By Annabelle Ward (Y8)
There have been many suggestions for the school to start making uniforms, but it hasn’t sat right with everyone. Of course, putting on the same outfit every day can get boring, and I totally agree, but at the same time there are multiple pros to putting them in place. Let’s review them.
Pros:
- Discrimination: Wearing uniforms could prevent bullying. There have been a lot of cases of discrimination on campus – due to physical appearance. Having a uniform would prevent this issue. This also means that all students will look and feel equal.
- Timing: I’m pretty sure most of us spend lots of time in the morning deciding what we are going to wear, and I think we have all heard the same speech from our parents: “IF YOU’RE NOT READY AND DOWNSTAIRS IN THE NEXT 30 SECONDS YOU CAN WALK” and that can be really stressful, especially first thing in the morning, so knowing in advance what you’re going to wear can save you a lot of time.
- Discipline: School uniforms would help students with their discipline as it sets them up to follow basic rules. It can also bring attention away from appearance and towards academic learning opportunities. How many of us have just gone to the bathroom to fix our hair or clothes? I think a solid fifty percent of us are just related to that!!
But let’s move on to the cons
Cons:
- Expressing ourselves: Our clothes and appearance say a lot about who we are. Even if we don’t realize it, they often reflect our culture, background, and the people we care about. School uniforms can take away this subtle part of ourselves that we didn’t even know we needed.
- Resistance: Uniforms are meant to create order, but they can sometimes have the opposite effect. When students feel that their individuality is being restricted, some may rebel in small or big ways in order to express themselves. Clothes are one of the easiest ways to show personality, and taking that away can lead to frustration, resistance, and even a stronger desire to stand out.
- Financial issues: Uniforms can be expensive, and families may have to spend a lot of money buying multiple sets for their children. This cost can add up, especially if the school requires specific brands or seasonal changes. For some families, it becomes an extra financial burden that isn’t always necessary, since children could wear regular clothes they already own.
What Would they Look Like?
I have asked ChatGPT to create a prototype of what the uniform could potentially look like. This is what it came up with:.
| For male uniforms: | For female uniforms: |
(Credit: ChatGPT)
So what do you think of these uniforms? Yes, it might be a little outside of people’s comfort zone, but some debate that this (unfamiliarity) could be positive.
Do you think that La Chat should consider having school uniforms or is it absolutely absurd?!