In the contemporary era, the regulation regarding the student’s uniform has become debatable. Some people believe this rule can hinder the children’s right to express their personality freely through their chosen style. Although it seems reasonable, I believe the uniform policy has long-term benefits which will be discussed further.
The prominence against this regulation because they argue that it prohibits students from demonstrating their true self by choosing the outfit whatever they want. In Indonesia, for instance, high schoolers sometimes complain about the reason why they have to wear uniforms instead of using the clothes that match with their style. They believe that uniforms will not impact their performance in school. Moreover, they tend to compare with the western culture that most of the students do not wear any uniforms, while they show higher school achievement than the Indonesian student. However, I firmly believe that it should not be seen that way. This policy will have broader impacts than just the student’s performance.
By forcing students to wear the same uniforms, it will reduce the school bullying tendency that is caused by the discrimination of the outgroups who do not use a certain type of clothes that match with social expectation. This will be paramount for developed countries that have huge economic inequality. Indonesia can be an example for this case which has a regulation for public schools across the nation to use the same uniforms based on the school level. This policy effectively reduces discrimination and gives a sense of the equal opportunities to have an education regardless of their social economic status. Furthermore, it also bolsters the self-esteem for those who come from low socioeconomic status to get the same education quality as the high-status one.
To conclude, while this rule might inhibit the student from expressing themselves, this kind of regulation is important to school violence and discrimination prevention which will be beneficial for children’s development in the long-run.