School Uniforms: Do They Make A School Better?

For many kids in the area, school is about to begin. The question always comes up too, "do uniforms make schools better?"

I can see it from both sides. I spent most of my childhood in private school where having a school uniform was necessary. It saved my parents from having to shell out large amounts of cash on back to school clothing and myself from attempting to dress like I knew what was cool.

High school was a different story for me. I went to a public high school and there wasn't a dress code, so kids wore whatever they wanted. It was a new thing for me and I wasn't prepared for it. By the time I hit my senior year I was buying my own stuff and it wasn't an issue.

Great Schools asked the same question. Do uniforms make schools better?

THE PROS

• Encourage discipline
• Help students resist peer pressure to buy trendy clothes
• Help identify intruders in the school
• Increase a sense of belonging and school pride

THE CONS

• Violate a student's right to freedom of expression
• Make students a target for bullies from other schools
• Are a financial burden for poor families
• Are an unfair additional expense for parents who pay taxes for a free public education

What do you think? Should students be forced to wear a uniform when they attend school?