Recently the new head of Cleveland schools has decided to bring down the hammer and phase in uniforms. I know there are always raging debates over this policy, but I've always been pro-uniform for a few reasons:
1. Dressing "casually" is sort of a privilege, and the last thing those violent little bastards and junior crack dealers in Cleveland need are MORE privileges. They need more guidelines and discipline, not yet another reason to steal each others' stuff. You may think I'm making a generalization here but I'm not. Cleveland schools are absolutely HORRIBLE, and I know because my best friend is student teaching there right now. She says the kids spend more time preening than they do actually even bothering to pretend to pay attention. God only knows where they're getting the money for some of the stuff they wear.
2. In the long run it can be cheaper. I suppose it depends on what kind of family you come from, but I know that growing up most kids did new trendy school clothes thing every year, and they are freaking expensive. Buying four uniforms to last all year has GOT to be cheaper than buying several different pairs of Levis, trendy tops, etc. I suppose when you have Goodwill and hand me down families (as mine was) it would be more expensive initially, but you could hand the uniforms down for YEARS because the trends wouldn't change. It would make sense over time. Also, a uniform does not have to be a cataloged issued sweater and skirt set. A uniform can be black or tan slacks and a white button down shirt or sweater. You can find all those things at any store that sells clothing.
3. You know how hard it is to put on clothes that are comfortable, appropriate and even somewhat stylish now as an adult? Do you even remember how hard it was to get dressed when you were in high school and the kids actually noticed and cared? Forget that. I imagine it would cut bathroom hogging teenage dressing time down by at least fifteen minutes every morning.
4. No more of that thong hanging out of the pants look. That's like, so 2001.

Today, while trying to find a blazer at Target, I realized that the school uniform thing has another perk. It's actually good practice for being an adult! Yes! You can argue about how dressing how you'd like is an expression of creativity and blah blah blah all you want, but if you want to be really creative, try looking special in a black pantsuit. Let's see how you can do with THAT. Today I looked at three styles, all pretty much exactly alike, and ranging in price from $10 to $50. There were black blazers everywhere. I had black blazer trauma. And it's not like you can avoid it. At some point in their life, everyone dons a black jacket. Even HOBOS wear black jackets.

At work when we do well we get casual days as a reward, so what do we wear? Women wear heels, boot cut jeans, and a tight little sweater, and men wear collared short sleeved shirts and baggy jeans over sneakers. We're still in uniform---our Ohio "nice" casual uniform.

High schools are no different. You wear your goth/emo/preppy/stoner uniform every day, you shop where your friends shop, and you wear what you see on TV or in magazines. It's still a type of uniform, only you have five or six different types of uniform going around the school as opposed to just one.

That being said, I really don't see what the difference is when the schools impose actual prep-school style uniforms on the kids. It's not like they're dressing all that differently from each other to begin with.

I don't really think every school should use the uniform policy, but I think it's a good start in asserting dominance over a school that's pretty much gone to hell because there's no discipline in place. You have to start somewhere, and it's better than a fear tactic. Maybe after thirty days without a fight the kids can have a casual day or week or something.

I think one of the major reasons I am pro-uniform is also the cost of clothing. Clothing is a huge waste of money, even bigger than buying a car. Unfortunately, in our society you have to dress for success in many careers, and we might as well begin learning how do it in an affordable manner as soon as possible.

While we're on the topic, I also think non-ironed clothes should no longer taboo. Not for any political reason, but simply because I hate to iron. I would actually go out and buy one of those dryers that allows you to dry your clothes hanging on hangers if I had the disposable income. Ironing sucks, and there's always burn potential. I'm a walking disaster, and giving me an iron is just a bad idea.

In the year 2067 we'll all wear science fictioney jumpsuit style outfits, and no one will have to worry about matching their socks to their pants ever again. Hallelujah to that! I mean, I'm sure I'll be dead by then, but at least I'll be a styling corpse.