The Question: Should all K-12 schools (public or private) require students to wear uniforms?
My 2 Cents: As a former eighth-grade American Studies teacher in the public school system in Tulsa, OK, I say that all K-12 schools (public or private) should require students to wear uniforms. Fashion, or lack thereof, is a distraction from the learning process. Our administrators had to send children home who were inappropriately dressed (too-short shorts or skirts, jeans with holes in too-revealing places, chains hanging off pants, etc.). There was also the issue of this group of students ostracizing that other student because he/she was wearing last year’s in-fashion jeans or shirt or whatever. We also had the problem of trying to discern which colors were gang colors and who should be made to change because of it. With every student in the prescribed uniform, much (of course not all) of this nonsense is alleviated.
Uniforms also prepare students for the workplace. Every day you and I go to work, we’re in a uniform; business-casual or business-dress attire. When we’re not at work, we wear something else. It should be the same for schoolchildren. They should learn early how to transition between the workplace and their personal lives. More importantly, they need to learn that there is a transition to make. We need to start preparing children better to deal with things they will deal with as adults. We can’t wait until they become adults and then try to undo years and years of unappealing or inappropriate behavior.
School uniforms are an equalizing factor. All the students are dressed the same. There is no fashion competition, so students can concentrate on the tasks at hand. I would even go so far as to say that a part of the uniform should include footwear. Most often, in schools where uniforms are required, everyone looks the same form the ankles up, but the class system is back in full effect when you look at students’ shoes.
If there is an issue of affordability, some measures need to be put in place to make sure all students can afford to buy the prescribed uniform, even if that’s a host of fundraisers throughout the school year to provide vouchers to families who need assistance. School districts should partner with clothing manufacturers to provide lower-cost sets of uniforms since the entire district will be buying the same attire. Uniforms don’t have to be costly, even though they are. If every school, public and private, went to a uniform system, great pressure could be applied to uniform suppliers to lower their costs. If they choose not to, the district can take its business elsewhere.
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Take a few moments to check out the tweets from Twitter on this subject:
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sunshine625 No! Ew! Boring!
EpicView_SP I think it would be a good idea.
aromaleigh_MMU No, my son’s school just instituted uniform policy. I hate it!
CptMorgan2k1 [BLEEP] NAW
ishadowaddict I am pro school uniforms. believe that it lessens school violence and reduces stress frm fam’s that can’t afford certain thngs
DerekIsNormal Only private schools. I personally believe that public schools shouldn’t require anything when it comes to clothing
reimagin nah! I seen no point to that. Nothing wrong with kids expressing undividuality. my kid has gone from goth to prep to scene in the last two years. They grow out of it unless u fight’m then rebelion ensues!
PROTECTED TWEETER School uniforms for all? I know plenty of districts do this now. Some of the clothes are pricey these days. IDK?
mochadad Yes, they should require all students to wear uniforms.
PROTECTED TWEETER I don’t think they should be forced, however it would make them all equal in that manner. I would vote for it
NightShade10 as long as those who can’t afford to buy them are helped, yes!
mslia228 yes I do think uniforms should be in all schools because it would eliminate alot of issues in regards to the clothing kids wear
Hadji4ever Yes! I do believe students benefit from uniformity, but it has 2 be 1 Concept!
Quintessence_T yes K-12 schools should require students to wear uniforms…it forces respect & gives them a sense of dignity
Write_Of_Fusion IT’S PERFERABLE RT : 8. My Question of the Day: Should all K-12 schools (public or private) require students to wear uniforms?
AbayKamau YES.
PROTECTED TWEETER absolutely! There’s a lot of discrimination based on what clothes you wear.
PROTECTED TWEETER yes ma’am! uniforms would giv poorer students an equal playin field. let’s face it, appearance is er’thing 2 children…make er’1 look the same & there’s more focus on developing the inner self…& of course studies 
KathieLB Uniforms? I say yes, would level the playing field and reduce the morning routine stress.
rishaholmes Yes, great idea!
ankomaguy YES.
KamekaD Yes. My children will wear uniforms.
PROTECTED TWEETER Yes, they definitely should wear uniforms, easier for the parents and it teaches discipline and order.
PROTECTED TWEETER I think uniforms are a GREAT idea for K-12. I see it as a WIN/WIN for the whole family (saves money, builds SELF-esteem..etc)
Queen_ICEIS yes
jaden1223 I think they should have uniform days because now days everything is a competition and some kids can’t afford to compete
blacknthick I think so less kids have to worry and fight about
tclarkusa Nope. Elementary yes. Not necessarily in upper levels.
BLKMGK Yes
walkerdl Yes. My son’s school requires uniforms. These kids need to learn to look presentable in public
shiraabel Yes. I think the loss of individuality is made up by the loss of class system that comes from clothes.
Dragonsent if public schools had funding then yes.
ObiOrion My answer is YES!
PROTECTED TWEETER I think uniforms would be good. But, it may cause more problems. When I was in school the girls still hicked their skirts up!
atane Leave the decision of uniforms to the parents.
LeoLadyee Its required in my district for both! I love it!
PROTECTED TWEETER All kids should wear uniforms. It shows them 2b less superficial,more disciplined&they have more time 2focus on studies
md20737 I think with the current state of ppls bad judgement yes uniforms should be mandatory.
LadyJay91 I’ve been voting for school uniforms for years now ….so glad that at least 75% of the schools in PG have then now.
AlwaysSilky I’m a BIG fan of uniforms…
treschic67 Yes
xsashagirl I believe that all students should be made to wear uniforms because it prepares them for having to dress professionally later.
Juicyfruit4u I went to Catholic Sch, had to wear one. Doesn’t make a difference really. It’s the value system taught in the home.
shargrove No. I believe the school should have a dress code, which should apply to teachers , who should lead by example
nickfury01 YES! …without a doubt! It forces character development. The “person” and their personality get to shine…instead of the clothes.
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