School Uniforms

School uniforms represent several different things depending on which culture you come from. In America, most private and/or religious schools require students to wear a uniform. In Japan, most schools in general require a school uniform. There are definitely a few pros and several cons to having one.

First, I would like to go over the pros of a school uniform. One of the pros is that there is only one choice for what to wear to school. While some may see that as a con, it is easy to just put on a uniform and go, without having to choose what to wear. Another pro is that everyone at school is wearing the same uniform. This can feel like a loss of individuality, but it can also make someone feel like they are part of a group. Some may argue that this may reduce bullying based on appearance. Also, some people believe that uniforms are just straight-up more fashionable than normal clothes. Others argue that students may learn to be more careful with their things or keep a tidy appearance with their school uniform.

Next, let’s discuss the cons. As previously mentioned, individuality is limited because of school uniforms. A large majority of Japanese elementary, junior high, and high schools have uniforms. Some students express their individuality by altering their uniform because they cannot just dress the way they want to. Another con is cost; some uniforms are sold by the school or apparel company that boosts prices. I remember my elementary and junior high school having a high price for uniforms. Recently, there was a news story about an elementary school in Japan that had an Armani-designed uniform that was approximately \80,000.

Depending on where the school is located, uniform material could be a horrible mismatch for the weather and temperature of the school’s location. I remember my school’s uniform in Florida was pretty bad in the summer. Whenever we had classes outside it was sure to be a sweaty day.

Now I would like to discuss a few of the lesser known cons that uniforms have. In America, a common belief is that private school students will have a better education than public school students. The same thing is common in Japan, where schools with better reputations can change how the students are viewed based on what they wear. This can lead to elitism and cause families to look down on each other just based on what their child is wearing. Uniforms can suggest what economic class a child’s family belongs to. As I stated earlier, uniforms give students wearing them a group identity. Actions by the school or students may be reflected on unrelated students. I remember my public high school classmates saying bad things about the local private school students because of a scandal that had happened at their school.

One more thing that could be seen as a pro or a con is how distinguishable uniforms are. It’s easy to identify a student if they are wearing a uniform. It is also possible to identify which school a student goes to based on the uniform itself.

Overall, there are some benefits to having a school uniform, but I cannot stop thinking about the numerous cons of having one. They are not inherently bad, but there are just so many ways people can discriminate against students wearing one. Even if a student goes to a public school, they still have the option to wear something similar to a uniform, so why not give them the choice?

Rai

Vocabulary

individuality (noun) ? the quality that makes a person different
alter (verb) ? to change or modify
mismatch (noun) ? two things put together that are unsuitable
elitism (noun) ? the superior attitude of the rich or upper class
inherently (adverb) ? to be part of something naturally