Yo! *does little hand thing* What's kickin'? I'm not, I'll tell ya that. But I am writing an article in response to one of RachelJay's articles about the pros and cons of a school uniform. When I read her article, I felt like there was a lot she didn't include, so I wanted to add my thoughts.
I have always believed that what you wear is an expression of who you are. I, for one, will not wear a skirt or a dress for any reason (except for band) and I believe that this shows that I'm not a very "girly" girl. (Which is true.) When you make students wear a uniform, you are taking away a form of expression. Maybe you don't like what someone's wearing, but they (usually) love it, so get on with your life!
While your choice of clothing may be a form of expression, it can also cause some problems. What if your family can't afford many clothes, or the most "in" clothes? Well, then, if everyone wears a uniform, you'll be considered equal. Then again, uniforms can also be hard on a person's wallet, so is that really the answer?
Many schools also have strict dress codes. At my school, you can't wear a shirt that has a beer logo on it, or a tank top with spaghetti straps, and that's just a beginning. Don't even get me started on the rest of the things we can't wear! By having uniforms, you eliminate all such problems.
And is dress really limited to what you wear, nowadays? Many schools in my area have strict policies about piercings. If your parent or guardian will let you get your nose or your belly button pierced, why should the school board be allowed to say no? One school has even said that you can't have more then three piercings in your ears! (And that's in both, not three in each!)
And why just control what students wear? I'm allergic to perfume and cologne, but many schools permit their students to wear it, even if they wear a uniform. When I get near perfume I sneeze, cough, get headaches and just plain don't feel good, so why is that all right?
Thanks for bearing (baring???) with me in this!
Giggler01
