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Should school uniforms be mandatory? Show more Show less

School Uniforms are a mainstay of education in many parts of the world. The uniform can have a bit impact on the school experience, which makes us consider if they should they be mandatory.

No, they should not be mandatory Show more Show less

School uniforms should not be forced on students.
<< Previous (2 of 2 Positions)

A violation of students freedom of expression

School uniforms restrict students' basic right to freedom of expression.

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Most Western democracies were founded on values of freedom of expression and freedom of speech for all citizens. These are inalienable rights granted from birth.

The Argument

We are not allowed to force another citizen into conformity by dictating what they can or cannot wear, how they must wear their hair, or what jewellery they may or may not want to wear. Freedom of expression is enshrined in many countries constitutions. Clothes are an important vehicle through which we express ourselves, from wearing a rainbow-coloured T-shirt during gay pride, to wearing a pink T-shirt in support of breast cancer. Mandatory school uniforms are a clear violation of a citizen's freedom of expression.[1]

Counter arguments

Clothing is not a student's sole creative and expressive outlet. By taking clothing out of the equation, it actually encourages them to express themselves in other ways such as art, music, literature, or sports. It helps students learn that they are more than just their appearance and the clothes or brands they wear and reduces their reliance on their appearance as their sole form of personal expression.[2] Even in schools with mandatory school uniforms, students are still able to add their own accessories and express themselves through their appearance in that way. It does not limit the child's expressive freedoms in any way.[3] Also, in the workplace, an employee is expected to wear clothes which comply with the company's dress code. If this is permissible under freedom of expression rights, why would school uniforms be a violation of these rights?


[P1] Freedom of expression is an inalienable right granted at birth. [P2] Mandatory school uniforms restrict freedom of expression. [P3] School uniforms should not be mandatory.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] School uniforms do not restrict freedom of expression.




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This page was last edited on Tuesday, 12 Feb 2019 at 15:34 UTC