Based on the question above, I would agree to that.
Before we venture even further into this matter, let's take a big step back in time, back in the 1920s and 1930s, where our ancestors wore white uniform and olive green-colored long pants while the females wore blue skirts and white T-shirts. Today, students' school uniforms are very much the same as the uniforms 80 years ago. Only a few sets of new 'stylish' school uniforms are introduced by private schools and colleges. Still, it makes quite a difference to the society.
Let's switch the spotlight to the clothes students wear in other countries. Many foreign people are very open-minded and they can accept more things than we Malaysians can. Even schools are included. Clothes especially, they are not finicky about them. Students and teachers are free to wear many types of clothes and there are not many hard and fast rules about it. Many types of clothes are allowed: singlets, T-shirts without collars, short pants, jeans and the list can go on and on. However, at the other side of the puzzle, schools in some countries, including ours had hard and fast regulations for clothes. School managements in certain countries are very fastidious and particular with students' uniforms. For example, students are not allowed to wear anything else except their school uniforms. If any student was found against that rule, strict actions and heavy punishments will be taken. While I recall these vivid moments when I am Form One, there was a rule that allows prefects to fine anyone that wore so called "illegal" clothes. I couldn't blame these prefects because they are just following the rules, only the rules are to be blamed. They seemed to be blame-proof as most of the people paid no serious attention towards this matter.
Instead of calling students' choice illegal, what would happen if we labeled them beneficial? I think we would be shocked by how great the impact of that action to students around the globe. Everyday we read newspapers and everyday we see the net of poverty everywhere. Students' parents may also be slums. Their financial problems alone are already gruesome enough, if necessary school uniforms still demand large amounts of money, it will be like sprinkling salt on their wounds. Nevertheless school uniforms cost an arm and a leg and parent have to pay through their noses in order to prevent their sons and daughters from being punished. To those people that have no financial problems, buying expensive school uniforms is not a very big problem. On the contrary, it is to the parents that have financial problems on their backs. The alleviate the problem, school managements should emend the school rules and regulations. Students' choice clothes should be made legal, so that students' parents do not need to pay the earth for pricey school uniforms.
Before the problem can be solved, students still need to wear those irritating school uniforms. As I am a Malaysian student, I knew how other students actually felt when they are wearing their school uniforms. Most students feel hot and stifle with their uniforms on because most of them are made from cotton or nylon.. Cotton-made school uniforms absorb beads of perspiration but it traps heat inside it while nylon-made uniforms frees heat but have low absorption of sweat. None of them provides students with comfort. However, choice clothes are able to provide comfort at the other hand. Choice clothes like singlets, T-shirts without collars and short pants may be a powerful anti-discomfort kick. Specific types of choice clothes are both good heat radiators and sweat absorbers. So, should we abolish the "must" for school uniforms?
Ask any student in any school about their opinion towards school uniforms and chances are, four out of five will answer dull. Simple reason. School uniforms has limited colors: olive green, white, grey, black, blue and the list of dull colors can go on and on. Some teachers may also grow fed-up with the monotonous colors on students and it may effect their teaching mood indirectly. Imagine sitting in a sea of dull colors, no doubt that our emotion will change from jubilant to dreary. Do we want a change in colors? Some may agree with that. If students choice clothes are approved, students may wear something brighter and more lively colored clothes. There will be a definite change in the atmosphere. An atmosphere of fun and joy. Compare that atmosphere we have today and we might be shocked by the difference. Students and teachers will walk to school with renewed confidence and joy. According to the investigation that had taken part recently, it has been scientifically proven that bright colors like yellow and red can enhance students' concentration in studies and improve students' mood. How true it is.
In my opinion, choice clothes do bring more advantages, rather than its disadvantages. Although many years has passed, but this tradition of wearing school uniforms still exist in our modern society. Its time to think positive and label students' choice clothes as a beneficial agent. Let this tradition fade through time and maybe we could help students.
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