Mohdazhar 1

Nurul Mohdazhar
CPCC ENG 112 79
Connie Douglas
27th August 2014
Rhetorical Analysis

School Uniforms
In our world nowadays, not all countries allow school uniforms to be worn in their
schools. Some states believe in showing the discipline and manners, but there is no need for the
students to wear the same uniform every single day. Students are more likely to not have their
freedom of expression if they are forced to wear the same outfit with their friends. There are two
opposing opinions to this matter. Mike Kelley, who has been the columnist for The Record of
Bergen Country, New Jersey, for eighteen years, believes that uniforms instill discipline, they
also helps students to focus on their studies and eliminate pressure on parents to outfit their
kids. (Kelley). On the other hand, Kent J. Fretzer, of Salt Lake City, Utah, argues in the Salt
Lake Tribune that, young people should be allowed to choose clothing that is different from the
norm as long as it meets the standards of decency and poses no safety threat. (Fretzer). Both
articles have different opinions and points of arguments whether students should be given
freedom to wear school uniforms or not.
After analyzing both issues, Mike Kelley seems to have a stronger argument. He
mentioned in his article about a boy named Mike De Pinto, who was an eleven years old fifth
grader from Bayonne, New Jersey. He went against courts law after Bayonne Public School
System required him to wear uniforms to school. De Pinto also wore a button representing the

Mohdazhar 2
Hitler Youth, a fighter group of Adolf Hitlers Nazi Party, to protest his schools uniform policy.
From the article, it can be clearly seen that the author used pathos to express his dissatisfaction
towards De Pintos behavior. One of the things that the author mentioned in his article was
What will De Pinto say if he earns a spot on a high school athletic team in a few years? Would
he tell his coach he wants to design his own uniform? (Kelley). The sentence obviously shows
Mike Kelleys frustration on De Pintos act and thought that De Pintos behavior was silly and
unnecessary. The sentence also shows how Mike Kelley used a rhetorical question in order to
make his audience think about the situation logically. In this article, Kelley used De Pinto as an
example to show how school uniforms actually do not stifle freedom of expression, but the
individual himself was the one who made it hard and full of rebellion. One weakness from Mike
Kelleys article would be that he did not mention any opposing argument. He just stated that
some educators today argue whether uniforms can be a useful tool in improving childrens
learning skill.
Nevertheless, there are always two side of a coin. According to the Salt Lake City
Tribune, Kent J. Fretzer, wearing uniforms means schools have abolished students rights of
expression. Fretzer did a good job when he used strong evidence to show how matching clothes
do not ensure discipline. In addition to that, he mentioned his opposition by starting his sentence
with; Dont be too sure about that last one. He also questioned his audience if matching duds
guaranteed better-behave people, no soldier would ever go absent without leave, and no prisoner
would ever get into a fight (J. Fretzer). He also used an allusion when he said that he referred to
House Bill 5, sponsored by Rep. Karen W. Morgan, D-Cottonwood Heights, which disallows
parents ability to opt out of mandatory wearing of school uniforms by their children (Fretzer).
This shows that there are parents that do not support the rules of wearing school uniforms to

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school. The strength in Fretzers article was when he instilled reasoning in his sentence in order
to let the audience know why he believed that schools uniforms stifle freedom of expression. The
closest example was when he said I know lawmakers' concern was protecting our children
against the deleterious influence of gangs; but as I would not want my children imposed upon by
these pernicious elements, or even unduly influenced by the peer pressure of fashion and fad, so
also I would guard them from the tyranny of bureaucracy. (Fretzer). The author does not seem to
have weaknesses in his article, but he could have come up with more examples of what is
happening in our society today.
In conclusion, the most effective author would be Kent J. Fretzer, who believes that
school uniforms stifle the students right of freedom to express themselves, because his
arguments are stronger and wiser. He also used lots of reasoning after addressing every problem.
This author has successfully appealed to his audience by relating his ideas to peoples lives.
Fretzer believes that A nation that does not guard against small encroachment on its liberty is
not likely to retain them. (Fretzer). On the other hand, Mike Kelley did not reveal any issues
about our culture in America.

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Works Cite
Fetzer, Kent J. "School Uniforms Stifle Freedom of Expression." School Policies. Ed. Jamuna
Carroll. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Erosion of
Freedom." Salt Lake Tribune 18 Apr. 2002: F2. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 25
Aug. 2014.
Kelly, Mike. "School Uniforms Do Not Stifle Freedom of Expression." School Policies. Ed.
Jamuna Carroll. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from
"Squabbling Over School Uniforms." Record 10 Dec. 2006: O01. Opposing Viewpoints
in Context. Web. 25 Aug. 2014.