Uniforms??

Dear Superintendent O’ Mally:

          “When we lose the right to be different, we lose the privilege to be free.” (Charles Evan Hughes, US Supreme Court, 1925) Uniforms make us all look the alike. They take away our individuality and all our freedom. Day by day, American schools that require school uniforms are increasing. 24% of schools require them in the USA. That is one fourth of the schools in our nation. The Edison school board has decided that uniforms are mandatory starting in September of the upcoming year for grades K-12. This decision it is not the proper one for our students and their families here in Edison. Uniforms may be more expensive than the ordinary clothes. Also, uniforms do not decrease violent incidents. Clothing is one way people express themselves and uniforms do not allow that to happen. It is in the best interest that uniforms should not be required in Edison schools.

          Today’s economy is not the best. People strive for money to survive. In times like these, uniforms are not the best choice. Uniforms would add more expenses for a family. This is because parents would have to buy uniforms for school and other clothes for their children when they are not in school. Our township does not even provide financial aid for families who need it. Many parents of our students do not have jobs. Without a job, buying things would become complicated because we would have no money to spend. Students may also outgrow their uniforms. The uniforms may also get dirty or ripped up because kids love to play. This would mean parents would have to buy several pairs of uniforms each year. Some people might say that uniforms do not cost that much. That is not true. When parents buy their children clothes, they wear them to school and out of school.

That is buying one outfit for two places, and it saves a lot of money! With having to buy both uniforms and other clothes, expenses for a family will most definitely increase.

          Making all the students look the same, does not decrease the amount of violence in schools here in Edison. There are many more things that cause violence, other than clothes. In fact, only 10% of the students get bullied because of what they wear. As far as safety is concerned, kids very rarely go to a different school than the one they were assigned to. Most kids do not ditch their own school to go to another. Some people may say that uniforms keep away the risk of strangers. Uniforms do not really do that because these strangers are mostly adults. And there is no law or rule that says that adults who work at schools have to wear uniforms. Uniforms do not decrease violence in schools.

Clothes are one of the most popular ways kids around the world express themselves. Usually, when you see a kid, you can guess their personality by what types of clothes they wear. If they are wearing black, most likely they are the gang type. If they are wearing all cute colors, the person is most likely girly. No one wants to be the same as someone else. Everyone wants to be different. They want to feel extraordinary and unique in their own way. Also, people praise others about what they are wearing. By making students wear uniforms, not only do they a topic to talk about, but they also lose a reason to compliment others. In today’s world cruelty is very popular. Taking away a reason to compliment others, is taking the side of cruelty. People who disagree with me may say that clothes aren’t the only way kids can express themselves. There are other ways, but can you use them all the time? Kids can say they smart or dumb, but only in school or in classes. They can not just go around everywhere saying that they are smart or dumb. Clothes are something students wear everyday all the time. They can describe their qualities. Clothes are the best way to express yourself all the time. 

As you can see, individuality is very important to everyone. It means freedom to most people and uniforms take that away. They cost a lot of money as compared to regular clothes. They also do not decrease violence at schools. Clothes are one way kids express themselves and uniforms do not let them do that. It is evident that requiring mandatory uniforms for the upcoming year is not the right decision for our students. But, it is still not too late to change this decision into the best one.

                                                                                 Sincerely,

                                                                                        Krutika Shah