Case for School Uniforms - Essay Example

The essay "Case for School Uniforms" focuses upon Alicia Thomas' view on this problem. She in the editorial The Case against School Uniforms, resorts to the best of her ingenuity to denounce school uniforms, though it is different that the arguments asserted by her against school uniform norms tend to be short sighted, flimsy and unconvincing. Alicia harangues on the economic consequences of introducing school uniforms by declaring that “the uniforms don’t seem quite so affordable (Thomas, 2009).

” As per Alicia’s logic, school uniforms amount to an added financial burden on an average middle-class family and many families find it really costly to purchase uniforms for their progeny. Even a cursory online analysis of the price catalogs of some of the famous economy stores will amply testify to the fact that school uniforms are not that dearer as Alicia deems them to be. Besides, in the long run, making children wear uniforms to school turns out to be cheaper than helping them afford an assorted wardrobe catering to their school dressing needs and requirements (Walmsley, 2011).

School uniforms relieve the parents and the students of tons of financial pressure and burden with everyone knowing that they have to wear the same clothes to school every day (Walmsley, 2011). Her logic is that students who are thin or husky may not be able to choose clothes that tone down their bodily aberrations and hence may suffer from guilt or many types of complexes. The fact is that this argument put forward by Alicia is facile and immature. Everybody knows that in the real world nobody is perfect and that most of the people do tend to have the so called physical, mental or social limitations.

As per the authentic American ethos, personality is something much more than mere looks and appearances. Yes, it may be difficult for a school going kid the grasp the depth of this truth. That is why the true function of any worthwhile academic institution is to facilitate an encouraging and accepting emotional and social environment which may help the students get over their limitations to forge a true and solid personality (Walmsley, 2011). School uniforms directly bolster this objective. They imbue the students, both the good looking and the average, with a sense of belonging and an attitude of responsibility towards the school culture and values, thereby helping them get over the shallow social discriminations to develop a strong and stable personality.

Alicia not only limits herself to economic and aesthetic issues while lambasting school uniforms, but goes a step further by claiming that schools uniforms douse the creative spark in the American students and curtail their ability to express themselves (Thomas, 2009). Not to say that Alicia’s definition of self expression and creativity is so limiting and anti-social. Yes, clothes do have some connection with self expression. But, students do not spend their entire life in schools, and in their social life they do get ample chance to express themselves by wearing the clothes of their choice.

The fact is that school uniforms inculcate a sense of social responsibility in the students and stimulate and help them to express themse