The Uniform Debate The question of whether or not uniforms should be worn in schools is a difficult one to answer. There are many pros and cons for each side and that is why it is such a controversial issue. Before conducting any research I was completely against uniforms in public schools. I was against uniforms because I went to a public school and had the privilege of being able to wear whatever I wanted to school every day. I had the feeling that uniforms would make school even more boring and dry than it already is and that people should be able to dress however they want. In a way I still agree with this. On the other hand, after doing some research I began to see how uniforms in public schools can actually be beneficial. The Three Areas of ResearchFrom my experience attending public school, I have observed that many students separate themselves into “cliques.” The different cliques are distinguished by what you wear. Instead of separating different groups based on what they wear, I believe uniforms can create a more accepting environment. Every day approximately 160,000 students miss school for fear of attacks or intimidation by other students. This number is unacceptably high. An article by Kaylen Tucker states: “School leaders surveyed with a school uniform or formal dress code policy in place believe their current policy has had a significant and positive impact on peer pressure (86%) and bullying (64%)" (National Survey). 64% is a huge percentage of students who would no longer be bullied. These are numbers that cannot be ignored and have led me to believe that uniforms can actually reduce public bullying. It is impossible to weigh the pros and cons because people's opinions on each are so different. For example, one person might think that students expressing themselves through the clothes they wear is important, and someone else might say that it doesn't make sense that they can still express themselves outside of school. There are counterarguments to many if not all points. But after conducting research I concluded that uniforms help academics and reduce bullying in schools. On the other hand, it goes against families who cannot afford the high prices that come with introducing uniforms into schools. Students' freedom of expression also comes into play as I believe it is important for students to be able to express themselves. There is no compromise on this issue as to whether students wear uniforms or not. But an economic compromise may be for schools to require cheap uniforms instead of expensive ones or to force students to incorporate the logo on all their shirts. This debate will never end