Fashion
Equality or Expression?
Here at Pittsburg Senior High School, there is an ongoing debate about the school dress code. Many administrators argue that a school uniform should be enforced. They argue that due to the size of the school and the number of people in our district, we see a variety of different students with different backgrounds and income levels. Some administrators say that clothing can be a stress for students in high school, the fear of not fitting in and being self-conscious of what they wear constantly can affect the students’ Mental Health; therefore, uniforms would be the easiest and most effective way to eliminate this stress for students.
The district argues that in order to eliminate any type of bullying or jokes about people’s living situations, students should wear uniforms. They argue that uniforms automatically make everybody equal and create a more inviting and safe learning environment. While some students may agree, the majority of Pitt students disagree with this argument about uniforms. Many students at Pittsburg Senior High School love that they can express themselves through their fashion style every day. The students who disagree with uniform enforcement state that, “ to create a safe learning environment, students need to feel comfortable. Students argue that they would be more comfortable wearing their own clothes rather than a uniform”. Students also say that, looking at it from an economic standpoint, uniforms can be far more expensive than just wearing their everyday clothes. They argue that uniforms would be an extra expense that families would have to spend on at the beginning of each school year, and although the district may provide some free uniforms, they cannot provide nearly enough uniforms for over 3,000 students every single school year.
In conclusion, opinions on uniforms widely vary. There are some pros to uniforms. Many students believe that the cons of uniforms outweigh the pros. When it comes down to the economic ability of each family and the comfort of the students, students argue that wearing their own personal clothes is just overall a better option. On top of that, having 3,000 students in one school creates lots of diversity, different cultures, values, traditions, and styles. Not having uniforms really lets each student embrace who they are and show their authentic selves.
