Schools Should Not Have Dress Codes Argumentative Essay

School rules are required, although some school rules are irrelevant. One example of an irrelevant rule is the dress code rule. For instance, one reason the dress code rule is irrelevant is because some students just simply can’t afford to purchase an article of clothing from a school store. As a matter of fact, there are still many reasons as to why dress code is irrelevant like self expression, you can feel restricted to expressing yourself if you have to wear uniform. Another reason that dress code should be removed is because uniforms can damage a students self esteem. According to (medium.com), “Students can feel really embarrassed every time they look in a mirror as their uniform emphasises everything they don’t like about their body. This sort of negativity over a really long time can really take a toll on their esteem.” 

To begin with, the dress code should be removed due to financial difficulties. Another reason dress codes should be removed is due to self expression. For example, some students don’t get to express themselves due to the restrictive dress code. According to (rrtampa.com) it states, “When we don’t express ourselves, we repress important parts of who we are and cause ourselves considerable struggle and lasting mental and emotional pain. Our frustration turns to rage. Our isolation turns to depression. Our restlessness turns to panic. Finding creative, healthy, productive ways to express ourselves, such as songwriting, poetry, visual arts, gardening, cooking, and even speaking out loud in support group meetings, can be the remedy to our painful, destructive patterns. Sobriety and recovery are wonderful roads to creative expression.” Not being able to self express yourself can cause a huge impact on your mental health, dress code restricts self expression, so that is another reason why dress code should be removed.

Although the reasoning behind the dress code and how it is meant increase identification within our fellow peers and apparently “stop bullying” but in reality according to Tony Volk, PhD, Associate Professor at Brock University, stated, “Overall, there is no evidence in bullying literature that supports a reduction in violence due to school uniforms.” Apparently, instead of the percentage of bullying and assault decreasing it has actually increased in the past 14 years. According to procon.org, “A peer-reviewed study found that “school uniforms increased the average number of assaults by about 14 [per year] in the most violent schools.” A Texas Southern University study found that school discipline incidents rose by about 12% after the introduction of uniforms. According to the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Office of Education Evaluation and Management, fights in middle schools nearly doubled within one year of introducing mandatory uniforms.” Uniform doesn’t help the situation of bullying and assault in schools whatsoever, if anything it has now increased, which leads to the point of students being injured in school or can lead to mental health problems due to the bullying.

In conclusion, dress codes are irrelevant due to the toll it can have on students, families, and the school district itself. Dress codes can affect a family's financial struggles due to the cost of uniforms. Dress codes also prevent students from self expressing themselves due to having to stick to the dress code policy. Dress code was also made to apparently “stop bullying” when in reality the bullying has gotten worse.