Uniforms

A uniform is worn by a group of people who belongs to an organization or company. It is a tradition that students wear uniforms to school in Taiwan. Today many high school students debate about whether they should wear uniforms to school or not. Some think it’s unnecessary, others think it’s obsolete, and still others think it does allow student to express their uniqueness and individuality. I support that high school students should be required to wear uniforms. Not only does wearing uniforms give people good images, but it keeps some unnecessary distractions away. Moreover, it is more affordable for parents.
First, wearing uniforms gives people good images. It’s said that ninety-nine percent people judge a person by his clothing and appearance at first sight. Wearing uniforms can show tidiness and discipline of the students. It sets an example of the school and represents the students’ identity and respect to the school. Hence, that’s one of the reason that I refute that wearing cannot represent students’ individuality and uniqueness. At this age, students spend most of time in school with their peers, and it’s just the beginning that they research for self-identity. Accordingly, it is not the right time for them to show their uniqueness. Showing the uniqueness makes them alien to their peers, or this kind of self-expression leads to the formation of cliques in the school environment. In addition, students come from different families. We hope that teachers can treat them equally instead of judging them by appearances and clothing.
Second, uniforms can keep students out of some unnecessary distraction. For instance, wearing uniforms makes students focus on their studies instead of on fashion. Students go to school mainly for studying instead of showing their uniqueness and individuality. I think they can save the time of choosing the fashionable clothes. At this age, students are not old enough to judge whether values toward money are right or not. They maybe blindly follow the latest trend and ignore their studies when they suffer the pressure from their peers. Once students cannot deal with such pressure, they will choose to steal money to buy clothes or to do other illegal things. To make such things simple, unifying students’ clothes may be a good solution.
Third, uniforms are more affordable to parents. Good quality uniforms may be a little expensive can hold up for one to three years. Moreover, it can be worn no matter what weather it is. There is no pressure for poor students who cannot afford nice and famous brand clothes. The chance to be ridiculed by others for the way they dress will be reduced. On the other hand, parents do not have to buy the fashionable but expensive clothes all the time for their children, and children will not ask their parents for fashionable clothes which their peers wear. For parents and students, wearing uniforms is more economical.
In sum, wearing uniforms makes others have good impression. Moreover, it prevents some unnecessary distractions to students. For example, students can concentrate on their studies instead of on fashion. In the other hand, it saves parents money. Given the three reasons, I strongly agree that high school students should be required to wear uniforms.