Educational institutions advocate for uniforms as a way of promoting equality. However, can one say that wearing uniforms does what it intends to do? Absolutely not, and that’s why there is a long list of reasons why students should not wear uniforms.
For instance, wearing a uniform limit one’s individuality, depriving the students of self-expression and negatively affecting their self-image. There is also the extra cost of buying a piece of cloth that doesn’t affect academic performance.
Let’s look at the various reasons students should not wear uniforms.
Reasons Why Students Should Not Wear Uniforms
Wearing school uniforms has a fair share of cons hence the persuasion to discourage them in schools. Some of the reasons why students should not wear uniforms include the following;
Encourages Rebellion
Almost every child isn’t happy about rules, and having to wear the school uniform isn’t an exception. So, such rules face resistance and drive students to become rebellious.
Some common way that students rebel against wearing uniforms is by altering them. Some shortened their uniforms, whereas others lengthened them in ways against the school rules.
Others wear jewelry and accessories because the thought of wearing what everyone else is wearing doesn’t settle well with them. Such rebellious activities have also landed some students in trouble, including expulsion.
Compromises Freedom of Expression and Comfort
Growing up includes learning how to choose clothing, but wearing a uniform daily takes away such a valuable skill. Students can’t wear what they prefer or feel like wearing since it will be against the rules.
It worsens when you don’t feel or look good in that uniform. Some students find the uniforms uncomfortable, too, but do they have a choice? Comfort is further compromised since most students must wear the same uniform throughout the year.
Can you imagine wearing the same clothing during the hot and cold seasons? It will feel extremely uncomfortable during certain seasons, and that’s unfair. Most students find school uniforms hot and sweaty when the weather is hot.
Uniforms are Costly
The cost of uniforms adds an extra burden to parents who may not afford them. Some families would prefer their kids to wear clothes they already own. After all, the kids already have other clothes to wear, but schools will insist on uniforms.
Consequently, parents have to incur additional costs to buy the uniforms. A single set of uniforms isn’t enough hence the need for two or more which means digging deeper into one’s pocket to ensure their children are comfortable.
Parents must also buy regular clothes for weekends, holidays, and non-school days.
Enhances Cultural Intolerance
Despite going to a particular school, students rarely share the same culture. However, that’s overlooked when everyone is forced to wear a uniform.
In most cases, a certain culture is favored by the set uniform, thus making them feel superior, whereas others are left out. Some people grow up thinking cultural differences don’t matter and can be overlooked and dismissed whenever one deems it fit. These students may also become culturally intolerant later in life, which isn’t good for society.
Promotes Discrimination
Ironically, wearing school uniforms is meant to promote equality. The uniformity makes students from all walks of life feel they belong to the school fraternity.
However, it is often hard to hide one’s financial status, even when dealing with uniforms. For example, students from poor backgrounds may be unable to afford several uniforms. Maintaining optimum cleanliness with a single set of school uniforms makes it hard. If other students feel that one of them is dirty, the student is alienated and discriminated against.
Similarly, such students can only afford uniforms made of cheap materials. They may not replace the uniforms as often as they should, thus wearing faded or worn-out clothes.
Others get uniforms from older siblings or buy second-hand clothing. These things are hard to miss and can undermine equality and promote discrimination despite the students wearing the same attire.
Some Students are Embarrassed
For whatever reason, including one’s body shape, some students don’t look nice in school uniforms. Others may look nice to others, but that’s not how they feel deep inside. That has led to some students feeling embarrassed whenever they are in uniform.
Over time, the embarrassment develops into low self-esteem. They lack the confidence to express themselves in uniform; some can no longer feel confident, even in regular clothes. That’s bad news for the student’s future since low self-esteem can limit an individual.
Sets a Students Vs Administration Mood
School rules, including wearing a uniform, are set for students to follow. On the other hand, the administration ensures the students follow these rules.
The resistance from students and the enforcement from the administration has led to animosity between the two parties. It also undermines the possibility of harmony and collaboration between the administration and students and removes the benefits they can have for the educational institution.
This power struggle between freedom and obedience has proven unproductive, but none of the parties will back down.
Inconsiderate to Gender-Nonconforming Students
Some students are gender nonconforming and thus find wearing school uniforms uncomfortable. Besides, they must choose between male and female school uniforms.
It is often tough for them, and something meant to do good for them fails such students big time. Unfortunately, it is rare to find schools that have the same uniform for both genders.
It Shields Students From the Harsh Reality
Eventually, the school will be over, but life will continue. Consequently, one won’t be required to wear a uniform, and the inequality in the real world will be glaring.
Most students aren’t ready for this harsh reality. Others can’t even pick the clothes to wear when the time comes since they didn’t have to decide for a long time.
It Lacks Impact on Academic Performance
Whether you wear a school uniform or not doesn’t determine how you fair academically. That’s why it won’t help your academic performance if you don’t study well.
Some assume wearing a school uniform puts you in the mood to study, but even some students in these attires play around instead of studying. So, it narrows down to a personal choice of whether to study.
Therefore, that fact reduces school uniforms to a piece of clothing without effect on a student’s academic performance. Besides, if a student doesn’t feel comfortable in school uniform, it will be hard to pay attention to their studies, thus increasing their chances of performing poorly.
Final Words
There are several reasons why students should wear uniforms, but there is also a bad side to the outfits. There is also a long list of why students should not wear uniforms. For instance, they promote conformity, thus limiting creativity, self-expression, and individuality.
The discomfort of school uniforms compared to casual clothes such as t-shirts and shorts is also indisputable. It also means an extra cost for parents who must buy several uniform sets and other regular clothes for the same child.
The worst of it all is how all these efforts aren’t justified. After all, there is not even a single study showing that wearing a school uniform affects one’s academic performance in any way.
