Global Breaking News - Wednesday, May 1, 2024

 Some high schools require all students to wear school uniforms. Other high schools permit students to decide what to wear to school. Which of these two school policies do you think is better? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

There is an ongoing debate among students, parents and educators concerning whether or not high schools should require students to wear school uniforms. Both sides offer advantages and disadvantages for each point of view. In my view, schools should require students to wear uniforms because young students can focus on studies rather than fashion, and uniforms lay a base of equality among students in the academic setting.
* ongoing = 진행중인, 계속하는 / educator = 교육자 / concerning = ~에 관하여 / offer = 제공하다 / fashion = 유행, 일시적 풍습 / lay = 놓다, 두다 / equality = 평등, 동등

First of all, school uniforms can prompt young students to concentrate on the purpose of school: academics. In a school, with no required dress, students spend a lot of their time deciding on what to wear, checking out what everyone is wearing and discussing fashion when they should be studying. However, in a school, with a required dress code, students are all wearing the same thing with very little variation. Thus, they do not feel the need to worry about what to wear or what their classmates are wearing. Furthermore, it eliminates in-class discussion over current fashion trends and leaves the students more time and energy to focus on the academics, which is the reason why they are at school in the first place.
* prompt = 촉발하다, 유도하다, ~하게 하다 / concentrate on = 집중하다 / dress code = 복장규정 / variation = 변화, 차이 / classmate = 급우, 반친구 / eliminate = 제거하다 / in-class = 수업 중에 / in the first place = 우선, 첫째로

In addition, uniforms can put students on a more equal standing in the academic atmosphere. First, uniforms make students equal in terms of economic levels. By looking at students in uniforms, we cannot tell which students come from rich families and which students come from poor families. That eliminates jealously over stylish clothes. Second, uniforms can reduce the unequal treatment based on fashion assumptions by teachers. Research shows that teachers often attach higher expectations to students who are better dressed. This unwanted special attention can include the teachers providing more challenges and opportunities for these students. With uniforms, the teachers are better able to make judgments based on ability and performance, not on appearance.
* academic atmosphere = 면학 분위기 / economic level = 경제적 수준 / jealously = 질투하여 (cf, jealousy = 질투, 시기) / unequal treatment = 불공평한 대우 / assumption = 가정, 추정 / expectation = 기대 / unwanted = 바라지 않은, 요구되지 않은 / make judgments = 판단하다, 평가하다 / appearance = 외양

In conclusion, having a uniform requirement in schools eliminates several problems. By wearing uniforms, students will focus their attention on their studies instead of fashion. Besides, school uniforms supply an equal footing for students in that they eliminate judgments and envy based on money, and teachers will mete out equal treatment to students. There is plenty of time after school and on the weekends for students to think about fashion. School is not a place for it.
* requirement = 필요, 요구 조건 / attention = 주의 / equal footing = 동등한 지위, 대등한 관계 / envy = 시샘, 질투