i think what is important to criticize about school uniforms is that it deters your freedom to express yourself. Furthermore it's more expensive since you have to buy other clothing for your activities outside school and finally it does not help discrimination at all because people will always find something to make fun of. To sum it up, school uniforms stink.

i think uniforms aren't useful because outside of school kids are not going to use them, so what happens is parents waste money for no reason. also kids grow and grow so parents waste and waste money.

also kids are not able to express themselves with uniforms so then kids start to feel uncomfortable. then they can't concentrate on what they are doing.

wow the japan thing will blow your mind.

i'm a high school student myself and you who rebel against the uniform are the ones who fit it well. think about this: stick your feet in the shoes of someone who doesn't fit and walk a mile and then tell me that you wouldn't give any thing to fit in.

some kids can't buy clothes and it's stuck up students who think they're better if they can't wear this or that then i can't be seen with them.

tell me people what kind of messed up world is this?

I agree, for most students the clothes we wear are who we are.

I think school uniforms are stupid. i have to wear them and I rebel everyday against them. i wear neon x-hi converse or like a giant heart necklace just so i won't look like everyone else. oh yeah and get this we can't even wear nail polish -- so stupid. PS: I go to a catholic school.

school uniforms will still raise the "label" comments. you can get uniform clothes from wal mart, and from j. crew. it does'nt matter. someone will find something to make fun of no matter what you might be wearing.

This article is very useful for my notes.

school uniforms are just another way to label us and dehumanize us like what was done to the jews in Nazi Germany. They had to wear patches and get their heads shaved and were basically given a code for a name. is that what we want happening in our schools -- a bunch of jews being gassed to death and incinerated? i say yes and to all you other people who think uniform policies are a good idea, then you my friend are a nazi.

School uniforms should be mandatory in every school in my opinion. Everyone says it won't allow you to express yourself, which is complete rubbish if you ask me. You can express yourself through art, music, personality, and it’s not like you can’t change your clothes after school. I think kids only have problems with it because they’re usually ugly polo shirts and khaki shorts. If they would involve students more on the design more might be up for it. Anyway, school is for learning after all, not fashion. I like how everyone looks equal. That’s how it should be.

This topic also encouraged me to look up the statistics. A study of the effects of adopting school uniforms in Long Beach, CA reported the following effects from the switch to uniforms:

Overall, the crime rate dropped by 91 percent.

School suspensions dropped by 90 percent.

Sex offenses were reduced by 96 percent.

Incidents of vandalism went down 69 percent.

With effects like that, it’s exactly what America needs considering how far behind we are from the rest of the world.

i think it is a good idea for uniforms because that way boys don't wear their pants on the middle of their butt.

School uniforms get rid of the things like, "OMG! You get that disgusting thing at Wal-Mart?! Eww!" If we have different choices for uniforms, and can be more flexible, maybe we can enjoy them. What do you think?

Yeah, but if you wear your old clothes on the weekends no one will notice or care in the same class. Usually in your freetime you spend it with your friends who don't care what you look like, or how "cool" your clothes are.

in my school we have to wear uniforms and if we don't wear them we get sent home and yeah, you get a detention. yeah, i hate wearing uniforms because if you have new clothes you want to wear them and you want to dress up. anyway, that's how it is, man. life is like that. it will never be the way you want it and one rule in our school is that we can't threaten and they are the first ones to threaten us about uniforms that's not fair.

i hate school uniforms. they won't help anything. you will have to buy more clothes for the weekends either way so it doesnt help the more "poor". people will still get made fun of due to their shoes, hair, makeup, jewerly, etc. it's life people. Get over it. once you enter the real world, you're going to have to deal with having someone who's better than you. And you will still be able to tell through uniforms who has more money. and i m in a high school without uniforms and i don't see people usually getting picked on for what they wear. usually it's how they act. people need a way to express themselves. i don't think it's right to make them be just like everyone else. so no, school uniforms do not change or help at all.

who wants to go to school every day wearing the same thing every day for four or more years and being punished for being even slightly out of uniform, like not having a tie, or having the wrong shirt, or wrong color pants, or boots instead of shoes. First, everyone has more than one shirt or more than one pair of pants with like 20 pairs of sneakers and some schools don't even let you have one day where you can wear almost what ever you want. schools should allow students to wear whatever they want and if they want to wear uniforms still then let them wear it.

I personally wouldn't mind either, but i think if you try to force a uniform on someone they will just rebel the whole way.

Uniforms may make less of a difference in some schools than in others. In Detroit, Michigan, USA, where there is a high incidence of gang activity and students are often targeted by the very colors they wear, school systems have reported fewer fights, less theft and better test scores in schools where uniforms have been introduced. This is measurable, quantifiable progress.

As for the cost, uniforms often cost less than "regular" school clothes, when the schools have sensible standards. Also, many companies, such as JC Penney, have uniform stores where parents can purchase good-quality clothing much cheaper. For example, if a school allows khaki trousers, polo-style shirts, rugby-style shirts and white dress shirts or blouses, parents can buy two pairs of trousers, two short-sleeved polo shirts, two rugby shirts and one dress shirt. This is a common uniform in many U.S. schools that have a uniform code. Blazers, skirts and the like are strictly optional. Also, most schools allow khaki shorts (or skorts for girls) in the warm months and students may wear socks or not, or whatever shoes they prefer.

Having a uniform also eliminates ambiguity in the school dress code. With a uniform, there is no question about what is acceptable and what is not. It really all comes down to how sensible a school's uniform requirements are. With khaki trousers and polo shirts, most students can be comfortable for the seven hours they are in school.

And honestly, we attend school to receive an education. In an ideal world, what students wore wouldn't impact their education, but in the real world it can. So, if uniforms provide an environment more conducive to learning, and parents are not as overburdened with the cost, I say bring on the uniforms!

At my school we have to wear a school uniform and I wish we didn't. We are an all girl school, but we haven't got the option to wear trousers. We live in Guernsey, Channel Islands and I'm a scholarship student. My previous school was a single form school and although they had a uniform they weren't legally allowed to enforce it, so I normally wore jeans and a clean, plain t-shirt. You had to be in the top 3 percent to get into one of the two colleges (Ladies' or Elizabeth) and in my year we got 7 out of about 26 pupils into one of them, and we were one of the few schools who didn't enforce the uniform. At ladies' college in Summer you have to wear either a short-sleeved, open-neck blouse or a 3/4 sleeved, open-neck blouse depending on which year you were in, white socks that reach a couple of inches above your ankle, low-heeled black shoes and a tartan kilt that is allowed to go no more than 2 inches above your knees. As a result of this people are getting detentions for rolling up their skirts. Personally, I find that the kilt always blows up, because it is wrap-around and because of this I have resorted to using safety pins on the underside of the flap. Not only that but the kilts can't be put in a washing machine so you have to either get them dry-cleaned (expensive) or hand-washed (less effective and time consuming). To preserve the pleats we have to hang them up on skirt-hangers and we can't fold them up. We have to iron our blouses. In winter we have to wear tights and mine always seem to ladder and some people can't wear tights so that is even worse for them because rather than everyone wearing something different there are about 2 people wearing white socks in a sea of tights. We also have to wear blazers into school and we need permission to take them off in lessons even in the summer and there is always the odd teacher who says no. We are also not allowed to eat in our school uniform in public which if we attend an afterschool club and catch the bus home and have to wait at a bus stop for half-an-hour and then spend three-fourths of an hour on the bus means we don't get to eat for ages.

Students who are not required to wear uniforms put themselves in "uniforms" without even knowing it. Most kids want to wear what's in style. Magazines and stores are telling people what to wear all the time. So unless you are designing and sewing your own clothes I don't buy the "expressing" yourself debate. And if you think that adults don't wear uniforms in the real world you are wrong. Just look around you — soldiers, mechanics, police officers, nurses, surgeons, dentists, veterinarians, chefs, cosmetologists, EMT's, doctors. There is a reason why many professions require a uniform. It sets them apart, makes them look professional and gains respect. Maybe if students were required to wear uniforms they would take their "job" more seriously and gain the respect they deserve from their teachers and fellow classmates.

I would like to have a school uniform actually. I hate having to find clothes in the morning. You don't have to wear different clothes to have different personalities.

I think they are stupid. kids make fun of each other; it's life. get over it. if it's not going to be omg look at her clothes it will turn to her hair then her make up and so on. it's not going to stop. i understand the concern, but everyone has insecurities and that's how people get over them. Me, i love my clothes. it's how i express myself. i'm not in art or a big writer, and self expression is needed. i know i'd flip if my school got uniforms. i think i'd die. but i guess some perfer it?! =] Hayyylee =]

School uniforms take away students own self. If adults should tell kids what is right and wrong then they should let them wear what they want because everyone has a right, so if an adult is already telling kids want to do then can't they just at least let kids wear want they really want??!

I don't understand. I attend a school that does not require school uniforms. You with me? I don't wear anything special, I never take time to pick what I wear, I just grab clean clothes and throw them on. You know what? I express my "individuality" by being myself. I'm pretty liked by everyone so I don't see how my wardrobe has anything to do with it. No one comments on my clothes or vice versa, except my shoes but that's because they were new.

Uniforms are stupid, but they also make sense. But I like to express my personality and wearing uniforms is not cutting it so. That is why I attend a school that lets me wear what I please.

In my opinion, i don't like uniforms and i think they are stupid. They do not help in any situation because there are some people who don't have enough money and uniforms run pretty high these days. People won't be able to express themselves and show what they like to wear. People who don't have enough money will probably feel bad because that's all they can afford and their children will feel the same also. The uniforms don't improve anything.

Teachers and adults always complain on the way the children or teens dress nowadays. Yes it's true they dress horribly, but that does not give them the right to overpower them and force them to wear uniforms. This generation is not going to get any better, it is going to just get worse no matter what. So what is the whole purpose of wearing school uniforms? It does not solve anything, but creates more problems.

I go to a school that has to wear uniforms and it is horrible. I've gotten so sick of wearing the same type of clothes every day. Now the school wants us to wear Black Dress Pants and a nice shirt every day. This is horrible. I am so glad I'm going to public school after this dumb year is over.

There's a lot of evidence-free discussion about uniforms. The "Pros and Cons" bit doesn't discuss whether there's any evidence that uniforms provide the benefits claimed. The government recently made similar claims, and when I wrote to my MP questioning the evidence for the claims, they cited an opinion poll of parents - hardly evidence that would be recognised in any other circles.

IMO, unless there is good evidence of benefit, you should not be able to compel people to do anything. Otherwise all you are doing is using "might is right" - and I don't think it's a good idea to teach children that if they have power, it's OK to use it on a whim.

Our school has uniforms and I agree that they are a little unflattering, but when we occasionally have civies days I am able to dress up and I feel beautiful. Altho' the school uses this as a fund raiser by using it as an incentive, it gives my friends & I an opportunity to want to earn this "privilege" and when we do it gives us great pride and motivation to do better.

school uniforms should be only worn by kindergarten students not by high school students. no one tells teenagers what to wear these days.

I completely agree with the cons school uniforms suck!

school uniforms don't really help

Tristan :P

who would want to where school uniforms?

know one will EVER catch me wearing a school uniform!!

You can't and will never be able 2 tell me what to wear. If you wear what you want it gives you a sense of pride.

Wearing uniforms doesn't let you express ur personality.

How fair is it that u all get to tell us what 2 wear? We are all individuals we all don't go to some preparatory catholic school. We don't want to wear ur dorky clothes or colors!!!!

Uniforms are not a good idea. U know u guys need to wake up and come to the real world. Uniforms cost twice the amount of money which a lot of parents don't have because of our stupid economy. So if u go to a snobby catholic school, then yah u should wear uniforms.

I think that schools should not have to obey the dress code because who wants to be told what to wear. Us students should have the right to express our personality in a way we all know through fashion. Doesn't matter if you are the geekiest or coolest person in the school. You should get to wear what you want to wear, not what somebody tells you to wear.

Why are people suddenly telling us what we have to wear? Who we have to look like? What we have to be to become "successful"? It's a very messed up society that we have. If my school ever decided to make us wear uniforms, I would protest. And I know a lot of you think I'm an idiot for saying so, but you know what? I'm not going to sit and let all these people tell me what to do just because they're older than me or more superior. Where would everyone be in life right now if nobody stood up for our freedom?

ummm honestly I think that both sides of this debate are... I don't know how else to say it: immature. If you are opinionated enough to go onto a website and post your opinions of this kind of thing that's fine with me, but insulting the other half kind of gets into the pre-k "you're stupid!" "Nu uh!!!" format... If you have uniforms, you will still be made fun of at school. It's the way society works... I think everybody needs to step back and think a little before they swing either way. Kids are still kids. They have insecurities no matter what outfit you people decide to dress them up in, and because of that they WILL (and i mean WILL) make fun of others/be made fun of.

i have to wear a uniform every day. black shirts and khaki pants. At first everyone said omg r u being for real and why do we have to wear this? And why cant we just wear our own clothes? but now i get why we wear them, because many of the guys wear their pants to their knees, girls wearing very low-cut shirts, some girls wearing too tight of pants, even though us girls like to wear tight pants, some girls just wear them to tight. so after a while we got use to it.

i think that we should try then see how thy will reacted and if some complains that some1 is bullying em, then change it no more uniforms.

I favor school uniforms. The people who believe it inhibits creativity or will produce a commi govt are stupid and seriously need to look at the world around them. Japan has 99% of schools with strict uniforms, and have the highest success rates in education in the world! (Who'd have thunk it?) 99% pass through high school there. America can stand to learn from others. Maybe then we wouldn't be so much of a group of fat, whiny, slackers who don't want to do any serious work, and ship it overseas. I for one would appreciate no longer seeing the guys' butt cracks and underwear, or shirts so tight on girl's their stomach and boobs are falling out. I don't care what you say, deep down you know it is just as distracting to you as it is to me. Not to mention gross. Love from emo "freak" in IL (the others don't like my clothes, so they tease me T.T lol)

wearing uniforms at a school doesn't make u smarter, it may make u look smarter, but it also makes your school look more BORING, who wants to go to a boring school anyways?

i think school uniforms are crazy because kids should be allowed to express themselves..... not have to wear the cheesy clothes that the school gives u. uniforms are OK for private schools, because they have to be orderly, that i can understand, but making public schools wear them is just insane. kids should be allowed to express themselves, not do what people say. yes i know it lowers bullying but what are kids with out their individuality?

i think uniforms are a bad idea for private schools. it takes away our individuality, which i value a lot! No school uniforms!!

Uniforms may show a more unified school, but it really takes away self expression. I have a couple friends who aren't interested in art or writing, but they really enjoy fashion and such. Their grades are good and they're hard workers who try their best in studying. To them, fashion is really important. It's a way to express themselves and keep their sanity. Plus school isn't fun without being individuality. I went to a public school for all of my life so yeah. :D

-13yearoldgirl.

Yay lets all wear school uniforms after that they can take away our other rights before u know it here we are comis.

i think school uniforms are a great thing. I'm writing a research paper on it. and i think if public schools start making students wear uniforms, they will focus on what they are learning instead on what the latest trend is that everyone is wearing. It would also be beneficial by letting students know that when you are in a business, you have to look professional. and starting in high school is a great idea. Some people might say the school is taking away from their creativity, but in reality, all you have to do to get it back is to join an art class, or a creative writing class. expressing yourself, isn't always what you're wearing. and if students do have a problem with wearing uniforms every day, go to the school board and ask for a slacking day where you wear regular clothes. Either if you do like uniforms or not, they would be beneficial to the school and students.

I believe that school uniforms should be worn because this way, it will make the school look more..... organized. Plus, no more: "ew, look at that outfit." :P

I don't think that we should have to wear uniforms because they put no dent in our education, and if everybody thinks that school is just about education (It's not), than why should the principal be worrying about clothes, if they think that clothes are unimportant?? They are hypocrites!

I think school uniforms are a great idea especially in high school. If there is a need to express oneself, how about taking an art class, or learning a musical instrument, or just becoming great in one of the sports. Maybe doing charity work after school, or figuring out what are the talents one has and develop those, and in general, become a great human being.

There are so many positive, constructive ways of expression, not just a shallow dressing up, or wearing hair a certain way. Looking good is an important part at any stage of life, but for that to be the center of expression takes away from all the other gifts that every child and adult possesses.

I believe that schools should have uniforms. I'm doing a debate about it, and so far I'm winning! Well, first of all, the uniforms teach children that there are ways to show self expression than just clothes. Also, for some reason, crimes decrease. Another thing is, students naturally get better grades when they are worn (i don't know why.)

I think school uniforms are good for private schools, but not public ones. if there were uniforms in all schools it would kinda be like 'conform or else' and that's just creepy. uniforms are good because there are still ways to express yourself that aren't through clothing. so instead of focusing on what to wear in the morning you focus on writing that great English paper. also, uniforms get kids ready for the real world when they have to dress nice for work. some kids who dress badly outside of school will know whats okay for an interview, but kids who don't have that experience might miss a job opportunity because of it. BTW, this was written by a 12 year old who doesn't wear uniforms!

I'm just doing a school project.....

i believe that it is very bad to have school uniforms. Kids now days have very strict dress codes as it is. They are too creative to not be able to show their true colors.

i think it is violating against rights to express yourself. but we should not just choose who goes with who just because of the clothes we wear. we wear the clothes we wear because we feel comfortable and we shouldnt be scared to wear what we feel comfortable with.

now sometimes uniforms can be good or bad. i have heard a lot of things like stops peer pressure and is cheaper and stops us from being creative. now these things might happen if we have uniforms but not if you dont let being unique like come on does it really stops us from being creative how can you be creative if you dont wear uniform if anything uniform should makes us more creative just dont break the rules. recently i had to write an essay on the pros and cons of uniforms first i had to brainstorm some pros and cons here : pros :stop wasting time in the morning lack of distractions formal study environment prepares you for the real world.cons : conforms standards if you dont agree makes you send a rebellious message.

"Um ya Anon I think it is, Maybe you should look at the fact that your school is catholic? Ya maybe that's y there's no fights, and maybe also cuz the fact that ur school probably only has like 20 kids. Not everyone goes to a prep catholic school." I guess school is not your focus any ways!

School uniforms are really a blessing, they minimize the parent child struggle on a daily basis about what is or is not appropriate to wear to school. It places children with different economic backrounds, in the same category. They become less focused on what people are wearing and hopefully focus on their academics which is why a person goes to school. I do not feel that a child is unable to express themselves in any way, it just gives them the opportunity to find more productive ways to do so. Vanity is not such a good thing. School uniforms can give kids the chance to look past what another student is wearing, and therefore judging them based on that. I once wore a short skirt and was called a slut, why I didn't have that reputation and I was not one, it was a unjustified opinion based on what I wore and not the person wearing it.

The cost of clothes is so outrageous, and school uniforms are pretty affordable, so as a parent I would welcome that. It was stated in another comment that this person wouldn't send her kids to school where they had to wear uniforms, and my response to that is well I will send my kids to the best school that I possibly can, uniforms or not because their education is the most important thing here.

i think uniforms aren't that bad. i wore them to high school and everyone got along with it. we had dress down days occasionally. no one rebelled and no one cared that we wore uniforms. yea some students accessorized with cute shoes and hair thing and jewelry but it wasn't like super bad. some people exaggerate too much.

Um ya Anon I think it is, Maybe you should look at the fact that you school is catholic? Ya maybe thats y theres no fights, and maybe also cuz the fact that ur school proly only has like 20 kids. Not everyone goes to a prep catholic school.

i believe that school uniform should be a part of our environment, because they make our schools equal. They also help by a lot of kids get bullied by the way they dress. kids mostly judge what students wear instead of getting to know then first! we should be wearing uniforms 4 times a week and then on friday we can wear what we would like. by:chantal grenon St.joseph'catholic school.

Just reading over the comments, and noticing people putting down school uniforms. A lot. I'm a high school kid, I go to a catholic school. Our uniforms aren't extremely restrictive, we wear polo shirts and nice pants that can be black, khaki, or navy. We aren't allowed to wear certain materials, but personally I think it's great. I've been going to catholic schools and wearing school uniforms since kindergarten. There've been very, very few fights at my schools, nobody really bugs anyone based on what they wear. People find other ways to express themselves, and very few people conform to the latest fads. From what I've experienced, school uniforms make you value your personal identity and expression even more, and open your eyes to new and more creative and constructive ways to express themselves. Not only that, but you pretty much have to learn to think about people based on who they are, rather than what they wear. I, personally, LIKE school uniforms.

school uniforms are a bad idea if you force your kid to do that they will most likely end up in jail or doing illegal things.

School Uniforms are a waste of time and money. Just because everyone dresses alike doesn't make peer pressure go away. People actually don't judge you for where you buy your clothes, but your personality. Also in public school if they have to issue the uniforms for free then taxes are raised and who wants that, but if they charge for them what about the kids who cant afford that.

-grace klumpp

I don't think there could be any proven pros that are more than just a theory. In the real world, kids' personalities wont change because of the clothes they wear. Trouble makers will still cause plenty of distractions. We will still have cliques or else we wouldn't have any friends. Cheerleader will still hang out with cheerleaders and nerds will still hang out with other nerds. We will still be judged on the way we perform daily activities and what our social lives are like outside of school.

~a concerned teen

sweet, just what i needed have a big speech i have to do.

School uniforms are a bad idea because they would take away our freedom of expression and not let us be ourselves. Where is the fun in going to school if everyone looks the same?!

I don't think that school uniforms affect bullying. Kids that do that are looking for attention and to feel better than other people. Uniforms won't address those issues. Personally, I don't like uniforms and I won't send my kids to a school where they are told what they can and can't wear. I went to a school where we didn't have them and the dress code was more based on common sense than anything. Sure, there were some pressures to get the latest shoes or clothes but nothing that really distracted from school.

Uniforms at an early age probably aren't a good idea, but high school uniforms for all public schools would be great. Then boys wouldn't wear their pants down to their knees or whatever. Plus, some people who aren't fashion designers will actually be able to dress to school and look good... Some people don't know what clothes look good, unfortunately.

i think that those are really good! could you put more on, i have a report to do on it on Feb. 13

There seems to be a lot more pros then cons but one thing I have noticed one thing has never been said. Bullying-what do school uniforms do for that? I myself have been looking for an asnwer to that question.

this was a big help can u get more of this i have to do a report before jan