Classical Argument Position

ENGL 123

Public School-uniform: Decision hanging by a thread

Today’s youth face a different learning environment that was not as prevalent in years past. Peer in on any one of the more than 98,500 schools, and notice the difference. Public schools have morphed into more of a hangout and social hour-type atmosphere, as well as become the new “red carpet” to display the latest fashion trends. That is not all. Reported cases of drug and alcohol use, weapons brought into school, and violence and bullying have drastically increased over the years, and not just in the high schools either, but in all grade levels. As each of these problems take a seat at the head of the class, quality education breaks for recess.
Although the factors attributing to the recent increases in these issues are many, one viable solution to mitigate some of the problems is for all public schools to require their students wear uniforms. Many advocates for this initiative, me included, strongly believe that mandating the wear of uniforms will reduce the alarming numbers for violent behavior and bullying, as well as alleviate any socio-economical barriers that currently exist; therefore, they will become the catalyst which brings the focus back to education within the classroom.
For those parents who oppose the idea of uniforms, and who believe that mandating their child wear a uniform while attending public schools violates the First Amendment and stifles their child’s right to free expression, need to understand that they may have a longer uphill battle to wage than they first realized. While it is true that the U.S. Supreme Court in 1969 ruled in favor of a student’s right to expression in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, in many cases, the courts tend to side with the school board's policies rather than with the student