One of the main reasons why I don’t think we should have school uniforms is because students want to be able to express themselves. Middle school students and individuals who want to stand out can do that through what they wear.

Another reason I think students shouldn’t wear uniforms is because I think they should not be forced to wear the same thing every day.

When schools make students wear the same thing as everyone else, students can’t be themselves and express themselves. Teachers say the way students express themselves may not be appropriate for school or may distract others and keep students from learning, but let’s be honest: if someone wears something that isn’t allowed under the dress code, I don’t think it distracts other students from learning.

I think it’s unfair when some schools in the Rowan-Salisbury Schools district don’t have to wear uniforms.

Erwin Middle School students don’t have to wear uniforms anymore. I interviewed my friend Audrey who goes to Erwin, and she told me, “So, when I was wearing uniforms, I felt as if I was being put in a box every day, not to mention how uncomfortable they were. One of the reasons that we had uniforms in the first place was as a bullying deterrent. That doesn’t actually work. Now that I don’t have uniforms, I feel as if I’m being pulled out of that box and able to express my creativity and who I am.”

We don’t need uniforms because, without them, students can express themselves. Plus, if some of the schools in Rowan County get rid of uniforms, we should just get rid of them as a whole.

— Jordan Wilhite

Rockwell