To Uniform or Not To Uniform, That is the Question.

The school uniform culture is familiar to students in many, if not all, of Thailand’s international schools. There has always been discussion surrounding whether students should be attending school with a strict uniform. Nonetheless, it goes without saying that there are numerous pros and cons on both sides of the argument. 

One claim which often arises in support of school uniforms is that they promote inclusion, and prevent students from being left out. Additionally, some say that if each student were to wear regular clothes to school, this may lead to bullying from students who are quick to judge each other based on their clothing. With the implementation of school uniforms, both parents and students save money and time since they do not have to buy other clothes & choose an outfit every morning (while worrying about possibly repeating an outfit!). Overall, the biggest message from school uniform supporters is that they keep the students focused on their education, not their clothes. This, along with the fact that wearing a uniform enhances school pride, unity and community spirit, accounts for the large majority of students and teachers who would speak in support of uniforms.

On the other hand, many students have been actively involved in taking a stand against school uniforms, claiming that it strips them of their identity and self-expression. Even science supports this – numerous studies have been conducted and one by the Virginia Polytechnic Institute explicitly concluded that school uniforms do not improve attendance, academic preparedness or exam results. It is important to note, however, that regardless of whether a school has school uniforms or not, one constant problem is that of dress codes. A large number of dress code rules discriminate against girls, particularly for things such as skirt length, which is something many female students experience often. Rules like these in the school community encourage young girls to believe that their bodies need to be hidden and that showing more skin than expected is provocative, when in reality their bodies are not objects and never should have been seen as a distraction in the first place. 

As a student attending Shrewsbury International School, one system we have in place is the sixth form dress code. This refers to students in Year 12 and 13 wearing formal attire every day to school. After having been a part of this system for over a year now, the best way I can describe it is the middle ground in the debate on school uniforms. Sixth form students have a generally formal dress code, but are still able to express themselves by choosing what they wear to school. Additionally, this dress code allows them to prepare for the future possibility of working in corporate jobs where formal attire is mandatory. 

Regardless of the numerous opinions and compromises in today’s school environment, there is still no clear answer to this age-old debate. One thing is for certain, though: there will never be a decision that will please everyone. However, school administration should act in favour of students by taking in more student input in order to reach a middle ground.