Jackson High School senior believes school uniforms should be a mandatory requirement

Recently, as I strolled down the hallway at Jackson High School, I noticed a girl walking past me wearing a skimpy skirt, high heels and a low-cut sleeveless shirt.

I wondered if she would be called down to the principal's office for inappropriate attire, or if she would get away with what she was wearing?

Why would someone wear such an outfit to school?

I believe a majority of teens want to wear the "right" clothes to fit in and feel accepted by others. It seems teens tend to view their peers from the outside, rather than the inside.

To solve this problem, all students should be required to wear uniforms in public and parochial schools.

Students went on and off the track field in this Southeast Missourian file photo during the first day of school at Central Junior High School in Cape Girardeau, where uniforms are not required. (Diane L. Wilson)

Requiring students to wear uniforms would increase school safety, school uniformity and equality among students. It would also reduce problems with dress code violations.

In today's fashion industry, it seems major clothing companies such as American Eagle Outfitters, Abercrombie and Fitch, Hollister and Wet Seal produce clothes that do not meet dress code requirements. The stores are filled with mini skirts, low-cut blouses, spaghetti strap shirts and apparel with references to alcohol. If these clothes can't be worn to school, where can you wear them?

Even though these clothes are banned at school, it seems as if students try to get away with wearing them. In some cases, principals have required a student leave school and change clothes because of inappropriate attire.

"It should not have to be the job of school officials to direct students what to wear," said Fredericktown High School principal Kent Gibbs. "Unfortunately, we have to sometimes intervene when inappropriate attire is worn to school by a student."

If uniforms are required, school officials would not have to act as clothing policemen.

Kalli Gibbs

According to the U.S. Department of Education, three percent of all public schools required uniforms in 1997. By 2000, the number of schools requiring uniforms reached 12 percent.

Requiring uniforms will produce an increase of security in and around the school. An intruder in the school would stick out among students in uniforms. If uniforms were required, students would no longer be able to wear baggy clothing -- a perfect hiding spot for dangerous weapons.

In 1994, a public high school in Long Beach, Calif., mandated every student wear a uniform. A year after the initial requirement, the district stated, "school fights and mugging went down 50 percent."

Uniforms will also create equality and uniformity among students and the school as a whole. Schools across the nation are filled with cliques, and for the most part, cliques are usually based on the appearance of the student. Students in uniforms will more easily associate with each other, knowing they are not going to be judged by what they look like on the outside.

Uniforms abolish the contest of who's wearing name-brand clothes. Students with economic disadvantages will be less noticeable.

Feeling accepted is extremely important in a teen's life. Clothing can sometimes get in the way of teens being accepted by their peers. Not all students can afford name-brand clothing.

The lack of individuality may be the biggest concern of those who oppose school uniforms. Students can still express themselves by wearing appropriate jewelry or other types of accessories.

Even though some may oppose it, mandatory use of school uniforms can help transform a school into a safe and unified environment.

Kalli Gibbs is an 18-year-old senior at Jackson High School. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, shopping, talking on the phone, walking her dog Sophie and the outdoors.