Picture this: Someone wakes up in the morning and realizes they forgot to do laundry leaving them with no clean uniform. They decide to go with a black shirt they find in their closet and come to school. Little do they know there will be a uniform sweep and they will find themselves sitting in CSI, missing valuable class time.

In many cases this is the reason why students don’t wear their uniform: it’s easier to put on whatever is already in your closet than having to go out and buy more clothes. “There is no sense of expression,” said 10^th grader Britnay Murillo. “Everyone looks the same.”

Some like it, some don’t

Like many other schools, Miami Senior High has a uniform policy, and with such a limited variety of options to wear, some students have taken to not following the rules and wearing whatever they want.

“I love to be able to wear what I want, and not having to waste money on specific clothes,” said Alejandro Laurencio, a 12^th grader.

On the other hand, some students do like the policy and come to school dressed properly. “There are a lot of options for uniform so I see no point in not wearing it,” said 11^th grader Nicole Morgan.

Senior William Cordova added, “We’re kind of limited on what we can wear, but there are some options like jeans and shoes.”

What is the policy?

Miami High’s uniform policy is simple, school colored polos and pants, but this doesn’t leave much room for expression, according to some students. 9^th grader Michael Albert said the school should change the policy. “We should give students more freedom to wear what they want,” he said.

The school already has a variety of class and club shirts students can buy, but allowing students to design their own uniform was an option SPED Counselor Dr. Philips offered. For instance, when rap artist Drake came to Miami High to film his music video “God’s Plan”, he designed special polos referencing his music.

Some students reject the idea that school uniforms keep students safe. For example,10^th grader Britnay Murillo suggested there shouldn’t be a uniform policy as all students are required to wear an ID. She said that if everyone can be identified by that card, then there isn’t a need for uniform. If anyone did want to cause the school harm, all they would have to do is buy a uniform and blend in, without an ID card they are just someone wearing a polo.

Being Out of Uniform

Everyone has the reasons for breaking the rules; it’s in our human nature to not do what someone says. 12th grader Rosana Josepha hates wearing polos because they’re uncomfortable but she still comes to school wearing uniform every day. On the other hand, Vladimir Somarriba, an 11th grader, said, “I choose not to be in uniform because as a teenager it’s the drive of breaking rules,”

Fashion Sense

   Teachers and administrators tend to view uniforms more positively. English teacher Mr. Zamora said in theory uniforms should be an equalizer for students and protect them from danger.

She also recognizes that students have other ways to show their fashion sense. “Now there are tags on bookbags to let people know they are authentic, and expensive shoes that students can wear to show off brands,” she said.

Most Public Schools Don’t Require Uniforms

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in the school year that ended in 2016, 21.5% of U.S. public schools required students to wear uniforms. That’s up from 13.8% in 2006.

Source: https://qz.com/quartzy/1382336/school-uniforms-are-rapidly-on-the-rise-at-us-public-schools/