- Uniforms detract from a child's individuality.
- Students will always find ways to express themselves, leading to less desirable forms of expression such as tattooing and piercing.
- Schools should be a place where diversity is celebrated.
- The cost of uniforms is prohibitive, especially when a family includes more than one school-aged child.
- A child in a uniform may be the target of bullies from a different school.
- Uniforms may lessen the child's comfort level while attending school.
- Enforcing rules about uniforms is difficult.
- Limited Self Expression: The most common argument against school uniforms is that they limit personal expression. Kids and teens use they way they dress to express themselves and to identify with certain social groups. Many students who are against school uniforms argue that they lose their self identity when they lose their right to express themselves through fashion.
- The Initial Cost: Though many argue that in the end, school uniforms are cheaper option to buying a school wardrobe, there is an argument that it is costly to buy several uniforms at once. Also, many school have several uniforms such as everyday uniforms, formal uniforms for special occasions and yet another uniform for P.E. Many parents argue that buying all these uniforms for all their kids every fall is hard on the family budget.
- Comfort Factor: Kids are very specific about what they are comfortable wearing. Some kids are sensitive to certain materials while others are opposed to buttons, zippers and restrictive clothing. Some children are also uncomfortable wearing certain styles of clothing. Many girls, for example, do not like to wear skirts or dresses, which most girls' uniforms require. No uniform can suit all children.
- Requires Some Organization: This one is personal; as a rather unorganized mom, I admit that sometimes it's hard to know exactly what uniform parts need to be washed, dried and ironed the night before. I have spent many a morning scrambling to find a tie or a blazer that was required for an event.
- If It Isn't Broke...: "Why bother?" is possibly the most common argument against school uniforms. Many educators and parents just don't see the point in switching over to uniforms, especially in American public schools where uniforms are still the exception and not the rule.