School uniforms restrict students’ freedom of expression

School uniforms in public schools undermine the promise of a free education by imposing an extra expense on families.
Parents already pay taxes, and they still need to buy regular clothes for their children to wear when they’re out of school and for dress-down days. The Children’s Commission on Poverty (UK) found that over “95% of parents on low incomes reported difficulties in meeting school-related costs,” including uniforms, despite their children attending tuition-free schools. [94] Anderson, IN, parents Laura and Scott Bell their children’s school over its uniform policy, saying the $641 for their children’s uniforms broke the guarantee of a free public education. [10] In York County, PA, a local NBC affiliate reported that some children were missing class because their families couldn’t afford to purchase the required uniforms. [84]
Con 13
School uniforms may delay the transition into adulthood.
Adults make their own clothing choices and have the freedom to express themselves through their appearance. Denying children and teenagers the opportunity to make those choices may make them ill-prepared for the adult world. [76][75] Adolescents see clothing choices as a means of identification, and seeking an identity is one of the critical stages of adolescence, according to the late developmental psychologist Erik Erikson. 

Cons of School Uniforms

From stifling individuality to the extra costs, there are several solid arguments against imposing a school uniform on students.

1. They Stifle Creativity and Individuality

There are many school uniforms pros and cons—one major argument against school uniforms often posed by students in the school uniforms debate is that school uniforms stifle creativity and freedom of expression.
Students may say they have a right to their individual identity and that school uniforms prevent them from expressing who they are. School is a time when students are just working out who they are—it is unfair and unwise to stop students from expressing who they are at this vital stage by stifling their options in their choice of clothing.
This sends a contradictory message to students when, on the one hand, they're taught to be who they are and not pretend to be someone else while they are simultaneously being forced to dress exactly the same and to conform to strict unified standards.

via Wikimedia Commons
Jorge Royan (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0]