. This argument does not stand against people who make their own clothes, or who specifically shop at vintage stores or other lower priced outlets for their attire (like Wal-Mart). In that way, forcing someone to buy clothes more expensive than what they would typically or could conceivably wear is unfair, and a policy that wouldn't hold water in a public school. The only way it would work is if those who couldn't afford the uniforms could receive some assistance, meaning it would actually cost the tax payers money to help dress people in clothes that they might not even want to wear. This option seems like it's only economical for the company who makes the uniforms, as well as an infringement of rights on the tax payers. Plus, even if tax payers weren't somehow held responsible, it's still an infringement of rights that some would be required to buy these uniforms because children are required by law to attend school. 3. Uniforms would eliminate students being ostracized based on what they wear. Maybe not. In my Catholic HS, students were not ostracized for what they wore but rather how they wore it (i.e. their skirt was too long, etc.). Additionally, students will just find other things to tease about, such as jewelry accessories or lack thereof. Plus, this is kind of a moot point since teasing is going to occur anyway. Instead of saying "Your shirt is really ugly," people will just say, "Your face is really ugly." That type of ostracizing is routine in schools and it will not decrease in general thanks to the implementation of school uniforms. 4. Uniforms provide a level of safety in schools. In situations where harm has ever been done to a student body, the perpetrator almost always went to that school, so whether or not they had a uniform would be irrelevant (since they probably would). Further, you could easily avoid a label of gang affiliation by monitoring what you wear. [ Conclusion ] In addition to my points about being forced to do a lot of laundry, spend money on clothes you might not want to wear for possibly a higher cost, etc., I maintain that uniforms shouldn't be forced upon public schools because they're unnecessary. Additionally, the benefits aren't definite and don't outweigh the detriments. Why should we be forced to accept something that doesn't even really help? Students develop a sense of identity sometimes by how they dress. Additionally, letting them come to their own decisions about dress and its implications can provide beneficial and educational results that go beyond a classroom and into a sociological perspective. I'll send this debate back to my opponent for now -- good luck!
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CON The first reason is that they strongly violate students...
Should schools require uniforms
I am strongly against school uniforms. The first reason is that they strongly violate students personal freedom. School often push that students should always be themselves, but is that really possible when they all have to wear the same thing. The next reason is that uniforms are expensive and few stores carry them. I will explain my other reasons in the next round
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CON just because kids wear school uniforms doesn't mean their...
Should uniforms be at schools
just because kids wear school uniforms doesn't mean their gonna get bullied on their clothes they can still get bullied,for glasses,hair,shoes,and if their poor or not so school uniforms will only solve one problem.Kids could also have growth sperts and their parents don't have the money to buy another one or wash
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CON You shouldn't come to rely on the school, and further,...
Uniforms In Schools K-12
Pro maintains that school uniforms are convenient because they will make getting dressed easier and less time consuming. I maintain that this is irrelevant. Just because one might spend 2 minutes picking out their outfit instead of 5 doesn't mean that schools should mandate same-ness. Maybe some people (especially women) LIKE shopping and don't mind. Further, what about my supposition that some people might simply prefer to make their own clothes? This entire point is based on a lot of hypotheticals and contains mostly irrelevant arguments. For instance, I've said, "What if someone's uniforms are all dirty and they don't have any clean ones to wear to school?" Pro came back with, "Well most schools have a supply in case of emergencies." In that case, what if they DON'T? Or what if they don't fit? Or what if kids are unaware of this option? Or what if people abuse this option? Or what if the school runs out? Etc. You shouldn't come to rely on the school, and further, realistically most students would rather just stay home from school for a day than borrow a random school uniform. I know I did. Pro has said, "Your first argument is a transfer fallacy of composition. In other words, it relies on the assumption that what is true of the part (a student with 4 uniforms) is also true of the whole (students with more or less uniforms)." The same could be said about every argument put forth from the Pro in this regard in favor of school uniforms. I'll explain what I mean as we continue out throughout the debate. For now, I'd point out that the first argument of it being less of a hassle to have uniforms is simply (a) irrelevant and (b) not proven. It wouldn't be less of a hassle in every or even most situations for all people, and simply because it might be easier to be told what to wear doesn't mean that it's the favorable option. Some people LIKE choice and variety. We live in a society that appreciates individuality. 2. Pro's next point claims, "Whether or not the student wants to wear the uniforms is insignificant (plenty of taxpayer dollars go to things they/others do not want)." So basically what Pro is advocating for is a continuation of the trend that tax payers pay taxes for things against their desires. Interesting. I wonder how the students in uniform will feel about that trend when learning about concepts like "fascism" lol. Pro continues, "Uniforms can be bought at places such as Walmart/thrift stores." Really? Because the ones I had to wear in HS had my school's name on them and could only be bought from a specific retailer. Talk about a lack of competition (there's that fascism again... kidding). Pro also writes, "Students who cannot afford uniforms have the option to receive free/reduced priced uniforms that have been donated." This shows that he's relying on charity; an option that is hardly ever sufficient. 3. Kids will always be teased. If it's not about their clothes, it'd be about their looks, intelligence, athletic ability, etc. Pro quotes a teacher stating, "I have taught 40 years and have seen increased PRESSURE in the area of fitting in." So, to solve this problem we FORCE people to fit in?! There is something inherently wrong about that. We should be embracing and encouraging individuality, and teaching important lessons such as not valuing an individual or judging them by the clothes that they wear. Also, you don't need uniforms to have an "appropriate" educational setting. That comes with discipline and good educators. Students can be home-schooled in their pajamas and still receive an outstanding education. 4. Anyone who wants to cause a school harm would hardly care about having a uniform. As I've already said (Pro did not refute it), many of those who cause harm to schools i.e. school shooters go to the school and would therefore have a uniform, making this an irrelevant point. Also, people don't typically fight over another person having crappy clothes.
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CON In a disaster, it would be hard to get identified quickly...
Uniforms or not
People should be able to wear what they want. In a disaster, it would be hard to get identified quickly because everyone looks the same. Some family's can't even afford the uniform that the In a disaster, it would be hard to get identified quickly because everyone looks the same. Some family's can't even afford the uniform that the school would want.If a kid is in elementry school, they will want to wear what they want. When they are older, the clothes that they wanted to wear will not fit them when they are an adult. If kids can't afford designer clothes, they could just go to some place like gap, old navy, or walmart etc... Some kids like to express themselves with what they wear. Kids are only kids for a little while. It also teaches little kids how to match clothes for when they are older. When they are older, they might still have to where uniforms.
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CON No, I do not think schools should have uniforms. ......
Should Schools Have Uniforms
No, I do not think schools should have uniforms. I think that wearing whatever clothes you like help you express yourself. Also, some people say that school uniforms will help you pay attention in class, honestly I can say from experience, I learn better in sweat pants and sweatshirts. And honestly we are at school to learn and be educated not to be uniform.
