Are School Uniforms Necessary Or Not?

Are School Uniforms Necessary Or Not?

It has long been debated whether school uniforms are really necessary or not. While some say that they are absolutely useless, others say that they are an absolute must in every school. Some reasons they are necessary are that they make sure students don’t get distracted, or bully others. Some reasons they are unneeded are that they are unreasonably expensive, not great quality and sometimes too demanding. In this essay I will be discussing whether I think they are necessary or not.

Having school uniforms compulsory would help to make sure that students don’t get distracted with branded clothing and ‘fashion trends’ instead of focusing on education. This would also prevent bullying and making fun of people because of what they wear to school. Every family has a different budget and people who choose to wear ‘branded clothes’ such as ‘Gucci, Zara, Nike, Puma etc.’ could end up making fun of people who don’t wear branded clothes. Whereas, having a uniform makes a schoolwide dress code which ensures no bullying for clothes because everyone is wearing school uniform.

On the other hand, not having a school uniform can be beneficial because families don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a school uniform. Many students and their parents agree that school uniforms are often unreasonably expensive. I know from experience that in the first year of school families spend from $50 to $350 just on school uniforms. On top of that, school’s often have strict dress code policies such as black/white shoes only. Having to comply with these policies is a hassle within itself and adding an extra expense with school uniforms seems unnecessary.

Personally, I have chosen to go to a school with a school uniform because in my opinion education and discipline is more important than fashion, branded clothing and bullying others for their belongings. I believe that having a school uniform brings about discipline, pride and gives students more time to focus on what matters; education. I also know that if there would be no school uniform, people would care more about their looks, ‘branded clothing’ and fashion trends than what school is actually for; learning.

To conclude, school uniforms can be both beneficial and useless based on your opinion. Having a school uniform can encourage discipline, and concentration. Not having a school uniform can save families from massive hundred dollar investments that are ongoing for years.

Whilst this piece was a discussion essay, I personally believe that school uniforms are a vital part of our education system. Not only are they essential, but also instill a sense of pride in the students who adorn them. School uniforms should be made a mandatory part of schools' education. However, school uniforms can prove to be extremely expensive, and for families going through financial hardships, purchasing school uniform can be a serious roadblock. But, to solve issues like this, schools should encourage ( and run ) their own second-hand uniform shops. Speaking from personal experience, this is an incredible and valuable initiative to run. While some might find this a little uncomfortable or unconventional, there are innumerable benefits. It is an environmentally friendly idea and encourages reusing our valuable materials. It also links in to the old saying 'one man's trash is another man's treasure'. So, all in all, after critiquing and discussing the two sides of school uniform, I have to a decision, as have you I hope. I believe that school uniforms should be made a necessity in all schools.

By: Aashini Rastogi