Let’s talk about our school’s uniform. I have heard that having a uniform helps prevent gangs from forming on campus, encourages discipline, and improves test scores because students are more focused. On the contrary, three selective enrollment schools in Chicago, Jones, Northside, and Whitney Young, do not claim to have a uniform policy- although it must be understood that certain articles of clothing are not appropriate there. These schools do hold a high academic standing across the city which  may be viewed as contradicting the idea that uniforms heavily contribute to students’ performance in the classroom. This is a complex issue though.

There are two sides to this debate. As a student who has worn a uniform since kindergarten, I have early memories of not liking being told how to dress.. Though, as I got older, I understood the positive side to it. For example, sometimes I would be running late and other times I simply did not want to take time out of my day to pick an outfit. But, on the other hand, I appreciate self-expression and feel that wearing a strict uniform suppresses that.

It is fair to consider if non-dress code schools manage to do well in terms of academics- which they may oftentimes do. It is also fair to consider if schools that impose uniforms have students who are academically a lower standard. We also probably know students at both types of schools who have good grades and bad grades. The issue is the ability to express our personal style, and it must be worth asking why some schools have a greater allowance for that.  

No matter what, the debate will continue forth. There will always be people who prefer one choice over the other, just like so much in life. For now, we just need to continue the conversation and, I guess, love our uniforms until we graduate. Wait, do they have uniforms in college or the “real world”?

-Aixa Hernandez