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School Uniforms Shouldn't Be Required

I thank 9spaceking for iniating this debate. I apologize for cutting it so closely. I should remind 9spaceking that the Burden of Proof is on him, as he is the Proposition and the person affirming the motion. As the Latin law goes: "Onus probandi incumbet ei qui diceit non ei qui negat". I shall therefore spend my time rebutting 9spaceking's arguments. 1. The first argument that 9spaceking gives is that school uniforms have a negative affect on the future of a child because later on, as adults, people have to make choices about clothing. I should strongly disagree, unless you end up homeless, which goes against the purpose of a school, you should have a job. Most jobs have fixed clothing requirements which are formal and often represent the kind of clothes you wear to school. If you ever look at bankers, teachers, and many officials they were, almost, the same type of clothes. The Uniform prepares them for this, it instills in them the thought that although they have freedom, all about their life they will have to conform to certain dresses. 2. I should mention that 9spaceking thinks from a very American perspective, while this may not be wrong, one has to understand that no where was our motion limited to America. Most of his arguments fall then and there. I should also mention now that his second argument is that it suppresses individuality. As the below article will show this is not true. Even with uniforms students find a way to become individuals. They can wear different accessories and hairstyles, also how very objectivistic of my opponent to state that only them. School Uniforms do nothing against personality which is the key to becoming individuals, these personalities are important. [1]http://www.theguardian.com... 3. If my opponent is going to state that Uniforms have a negative effect on the psychology of the youth then he must present evidence from different psychological journals or show this from logic, so long as he cannot do this, his argument does not stand. In truth uniforms do not make students robot like, I believe we are over exaggerating this. If we examine numerous people in school then we can easily deduce that they still have their personalities, with better attendance if I may add. It is no exaggeration that every year 160,000 students miss school because they either do not have good clothes to wear or are afraid of being bullied for what they wear. This may sound rather casual but when was the last time one of us went to a uniform enforced school and did not see children laughing, I go to such a school and I testify that what my opponent says is ridiculous. My opponent has already admitted that it does bring unity which is a major role, he contradicts this with his next argument. [2]http://www.theguardian.com... 4. Your link leads to nothing. Other than that the above sources show how students who wear uniform have much better attendance, this should lead directly to better grades as more schooling time means more learning time. Unless of course my opponent is insinuating that school uniforms harm the memory, something for which he has provided no evidence. His second part of this argument is an appeal to authority, this aside let us not forget that Einstein himself had to wear school uniforms. Lastly even in his old age Einstein used to wear the same sort of formal dress, this is because that was his unofficial uniform which he had to adhere to. The military uses uniforms because it increases discipline, bring forth unity and actually creates a pride within the wearers of their organization. 5. My opponent, it seems did not read his own source, while normal clothes cost an average of 72$ per month, by his own statement, school uniform (according to his source) costs 156 and 140$ per year. This means that at one point students only have to spend 160$ or so and at another you spend 864$$ per year. I believe the point is quite clearly made here. 6. You need to realize this is one way to curb bullying as I already showed this would affect, at the very least 160,000 children which is a major enough number, seeing as it is only for America. In third world countries like Pakistan often students buy cheap school uniforms are wear those everyday instead of having to buy different clothes which are pricy. This does curb bullying, yes bullies may find other ways but they will have one way less, and that is enough, considering how is builds discipline, and prepares one for the future, to keep school uniforms. The resolution is defeated. Onto you Pro, Ajab