School Uniform: Good Tradition or Outdated Habit Essay Example

rags”, bandannas, and wearing one color clothes does not really get rid of gang activities. On the other hand, I believe that one’s freedom to express oneself is not confined to the four corners of the academe. There are other ways on how one can express himself and this can be done outside school. Moreover, I firmly believe that wearing a school uniform is a good tradition that needs to continue in order to decrease gang violence and discrimination against students.

For years, there have been many cases of gang violence which starts out of difference in fashion expression. Hip-hops were against punks; gangs wearing red were against those wearing blue; those with a not-so-good fashion style were teased and called dork or dumb; those who can’t afford branded clothes were excluded from the group. On the contrary to what anti-school uniforms claim, the effects of wearing school uniforms have proven to be on the positive light. According to Psychology Today, making the students wear school uniforms actually helped in reducing crime.

Psychology Today further reported the subsequent effects since the wearing of school uniform took effect in 1995 in Long Beach, California alone:

• There was a 91% decrease in crime rate.
• The number of students being suspended from schools was decreased by 90%.
• There was a 96% decrease in sex offenses.
• There was a 69% decrease in vandalism incidents.

To avoid fights over colors of shirts, jackets, or caps and to uplift equality among youth even only in the school premises, the tradition of wearing school uniforms must continue.

Another point of discussion is that many parent boards and schools claim that they are not in favor of

requiring their students to wear school uniforms because of the economical and financial stress it gives to their family when they are required to purchase certain clothing so as to allow their kids to go to school. They claim that this outdated habit is not helping them economically especially that the cost of living is continuously increasing.

However, many schools nowadays have already developed and introduced school uniform exchange plans, where families are only asked to purchase uniforms for a certain amount and the school operates a school uniform room where some parents can bring their kid’s outgrown school uniform and exchange them for a pair or set that would fit their children. Moreover, it is a more economic way of dressing up children as parents don’t need to buy different sets of clothing just to make their children blend or socialize with other students in the school or to make them look like others.

Thus, school uniforms are a good tradition to promote equality. Finally, for a point of view of a student like me, once in my life as a student, there was also a time when I wanted to get away from the hassle of not being able to show my fashion in school. However, the stress of breaking down in tears with a fashion dilemma just because I can’t find my favorite shirt and pair of jeans is even harder to take than opening my cabinet and simply getting my pair of school uniform. With my school uniform, I am free to reserve all my good clothes and show my fashion style for the weekend party.

Conclusion A decrease in gangs and cliques, an

increase in the number of graduating students, and the ability to distinguish students from the rest are good reasons that affirm that school uniforms are indeed a good tradition rather than an outdated habit. These are also good reasons to implement or to require students to wear school uniforms. It is simply security at all points; security of education, security of youth, security of well-being, and most of all, security of schools and everyone and everything in it.

Students have the rights to education and these rights include not just the education itself but also the assurance that when they go to school, parents are ensured that they are indeed going to school to obtain their rights to proper and right education. Also, included in these rights is that when they leave the school premises, the teachers and school heads are ensured that they will be able to go back to their homes safe and sound. Having a simple student’s life is always a good thing.

Wearing school uniform reduces the stress of thinking what to wear the next day and helps us avoid rushing in the morning. Adding on some personal safety, security, and the fact that a student does not have to worry about whether he or she wore the right combination of colors of shirt, jeans, and shoes, or he or she has got the good brand of clothing her classmates would admire are such an awesome thing. Therefore, school uniforms are a good tradition that must be carried on for generations.

Works Cited

1. http://www.educationbug.org/a/public-school-uniform-statistics.html
2. http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/New/other/sotu.html
3. http://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/463-16-ideas-for-quick-and-easy-events