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The School Uniform Question
Most people believe in the right to express their own
Individualism is a fundamental part of society in many countries.
opinion without fear
place-the public school classroom. The issue is school uniforms. Should
public school students be allowed to make individual decisions about
of punishment. This value, however, is coming under fire in an unlikely
clothing, or should all students be required to wear a uniform? School
uniforms are the better choice for three reasons.
lives simpler. They would no longer have to decide what to wear every
First, wearing school uniforms would help make students'
Uniforms would not only save time but also would eliminate the stress
morning, sometimes trying on outfit after outfit in an effort to choose.
often associated with this chore.
Second, school uniforms influence students to act
responsibly
in groups and as individuals. Uniforms give students the message that
school is a special place for learning. In addition, uniforms create a feeling
of unity among students. For example, when students do something as
a group, such as attend meetings in the auditorium or eat lunch in the
cafeteria, the fact that they all wear the same uniform gives them a sense
of community. Even more important, statistics show the positive effects
that school uniforms have on violence and truancy. According to a recent
survey in a large school district in Florida, incidents of school violence
dropped by 50 percent, attendance and test scores improved, and student
suspensions declined approximately 30 percent after school uniforms
were introduced.
Finally, school uniforms would help make all the students feel
equal. Students' standards of living differ greatly from family to family,
and some people are well-off while others are not. People sometimes
forget that school is a place to get an education, not to promote a "fashion
show." Implementing mandatory school uniforms would make all
the students look the same regardless of their financial status. School
uniforms would promote pride and help to raise the self-esteem of
students who cannot afford to wear expensive clothing.
Opponents of mandatory uniforms say that students who wear
school uniforms cannot express their individuality. This point has some
merit on the surface. However, as stated previously, school is a place to
learn, not to flaunt wealth and fashion. Society must decide if individual
expression through clothing is more valuable than improved educational
performance. It is important to remember that school uniforms would be
worn only during school hours. Students can express their individuality
in the way that they dress outside of the classroom.
In conclusion, there are many well-documented benefits of
implementing mandatory school uniforms for students. Studies show that
students learn better and act more responsibly when they wear uniforms.
Public schools should require uniforms in order to benefit both the
students and society as a whole.
The topic of this essay is school uniforms.what is the hook in the first paragraph