Critical Thinking Essay: Advocating for School Uniforms in High School

This essay argues in favor of mandatory school uniforms in high schools, asserting that they promote professionalism, equality, and reduce bullying. The author contends that uniforms prepare students for future careers by instilling discipline and a sense of neatness. Economically, uniforms alleviate the financial burden on parents compared to the cost of casual clothing, redirecting funds to educational needs. Uniforms also foster a sense of equality, diminishing socioeconomic disparities and reducing bullying incidents. The essay emphasizes that uniforms cultivate self-discipline, moral standards, and school identity while mitigating peer pressure and preventing fashion-related distractions. Ultimately, the essay concludes that school uniforms encourage a learning-focused environment, free from the challenges of bullying and socioeconomic comparisons, thus advocating for their widespread adoption in high schools.

Running Head: CRITICAL THNINKG
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Critical thinking
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Just how uniforms must be worn in school?
This argumentative motion on New York Times elaborating argues whether the high
students are supposed to be allowed to wear the uniform or not. The thesis proposed is ‘the
students are supposed to be allowed to wear the uniform since it will be able to improve their
level of professionalism, equality in cost and reduced bullying cases in schools’. In my opinion, I
support the fact the uniform should be won in schools without any exception. There are so many
advantages for allowing the school students to wear uniforms than the few disadvantages
encountered. I will give some more illustrative statements that will support the thesis statement.
Most of the schools have adopted the culture of school uniforms. In fact, most of the
schools are supporting the notion that students should wear school uniforms (Boujarwah, 2009).
I think over many years, various public schools have been adopted a school uniform dressing
code. I think every school should establish policies that put these school uniform dressing code
mandatory to all students. These policies should be imposed in school especially for the equality
purpose of all students. Students are expected to be in different professions and careers. Wearing
school uniform is kind of life lesson that will teach them to be always smart and neat. School
uniform makes them appear smart on only physically but also intellectual. By wearing the school
uniform, a sense of self-esteem will develop among the students based on the profession which
they may end up in to.
Wearing school uniforms will be effective especially in reducing the burden of their
parents. Imagine how much it will cost the parents if students wear casual clothes in school. The

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casual clothes are so expensive as compared to the normal school uniform (Schuitema, 2011).
There will be no much cost and burden the students’ guardians and parents simply because the
school is not that expensive as compared to casual clothes. This creates even the low cost in
parents when educating their students especially the money that could be spent in buying so
many expensive casual clothes for the children will be diverted to school fees and other
expenditures. The issue of bullying in schools is reduced mostly by the introduction of the
uniform (Baumann & Krskova, 2016). This is because there is no student who will consider him
or herself more special in dressing than others. This same level of dressing will give no room for
rich students criticize poor students based on their dressing and therefore bullying will be
reduced in that case.
In my opinion, school uniforms are very important to high school students because it
helps to have self-discipline. The fact that students have uniformity in physical appearance while
on school uniform facilitates equality. School uniforms make students follow good moral
standards which enable them to respect one another. School uniforms act as an element of self-
identity for a school. The school is identified by the type of uniform for the students. Actually,
dressing in school uniform teaches students on how to dress smartly which makes them feel
proud of their school. Additionally, school uniforms reduce peer pressure among students
(Yeung, 2009). Dressing in uniform avoids special treatment of some students since they are all
at the same level.
No student can take advantage of their dressing code to molest other students simply
because they are all on a similar dressing style (Dobbie & Fryer Jr, 2011). It is a way of
equalizing school students. Moreover, it helps in preventing the differences among students. In

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my point of view, I think a school uniform helps to hide all fashions of clothes that students
would buy. High school students should wear school uniforms to cut down on resources wastage
and expenses incurred in buying different fashions of cloths (Sammons, 2016). On top of that,
respect and equality is the key factor enhanced through the common dressing. To add to this,
school uniforms will help to drive away lowness among the poor students.
In conclusion, the main reason for students to be in school is to learn as they prepare for
their professional future goals. In connection to this, wearing of school uniforms encourages
professionalism by avoiding problems of bullying among other related challenges. Therefore it
is my suggestion that all high school students should be advised on the importance of being in
school uniforms.

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References
Baumann, C., & Krskova, H. (2016). School discipline, school uniforms and academic
performance. The New York Times, 30(6), 1003-1029.
Boujarwah, F. A. (2009, April). Dress for success: automating the recycling of school uniforms.
The New York Times (pp. 2805-2810). ACM.
Dobbie, W., & Fryer Jr, R. G. (2011). Are high-quality schools uniforms enough to increase
achievement among the poor? Evidence from the Harlem Children's Zone. The New York
Times: Applied Economics, 3(3), 158-87.
Sammons, P. (2016). The impact of leadership on student outcomes: How successful school
leaders use transformational and instructional strategies to make a
difference. Educational Administration Quarterly, 52(2), 221-258.
Schuitema, J. (2011). The quality of student dialogue in citizenship education. The New York
Times, 26(1), 85-107.
Yeung, R. (2009). Are school uniforms a good fit? Results from the ECLS-K and the NELS. The
New York Times, 23(6), 847-874.