Should School Uniforms be Mandatory?

[Soyouso]

So, since I'm going back to school soon, this subject came to mind. The purpose of a school dress code, is to ensure that students are dressed appropriately for school environment, so what they are wearing is not too distracting/over the top, a hazard to themselves, or otherwise innapropriate. Some schools just have certain limits on types of clothing, others have their students wear a certain set of clothes that are either identical or similar enough to be considered a uniform. Both types of dress code have their advantages, but whether or not it is unecessary to have a full blown uniform is up for debate. Should it be mandatory, or is it too extreme?

This isn't a new topic that just came up, I'm simply curious about opinions on NSG.

Honestly, I'm indifferent towards this. I'm going into the eleventh grade, and my high school doesn't have uniforms. Never been to a school that had them so far. But if I end up going to a college that has them, I doubt I'd personally be bummed out unless I had to wear a skirt 24/7, which would set off my gender dysphoria due to my identity. While I enjoy showing off new t-shirts, I can understand the appeal of wanting to be able to automatically know who is your student and who isn't in case of emergency, other school's students being involved in events, and field trips. Uniforms should have some variation in case of medical issues and if certain aspects are causing a student pain, which is distracting for them. There is the problem of replacing uniforms if one is ruined, and the obvious consequence of students getting less freedom of expression.
Without them, you can still have nametags for field trips and ban innapropriate clothing. At my school, skirts and shorts have to be a certain length, you can't sag on purpose or wear shirts meant to show cleavage, and you can't wear hats or face paint (like in sporting events) unless they say it's a special dress up day. You can't wear anything with cuss words or sexual content. These restrictions still allow for varied outfits that do not break the rules, so I've got no issue with them.

[Ifreann]

They're useful in various ways, but they're not the be all and end all of education.

[Uinted Communist of Africa]

Does all of nationstates have some type of school uniform fetish or something?(not that that's a bad thing ) I swear every five months this same thread is revived.....

But more to the point...yeah I think schools should have uniforms.

[Destructive Government Economic System]

Not right now, but I am really seeing a ton of exposed female students at the place where I am attending. Uniforms can solve this issue, but then there comes the fact that you lose part of your own unique identity (your taste in clothes makes up part of it). Also, I just hate wearing things that are forced upon me.

[Soyouso]

Does all of nationstates have some type of school uniform fetish or something?(not that that's a bad thing ) I swear every five months this same thread is revived.....

But more to the point...yeah I think schools should have uniforms.

It's pretty obvious that school uniforms aren't the type of uniform I'd be interested in, the one I am is painfully obvious.
Really though, I'll try to keep track of how long it takes for another thread like this to come up after this.

[NERVUN]

Ok, getting this out of the way now...

I teach in Japan. I have for 13 years. We have uniforms.

Uniforms do not:

Stop bullying (Japan has a lot of issues).
Noticeably improve discipline (We still have problems).
Interfere with student individuality or inhibit student expression (If you don't think my kids are individuals, I'll be more than happy to let YOU deal with them for a week).

Uniforms DO:
Stop teachers from having to constantly make judgement about if something crosses a line or if something is "speech" or just trying to provoke.
Allow me to quickly identify my students as belonging to my school (safety).
Allow the school to not have to worry about inappropriate clothing for school activities (I.e. PE clothes for PE, close toed shoes for science, etc.).

Uniforms MAY or MAY NOT:
Be cheaper, that seriously depends on a range of factors.

All I can say is that in 12 years of teaching junior high school, I find it remarkable that whenever the subject is brought up for debate in the school, overwhelmingly my students are FOR their uniforms. They're happy to have them and aren't as interested in being in regular clothes.

[Uinted Communist of Africa]

you should have just locked the thread after that......you covered everything.

[Steffan]

No. Just no.
As someone who had to wear a god awful uniform early in their school years, I can tell you that I do not wish it on children.

[Dazchan]

Ok, getting this out of the way now...

I teach in Japan. I have for 13 years. We have uniforms.

Uniforms do not:

Stop bullying (Japan has a lot of issues).
Noticeably improve discipline (We still have problems).
Interfere with student individuality or inhibit student expression (If you don't think my kids are individuals, I'll be more than happy to let YOU deal with them for a week).

Uniforms DO:
Stop teachers from having to constantly make judgement about if something crosses a line or if something is "speech" or just trying to provoke.
Allow me to quickly identify my students as belonging to my school (safety).
Allow the school to not have to worry about inappropriate clothing for school activities (I.e. PE clothes for PE, close toed shoes for science, etc.).

Uniforms MAY or MAY NOT:
Be cheaper, that seriously depends on a range of factors.

All I can say is that in 12 years of teaching junior high school, I find it remarkable that whenever the subject is brought up for debate in the school, overwhelmingly my students are FOR their uniforms. They're happy to have them and aren't as interested in being in regular clothes.

I'm an Australian teacher and this is my experience, too.

Does all of nationstates have some type of school uniform fetish or something?(not that that's a bad thing ) I swear every five months this same thread is revived.....

All topics on NSG are on a 5/6 month cycle. I think we're due for a circumcision thread next.

[Skyhooked]

Does all of nationstates have some type of school uniform fetish or something?(not that that's a bad thing ) I swear every five months this same thread is revived.....

But more to the point...yeah I think schools should have uniforms.

You know, what is the date right now, yes?

As for the unifors well... they are pretty much useless (In my opinion). Discipline? It's teacher's damn job, and no fancy business outfit gonna replace him. If the teacher is incompetent, there gonna be a total mess in class with all students bickering, fighting, and doing everything but learning subjects, even if they are all in immacualte uniforms.

Discipline falls? Investigate teacher's performance. Check up on his routine, maybe he is exhausted and cannot focus. Check his payment, maybe all that hunger won't let him do the job. Or curriculum, maybe someone too witty added "Klingon language" there. Fixed all that, but discipline still hits the bottom? Then kick his ass out of the job and find someone competent.

Equality? Of course adding another compulsory thing to buy gonna help the poor families. Families, who don't have money on usual clothing gonna have to magically get money on the uniform suit. Because it's not like someone with large heart gonna provide free uniform fit for the dresscode.

Sorry for that wall o' text, just some bored anarchist in his 20's wanted to tell everyone his opinion.

[Cylonarus]

I like the idea of school uniforms.

[NERVUN]

you should have just locked the thread after that......you covered everything.

Believe you, me. I thought about it.

[Eclius]

I like the idea of school uniforms.

Why? It's a suppression towards freedom of expression

[Skyhooked]

I like the idea of school uniforms.

Why? It's a suppression towards freedom of speech

I don't recall gags being a part of school uniforms. And as far as I know, dresscode doesn't impair ability to tell your opinion.

[Eclius]

Why? It's a suppression towards freedom of speech

I don't recall gags being a part of school uniforms. And as far as I know, dresscode doesn't impair ability to tell your opinion.

Well, the way individuals dress themselves (and of course, within an appropriate range) is a form of expression, and schools should respect that

[Benjabobaria]

I'm a high schooler as well and don't think uniforms should be mandatory. I want to choose my own clothes. I wear very ordinary clothing but still, it's nice to have freedom to choose your clothes. However I definitely think it makes sense to have a dress code of some sort which practically all non-uniform schools have. School prepares you for the professional world and you don't go to your job half-naked or wearing random crazy stuff.

[Vakhtali Rijk]

The whole idea is just ridiculously stupid imo. Like I'm adamantly and irrevocably opposed to school uniforms; it just reeks of a bunch of moral puritans moaning about how kids these days show too much leg.

I've seen the argument that it'll prevent students from "judging" eachother based on if they have designer clothes or whatever; whenever I see that I have to think the person must get their idea of what high school is like from 80s teen comedy movies. Like I dress how the hell I want and would be very hard hit by a uniform because I usually wear 1950s inspired stuff, if someone told me I look like a "typical teen" I'd be mad.

[Eclius]

Even if a school implements a mandatory uniform policy, it should be done under a majority favor student referendum vote, otherwise, it's tyranny.

[Skyhooked]

I don't recall gags being a part of school uniforms. And as far as I know, dresscode doesn't impair ability to tell your opinion.

Well, the way individuals dress themselves (and of course, within an appropriate range) is a form of expression, and schools should respect that

That's the Freedom of Expression. Freedom of Speech covers just words, spoken and written.

[Eclius]

Well, the way individuals dress themselves (and of course, within an appropriate range) is a form of expression, and schools should respect that

That's the Freedom of Expression. Freedom of Speech covers just words, spoken and written.

Wait, lol, what did I say? I knew I should've taken a nap earlier, thanks for correcting me

[Eclius]

To those who agrees with uniform policy, I cannot seem to understand why some people have a positive view towards collectivism and autocracy.

[Skyhooked]

That's the Freedom of Expression. Freedom of Speech covers just words, spoken and written.

Wait, lol, what did I say? I knew I should've taken a nap earlier, thanks for correcting me

Don't worry. Gotta admit, I am also sittin' there in a middle of night.

[Alard]

Even if a school implements a mandatory uniform policy, it should be done under a majority favor student referendum vote, otherwise, it's tyranny.

I agree with that. If a majority of the students support it, why not implement it? If it's an extreme minority, don't. But even if it isn't implemented, it is true that enforced dress codes are required to keep things...sane.

[Greed and Death]

No. Just no.
As someone who had to wear a god awful uniform early in their school years, I can tell you that I do not wish it on children.

Seize him make him wear that uniform again.

[Greed and Death]

Ok, getting this out of the way now...

I teach in Japan. I have for 13 years. We have uniforms.

Uniforms do not:

Stop bullying (Japan has a lot of issues).
Noticeably improve discipline (We still have problems).
Interfere with student individuality or inhibit student expression (If you don't think my kids are individuals, I'll be more than happy to let YOU deal with them for a week).

Uniforms DO:
Stop teachers from having to constantly make judgement about if something crosses a line or if something is "speech" or just trying to provoke.
Allow me to quickly identify my students as belonging to my school (safety).
Allow the school to not have to worry about inappropriate clothing for school activities (I.e. PE clothes for PE, close toed shoes for science, etc.).

Uniforms MAY or MAY NOT:
Be cheaper, that seriously depends on a range of factors.

All I can say is that in 12 years of teaching junior high school, I find it remarkable that whenever the subject is brought up for debate in the school, overwhelmingly my students are FOR their uniforms. They're happy to have them and aren't as interested in being in regular clothes.

And if you get a stared Goku uniform you get extra speed and strength.