DARING STANCES Guarded as One HERMIONE CAITOR

Our society is steadily but surely finding its feet in the midst of an unprecedented worldwide pandemic. But another level of complexity has been added by the resurrection of an ancient argument in the Philippines regarding school uniforms.

As schools resume on-site learning after two years of hiatus, the question of implementing a nouniform policy stirs up nationwide debates. Will this policy really alleviate economic pressures, or does it simply overlook our tradition?

Are we sacrificing students’ safety and sense of professionalism in the pursuit of financial relief?

The uniform policy has long been hailed as a pillar of order and discipline within the school environment. School-reported statistics suggest that the imposition of uniforms on campuses has cut down on tardiness, skipped classes, and disciplinary referrals among students. A study in the California School District even indicated a drastic reduction in fights, muggings, and sexual offenses within a year of implementing uniforms. Moreover, uniforms are reported to reduce bullying by 30–50%, as they remove a significant cause for division and ridicule: personal clothing.

Furthermore, a surprising preference for uniforms has been observed among the ERODians. The majority feel that uniforms eliminate the pressure to keep up with the latest fashion trends, enabling them to concentrate more on their academics.

From my standpoint, the no-uniform policy