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Should school uniforms be mandatory? Should school uniforms be mandatory?
Yes, school uniforms should be mandatory. Yes, school uniforms should be mandatory.
No, they should not be mandatory No, they should not be mandatory
School uniforms make classrooms safer School uniforms make classrooms safer
School uniforms help avoid distraction. School uniforms help avoid distraction.
School uniforms create classroom equality School uniforms create classroom equality
School uniforms save time School uniforms save time
School uniforms save money School uniforms save money
School uniforms establish a hierarchy School uniforms establish a hierarchy
School uniforms are a violation of students freedom of expression School uniforms are a violation of students freedom of expression
School uniforms negatively affect students' self-image School uniforms negatively affect students' self-image
School uniforms don't prepare children for adulthood School uniforms don't prepare children for adulthood
Students don't like school uniforms Students don't like school uniforms
School uniforms are a financial burden on families School uniforms are a financial burden on families
School Uniforms are impractical School Uniforms are impractical
School uniform policies violate religious freedoms School uniform policies violate religious freedoms
Uniforms are a weapon deployed to suppress the poor Uniforms are a weapon deployed to suppress the poor
Schools should promote democratic values Schools should promote democratic values
School uniforms are unfair for students School uniforms are unfair for students
Debate Mini Map

Should school uniforms be mandatory?
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Yes, school uniforms should be mandatory.

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School uniforms save money

School uniforms reduce the financial burden on students' parents, eliminate the need to keep up with the latest seasonal fashion trends, and therefore are cost effective.
Bronagh Hammond
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Context

School uniforms eliminate the need to keep up with fashion. Expensive clothing fads come and go, especially for students. All students wearing the same uniform all year round saves money.

The Argument

When students are permitted to wear what they want to school, they become subject to the latest fashion trends. Parents are forced to keep up with these trends and buy their children the latest clothes or risk having their child get teased for looking outdated or uncool. In this respect, school uniforms save parents money. Instead of having to buy new clothes with each incoming trend, parents only have to replace the school uniform when their child physically grows out of the clothes or they become ripped or damaged beyond repair. Over the course of a child's school life, this saves the parent a large sum of money. School uniforms are also cheaper than normal street clothes. A UK study found that the average school uniform costs parents £88.05. The average non-school outfit, on the other hand, sets parents back £113.00. [1]

Counter arguments

How can anyone argue that forcing parents to spend money on a set of clothes the child can only wear at school is cost-effective? While uniforms may be cheaper than non-uniform outfits, they are also an entirely unnecessary and additional expense. Families don't buy uniforms instead of street clothes (because the child needs something to wear when it is isn't at school), they buy them as well as street clothes. In this respect, no matter how cheap uniforms are, they are still an additional expense. Not only that people that suffer from poverty might not be able to afford multiple uniforms. Why multiple? You can't be having one and keep washing it waiting for it to dry before the next day. The Guardian reported that 95% of parents from low-income families had difficulty meeting school-related cost. The additional expense of uniforms was a huge component of these school-related costs.[2]

Proponents

Premises

[P1] School uniforms are cheaper than street clothes. [P2] School uniforms mean parents don't have to keep up with fashion trends. [P3] In the interest of money, school uniforms should be mandatory.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P3] School uniforms are an additional expense.

References

  1. https://school-uniforms.procon.org/
  2. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/oct/29/hidden-costs-of-state-schools-causing-hardship-for-millions-says-report
This page was last edited on Tuesday, 16 Feb 2021 at 10:42 UTC

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