One of parents' key arguments against the introduction of uniforms in public schools is that it is a violation of their children's constitutional right to freedom of expression. Based on this premise, many parents have expressed concern that school uniforms are a contradiction to what they consider to be part of the education system's role of fostering the development of and appreciation for individuality and that introducing uniforms will instead promote conformity among students.
Many parents argue that the introduction of school uniforms are an unnecessary expense. Parents of the many public school students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds also argue that the cost of purchasing school uniforms will place them under even further financial hardship. Some parents have even gone as far as to argue that the cost that they will have to incur should uniforms become mandatory violates their children's guarantee of receiving a free public education.
The naysayers argue that there is no evidence that uniforms positively affect student behavior and that issues relating to school security, behavioral issues and academic performance would be better solved by other means. Many see cliques and gangs as an inevitable part of school life that cannot be overcome by introducing school uniforms. Parents have also expressed concerns that wearing uniforms may prevent students from learning how to appreciate diversity and get along with people having different tastes from themselves.
Parents against uniforms essentially base their position on what they consider to be the primary role of schools, namely, to educate their kids rather than dictating or policing what they are wearing. The anti-uniform camp asserts that providing children with direction on how they dress should remain in the domain of parenting rather than the education system and see the imposition of school uniforms as an exertion of power over their children by an inappropriate authority.