Jasna Hardin
Kathleen Connor
28, September 2009
School Uniforms: A Price Too Big
To the right, she is wearing a khaki, past the knee length skirt with a white button up to the neck shirt, long white knee socks, and shining, clean white shoes. To the left, he is wearing long, clean khaki trousers, a white, long-sleeved, button up to the neck shirt, a tie, and shining, clean black shoes. In the front, she is wearing a khaki, past knee length skirt with a white button up to the neck shirt, long white socks, and shining, clean white shoes. In the back, he is wearing long, clean khaki slacks, a white, sleeved button up to the neck shirt, a tie, and shining, clean black shoes...Imagine a world where every student in every school wears exactly the same thing. Everyone looking like everyone else is considered the norm and no one even thinks about fighting out against it. The schools there say uniforms bring unity, equality, and security, but what about what it takes away? Individuality, self expression, and comfort. School uniforms may sound great, but because of what it takes away, it may be a price too big.
It is unknown exactly how long school uniforms have been around, but we do know that they have been around for centuries. Early on, school uniforms acted as tuition, if you could buy the uniform, you had enough money to attend the school. After public schools were established, school uniforms were aimed more towards private schools because they showed status, discipline, and money. School uniforms didn’t come into play in public schools until the 1980’s, but didn’t play a huge role until 1994. In 1994, a district wide mandatory rule was adopted in Long Beach, California for all elementary and middle-school students. (School Uniforms: The Raging Debate by Darlene Williams)
School Uniforms sound great on paper, but what I question is what school uniforms take away from the students who are wearing them. One major aspect is comfort. “Experts believe that children need to feel comfortable in order to maximize learning, and that uniforms can therefore deter academic success.”(Pros and Cons of School Uniforms) For example, if someone is talking in speech class and hates speaking in front of people, the only thing they are thinking about before their speech is, “I hope this goes well, I hope I don’t embarrass myself.” They are not thinking about the presentation going on before them, they are too distracted. It is the same thing with clothing. If someone is sitting uncomfortably in a skirt, they are focused on how uncomfortable they are in that skirt, not about the lesson on the chalkboard. What may be comfortable to some may not be comfortable for all. “The principal argument is that some great students are terrible dressers. Dress does not necessarily improve learning.”(Pros and Cons of School Uniforms)
Another major aspect in the argument against school uniforms is conformity. School uniforms seem to stress conformity. Uniforms say that a system is better run when everything, or everyone, is the same. This idea of conformity is fueled by the schools desire to help their students resist peer pressure in clothing choice. By having school uniforms, schools are giving the answer that if everyone is dressed the same, there will be no peer pressure, but is this really how the world works? Students will find other ways to pressure one another even if clothing is out of the question. Students will pressure students in grades, drugs, or even makeup. School is a place where students are taught how to resist peer pressure, not a place to hide it. If schools don’t teach their students how to resist peer pressure when a student is young and in school, then how do they expect them to magically resist peer pressure when they are outside of school? In this case, schools are actually doing their students a huge disfavor; schools are making them more susceptible to peer pressure in the future because they won’t know how to deal with it when they are older. The students will not be prepared for the real world where they will indeed be “judged by appearances.”([j1]Pros and Cons of School Uniforms - LoveToKnow Kids)
The biggest argument against school uniforms is the suppression of individuality and self expression. “Self-expression is an important part of child development and some experts believe that curbing it with uniforms can be detrimental to a child.”(Pros and Cons of School Uniforms - LoveToKnow Kids) A child feeling repressed in their dress, may act out more in their make-up, jewelry, or sexual behavior in order to gain attention and express themselves freely as they want.
Many people agree, school uniforms take away comfort, individuality, and self expression, and bring in conformity, but many would disagree and say school uniforms bring a lowered crime rate, prevention of cliques, and supply a good economic choice for parents.
In the for-front in the advocacy for school uniforms, is the potential they have on lowering crime in schools. Since school uniforms cause everyone to dress and essentially look the same, it is very hard for a student to show any relation to gangs thus, reducing the chance for students to be affiliated with gangs. By this happening, schools hope that this will cause a reduction in gang participation which will ultimately lead to a reduction in gang violence in schools. (Konheim-Kalkstein)
A second argument for school uniforms is the prevention of cliques and teasing in school. “It reduces conflict and branding among student groups — cliquishness. [Uniforms also reduce the] potential for bullying for not wearing the right clothes,” says psychologist Dr. Jennifer Thorpe. By having school uniforms, you are limiting what others can say about you, helping you to focus more on your schoolwork.
A third and final argument for school uniforms is cost. Schools say that uniforms ultimately help in lowering the amount of money parents have to spend on their children’s wardrobe because they only have to buy a few outfits for an entire year. Parents also don’t have the added pressure from their children to buy the more fashionable clothing, which tends to be more expensive. (School Uniforms)
Some schools’ ideas about uniforms have the right heart, but if it were truly the fixer of all problems, then why is there such a debate? Why aren’t more schools jumping at the chance to have uniforms? True, school uniforms do help in reducing gang related expression, but that does not mean that it translates into an overall reduction in school crime. What about the communities where gang violence is not as evident? Students may not be participating in gangs, but they are gaining a feeling of repression and want to act out against it. They in turn, act out in class causing more disruption and crime in hopes of gaining attention.
School Uniforms also do not prevent cliques in schools. Firstly, if a student is not being teased about the clothes they wear, the teasers will find other ways to ridicule. They will pick on weight, skin, or even hair. Secondly, some parents are more able to buy their children multiple uniform outfits so they are able to keep the appearance of the uniform clean and crisp. Other parents are unable to make this payment; therefore their children can only have one or two uniforms for schools. The students who have multiple uniforms are going to much newer compared to a student who only has one or two. (Stainburn) This will turn the entire reasoning for school uniforms in a circle, making them have no point. In the end, cliques are an inevitable part of life.
Thirdly, school uniforms do not lower clothing costs for students. Yes, students do have set outfits for the week, but what about the time they spend outside of school? More money is spent to keep up with their weekend and sport clothing costs along with their expensive uniform cost versus just having a wardrobe that applies to school and free time. (Pros and Cons of School Uniforms - LoveToKnow Kids)
To the right, she is wearing long, skinny jeans, a pink shirt, and brown flip flops. To the left he is wearing athletic shorts, a plain, white tee-shirt, and black basketball shoes. In the front, she is wearing blue capris, with an orange tank top, and sandals. In the back, he is wearing long, blue jeans, a read football shirt, and white tennis shoes. Yes, there may be cliques. Yes, there may be a few bad apples disrupting class, but every student is happy with their self expression. Every student can go to class comfortable. Every student is learning how to live life. Everyone is different, the way it’s supposed to be. [j2]
Works Cited
Konheim-Kalkstein, Yasmine L. "A Uniform Look." American School Board Journal Aug. 2006: 25-27. Purdue University Libraries.Web. 16 Sept. 2009.
"Pros and Cons of School Uniforms - LoveToKnow Kids."Fun Kids Activities| Kids Games| Printables for Kids. Web. 16 Sept. 2009.
"Pros and Cons of School Uniforms."Free Articles Directory Submit Articles - ArticlesBase.com. Web. 16 Sept. 2009.
"School Uniforms: The Raging Debate by Darlene Williams." Web. 17 Sept. 2009.
"School Uniforms."Web. 17 Sept. 2009.
Stainburn, Samantha. "Clothes-Minded."Teacher Magazine 16.6 (2005): 14-15. Purdue University Libraries.Web. 16 Sept. 2009.
Guidelines for Peer Reviews
Writer’s Name: Jasna Hardin
Prepare two or three questions you would like your peer reviewer to address while responding to your draft. The questions can focus on 1) some aspect of your draft that you are uncertain about, 2) on one or more sections where you particularly seek help or advice, 3) on some feature that you particularly like about your draft, 4) or on some part you especially wrestled with.
Questions from the Writer to the Reviewer:
1) Are my supporting points clear enough? – Yes.
2) Does my conclusion sum up my paper enough? – Yes, completely.
3) Is my introduction clear as to what my topic of discussion is? – Yes.
Reviewer’s Name: Adam Banks
I. Read the draft at normal reading speed from beginning to end. As you read, do the following:
A. Insert a comment in the margin next to any passages where you get confused or find something that doesn’t seem to fit or otherwise slowed down your reading.
B. Place a “Good!” in the margin next to any passages where you think the writing is particularly strong or interesting.
II. Read the draft slowly again and answer the following questions by writing brief explanations of your answers.
A. The Persuasive Paper
1. How could the paper be more comprehensive and accurate? – Had great info and citations.
2. Where could it be more fair and neutral? – Gave plenty of examples for both sides.
3. How could it include and cite quotations more effectively? - Had multiple citations and were cited correctly.
B. Logos and Ethos
1. How convincing or effective is the logical or conceptual aspect of this draft? (Logos) – Quite convincing.
2. How has the writer shown his or her knowledgeable and responsible treatment of the reading? (Ethos) – The paper was well written and showed impressive organization and transition.
C. Sum up what you see as the chief strengths and problem areas of this draft.
1. Strengths – Great ideas, and details.
2. Problem areas – Some grammar mistakes, but not many.
III. Finally, read the draft one more time. This time, make any changes in grammar, spelling, or mechanics in the text using the “Track Changes” feature on MS Word.
[j1]Good.
[j2] Good overall conclusion.