High School and Uniform

Name: Lê Thu Hà Class: TA7.03-K56 Code: 20114465 Subject: Writing ** ** **
Topic: Uniforms should be made compulsory at high school. Do you agree with this statement? FINAL ESSAY

A school uniform is an outfit - a set of standardized clothes - worn primarily for an educational institution. They are common in high school in various countries. The question is should uniforms at schools be made compulsory? Ideas and methods all around the world are changing at an amazing pace. The necessity of school uniform in today's education system has become a much debated topic. The question is should uniforms at schools be made compulsory? Do we need it? I strongly agree that it should be mandatory part of education at schools. Following are a few thoughts on why compulsory school uniforms are necessary in today's society.

The question of whether children should wear a uniform to school always makes for a lively debate, and not only among students! In some countries school uniform is normal and most schools make their students wear one. Britain is the most obvious example of this, but in many other countries with strong links to Britain uniform often has to be worn to school - examples include Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and many other African countries. Uniform is also required at almost all schools in Japan. In other countries, particularly in continental Europe, the USA and Canada, uniform is very rare in state-funded schools, although private schools may have one. . Debates about school uniform have been going on for decades in different countries and districts, but during the 1990s state schools in the USA began to adopt uniforms. (“School uniform,” 2011)

There are several reasons why a high school should decide to implement compulsory uniforms.Most importantly, having all students wear the same uniform helps create a sense that you belong somewhere and maintain a good school either by culture or spirit . And by showing that the expects an even higher standard, expectations are soon raised and students will usually respond with a better, more mature, behavior.

Also,schools with uniforms obtain better educational results. This is because there is better discipline, so the school setting makes learning easier. Without the distraction of checking out what all the other students are wearing, students find it easier to concentrate and do better in tests.According to a research of Li (2009), when the United States began to use uniforms in public school, there were many reports of improved discipline .

Additionally, school uniforms help to scrap social inequalities. School is for learning, and discipline, not making a fashion statement. Compulsory uniform means that everyone is dressed alike and children from poorer families do not immediately stand out from the others.According to Kennedy (2009), at the truancy board hearings, a very attractive teenage girl cried she could not attend school. She claimed through tears to receive teasing for her dress. Her style of dress did not reflect her internal identity, but the financial status of her parents is very bad. She was neither dirty nor unkempt, but could not afford the clothes in style at the time.Clearly, a school without uniforms creates huge social inequalities.If this school had made uniforms compulsory,the problems about social inequality would have been resolved easily.

Moreover, uniform is a good value for money. Uniform is usually cheaper than letting children choose what they will wear to school. Young people feel pressure to dress in the latest thing and not to wear the same outfit often. This often leads their parents to spend hundreds of dollars on clothes each year. With uniform taking away this pressure, there is usually a much smaller overall cost for the parents. Families who are hard-up can often get help with the cost of uniform, or buy it second-hand. For these reason parents often like uniform. At some schools it is parents groups that start campaigns to introduce it (Silva,2012).

Lastly,uniforms create a beneficial preparation for future careers. Wearing a uniform helps to prepare students for the world of work, where uniforms are often worn. People like nurses, soldiers, shop assistants, the police and railway staff wear uniform as part of their job. Just like these adults, students should dress in uniform when they are in school, getting on with work. After all, students and adults can change into their own casual clothes at the end of the working day, when they are “off duty”.(From Wikipedia,n.d)

Not only there are many proponents but also opponents with the need of uniforms in high schools. Detractors argue that compulsory school uniform does not allow children to express their individuality. This is a false argument. Adults are not always allowed to express their individuality. Many workplaces require staffs to wear a uniform. In many others, a particular standard of dress is required,for example, a business suit in some professions, and others, such as the building trades, require safety equipment to be worn. Children are not at school to be individuals, they are there to learn. There is plenty of time outside school hours for children to express individuality.

Besides, some people think that most parents want qualified education for their children rather than spending money on buying a uniform which can’t be worn outside the school campus, the same money can be used in buying books or other things which will actually be of some good use for their children.For me, I don’t totally agree with this idea because as I know from the cost for a uniform in Thailand, Korea, America and VietNam is usually quite economical.

Some other people think that wearing a uniform creates strong distinctions between pupils from different schools leading to bullying and gang wars. Also, it makes them more susceptible to crimes as they can be easily singled out in the crowd.This idea is not true with present society-when human beings is becoming friendlier, wearing uniforms is cultural beauty.

In conclusion, uniforms should be compulsory in high school education systems.For the well-being, self-esteem, and safety of our children, high shools should implement compulsory uniforms, otherwise we risk our children growing up into uneducated, uncivilized, and irresponsible adults.

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