The Negative Effects Of School Uniforms Argimentative Essay

As of 2018, approximately 20% of schools had instituted school uniforms. The pros and cons of school uniforms have been debated for many years. It is evident from sources that students should not be required to wear school uniforms. School uniforms can have damaging effects on students’ self-image, are expensive, and restrict students’ freedom of expression. 

First, school uniforms can have a harmful effect on students’ self-image. Dr Robyn Silverman, a child and teen development specialist, stated in a debate that “as a body image expert, I hear from students all the time that they feel it allows for a lot of comparison” and that “those girls often feel that they don’t look their best” (Lisa Flam). This proves that school uniforms can be detrimental to students’ self-image because their attire allows for comparison and primarily female students may think derogatively about their bodies when compared to other students. 

However, experts debate that school uniforms save parents money that would have been spent on clothing. Conversely, sources prove that this claim is incorrect. School uniforms are being changed annually, which cancels out any benefit that may have come from the cost of school uniforms. Moreover, the Children’s Society reported in a survey that “nearly a quarter (23%) of parents said that the cost of school uniform had meant their child had worn ill-fitting, unclean or incorrect uniform” (“The Wrong Blazer 2020”). This proves that in many instances the cost of school uniforms require students to wear incorrect and unclean uniforms, or causes parents to spend additional money on updated school attire. Hence, school uniforms do not save parents’ money because the total price of uniforms is much higher than the cost of regular clothing. 

Furthermore, school uniforms restrict students’ freedom of expression. The ACLU of Nevada stated that “the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects every individual’s freedom of speech: his or her right to express artistic, religious, and political viewpoints” (“Four Reasons”). This indicates that requiring school uniforms is a violation of the First Amendment because uniforms restrict students from expressing their artistic, religious, and political views. 

In conclusion, school uniforms should not be required in order for students to attend school. Sources have shown that school uniforms can be detrimental to students’ self-image, are costly, and restrict students’ freedom of expression. Consequently, the cons of school uniforms outweigh and disprove many of the pros; therefore, students should not be required to wear school uniforms. 

Works Cited

“Four Reasons Public Schools Should Think Twice Before Instituting School Uniform Policies.” ACLU of Nevada, 30 Apr. 2010, www.aclunv.org/en/news/four-reasons-public-schools-should-think-twice-instituting-school-uniform-policies.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada is an organization that works to defend the rights and liberties given to citizens by the United States Constitution. The ACLU of Nevada stated in an article on instituting school uniform policies that “The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects every individual’s freedom of speech: his or her right to express artistic, religious, and political viewpoints”. This statement is a primary source that supports the idea that school uniforms restrict students’ freedom of expression.

TodayShow. “Are School Uniforms Helping or Hindering?” TODAY.com, 19 Aug. 2013, www.today.com/parents/are-school-uniforms-helping-or-hindering-6C10945768.

Dr. Robyn Silverman is a child and teen development specialist. In a small debate about school uniforms, Silverman stated that students, especially girls, compare how they look in the same clothing, and that “those girls often feel that they don’t look their best”. Silverman’s statement is a primary source that supports the idea that school uniforms can have a damaging effect on students’ self image. 

“The Wrong Blazer 2020: The Children's Society.” The Wrong Blazer Report 2020 | The Children's Society, www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/professionals/resources/the-wrong-blazer.

The Children’s Society is an organization in the United Kingdom that helps families in poverty. The organization did a survey that showed that “nearly a quarter (23%) of parents said that the cost of school uniform had meant their child had worn ill-fitting, unclean or incorrect uniform”. This survey’s results are a primary source that supports the claim that families have a hard time paying for school uniforms.