One serious problem that school uniforms address is the difference between students from wealthy homes and students from poorer homes. Students from wealthy homes come to school dressed in expensive designer clothing whereas students from poorer homes attend school dressed in cheaper clothes. This can make students, especially middle-school aged students, extremely self-conscious. School uniforms erase the designer versus cheap clothing social stigma. According to research conducted by Schoolwear Association, 83% of teachers believe that school uniforms can reduce school bullying because children are dressed the same. (1) Moreover, teachers and school administrators advocate school uniforms because they help kids feel like they fit in. School uniforms can reduce the disparity between children who come to school with fewer resources than other children.

School uniforms have the potential to lower crime rates at school. In some inner-city neighborhoods, street gangs are a strong presence. Gangs identify their members through certain colors, clothing, and tattoos. School uniforms prevent students who identify with particular gangs to wear specific colors and clothing so gang insignia is no longer a problem and this creates less conflict between students who may identify with particular gangs. Additionally, the polo shirts and pants worn by students in uniform make it far less easy to conceal weapons than baggy sweatshirts and jeans. Not only do school uniforms cut down on violence, they help reduce theft. Since students wear the same uniform, designer clothing theft is a non-issue. School uniforms contribute to safer school environments.

In addition to eliminating disparities and contributing to a safer school environment, school uniforms can enhance academic performance. Principals and politicians like Hillary Clinton agree that when students are focused on their school work rather than their appearance, they are more focused. (2) Uniforms also make the morning routine flow more smoothly since children no longer have to think about what to wear. This means kids arrive to school on time with less stress. Finally, when students no longer have to worry about whether they look right or fit in, they can concentrate more on their school work. Improved academic achievement is a strong reason to advocate for school uniforms.

Opponents to school uniforms say that uniforms interfere with students’ freedom of expression and promote conformity. This argument does not recognize that kids would be free to wear whatever they like after school and on the weekends. As for promoting conformity, perhaps the reduced crime, improved academic performance, and equitable status students receive as a result of the uniform is worth a small bit of compromise. The vast majority of public schools in the United States do not require school uniforms. Academic performance has been declining in the United States for several decades. School uniforms are one step to creating a more globally competitive educational system.

(1), (2) MLA (8th ed.): ProCon.org. "School Uniforms ProCon.org." ProCon.org. 15 Nov. 2017, 11:00 a.m., school-uniforms.procon.org/

[Editor’s Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries.]

 

By Pilar Schiocchet

 

            It is common to hear discussions or read news about sexual orientation and gender these days, especially among teenagers and young adults. Many people may think these choices are related to people trying to be different or to shake up the establishment. This is possibly true in some cases, but not in all of them. Some scientific studies show that sexual orientation, as well as gender, is determined by genetics, hormones and environmental factors that influence a person’s sexual orientation. These factors will determine if a person’s sexual orientation will differ from their biological gender or not. In those cases, being homosexual, lesbian or transgender is not a question of choice, but just the way they are made.

            Genetic studies are being conducted to help us understand how our biology can influence our choices or behaviors and how the environment is related in these cases. It is known that certain types of cancer are imprinted in our DNA, but it is not a certainty that we are going to have these types of cancer. It will depend on our environment. This rule is valid to many types of genetic diseases, allergies and mental illnesses. It is even valid for some behaviors that we have. It is common to hear people saying that some facial expressions or emotional reactions that we have resemble our parents or some relative. If genes and environment can have this much influence in peoples’ lives in so many ways, why it is so hard to believe that sexual orientation can be one of these cases?

            Obviously, genetics are not responsible for all things that happen to a person, but for those which this is true, it is not a choice. For these people, there is no way they can be “normal”. They cannot be “cured” because they are not sick. They do not need to be forgiven because it should be no sin to be the way they are. Thinking carefully about this, it is harder for someone to be gay, even though we live in a modern society where people say they do not discriminate. We still hear that some neighborhoods are gay. It is not said out loud, but the prejudice is there. All this is understandable if we look back and see how society used to be in the past. Using a historical perspective, maybe we can try to do things better not only for us, but for everybody around us.

            Being different from the majority of the society is never an easy choice. In fact, it is really hard to go against the status quo. It takes courage, it takes resilience and sometimes it costs your family or your life. So, if a person decides to be openly gay, despite all the discrimination, it is not only because they want to cause commotion or they are being rebellious. It is much more than that. It is so much more that they risk all their lifestyle just to be able to stop faking themselves. As one gay men explains: 

“In fact, I tried my damnedest to not be gay. There is really no way for me to explain how badly it sucked to grow up queer in small-town Wisconsin in the '80s. If I could have chosen to be straight, I would have. And I did try. I spent my study hall periods in ninth grade writing letters to God asking him to make me straight. I spent my nights lying awake, trying with every ounce of my being to convince Jesus to materialize at the foot of my twin bed and take my sick queer desires into his sacred pink heart, where they'd be vanquished and I could finally date a cheerleader and be just like every other guy in my school. When, after I'd been trying for months, it didn't happen, I spent the rest of my freshmen year considering the different ways I could kill myself…” (1)

            Many people disagree with the studies and opinions about the biological side of homosexuality, saying that science has not proven its existence yet. Well, science cannot prove how some cancers happen, why some people become allergic at some point in life, or why we sometimes have the same facial expression as our moms when we are happy. We do not know the triggers. Science does not either. It does not mean they do not exist. Other peoples’ sexual orientation should be the least of our problems. Understanding and accepting others, regardless of their differences, is the key to our evolution as human beings. 

(1), MLA (8th ed.): ProCon.org. "Is Sexual Orientation Determined at Birth?" ProCon.org. 31 Aug. 2017, 9:45 a.m., borngay.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001335

[Editor’s Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries.]

This is a hot topic in the USA since the State of California has legalized recreational marijuana on January 1^st of this year. Other States or Countries should consider seriously to do the same because the advantages of this decision outweigh the disadvantages.

     In the first place, the economy is boosted by the legalization. In Colorado, as an example, the purchases of marijuana give three times more tax revenue than alcohol (1). Also, it has been calculated that in 2016 the legal marijuana industry generated $7.2 billion in economic activity, and added millions of dollars in federal taxes (2). Likewise, for every dollar spent in the marijuana system, between $2.13 and $2.40 in economic activity is generated (3). This can be explained by the fact that an authorized shop sells many items to the customers, not only marijuana; in addition, the shop itself must be in good shape and it has also to be under surveillance to obey the law. In other words, to enjoy legalized marijuana many other products and services have to be paid, so overall the economy improves.

     Second, legalizing marijuana results in decreased teen use. An important study of the Centers for Disease Control found that past-year marijuana use decreased by 17%, from 15.8% in 2002 to 13.1% in 2014, among US kids ages 12 to 17 (4). Also, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Colorado’s teens between 12 and 17 years old reported a nearly 12% drop in marijuana use just two years after adult use was legalized (5). Furthermore, the researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine found that "the rates of marijuana use by young people are falling despite the fact more US states are legalizing, or decriminalizing marijuana use and the number of adults using the drug has increased"(6). Therefore there is strong statistical evidence that legalized marijuana results in lower usage by teenagers.

      Finally traffic deaths and arrests for DUIs do not increase where marijuana is legal and it may even decrease. Benjamin Hansen, an economics professor at the University of Oregon at Eugene who studied traffic deaths post-medical marijuana legalization, stated that "Public safety doesn't decrease with increased access to marijuana, rather it improves." In detail, in 2016 Reuters reported that traffic deaths dropped 11% on average in states that have legalized medical marijuana (7). Similarly, other studies show that drivers under the influence of marijuana tend to be more cautious and take fewer risks than drunk drivers, such as making fewer lane changes and reducing speed (8),(9). Thus traffic safety doesn’t get worse and surprisingly may even improve.

      Opponents of legalizing recreational marijuana say that it creates steep costs for society and taxpayers that far outweigh its tax revenues. They imagine a gloom and doom scenario made of increased hospital visits and addiction treatments, environmental damages, augmented crime, workplace accidents, and lost productivity. In my opinion this argument is weak because it doesn’t take into account the pre-emptive actions made by the police and other security officers and the penalty system stated by the law. Probably right after the legalization there could be a period with more accidents, but this could be only a short time since all the study and research done so far show a different story. In summary, I think there is enough scientific and economic evidence to support the marijuana legalization in every State of the Union, with the result of a stronger economy, healthier teenagers and safer traffic condition.

 (1)          Marijuana Policy Group, "The Economic Impact of Marijuana Legalization in Colorado," mjpolicygroup.com, Oct. 2016

(2)          Earl Blumenauer, "The Path Forward: Rethinking Federal Policy on Marijuana, " blumenauer.house.gov, 2017-2018

(3)          Alan Pyke, "Marijuana's $2.4 Billion Impact in Colorado Is a Lesson for 5 States Considering Legalization," thinkprogress.org, Oct. 28, 2016

(4)          Alejandro Azofeifa, et al., "National Estimates of Marijuana Use and Related Indicators - National Survey on Drug Use and Health, United States, 2002–2014," cdc.gov, Sep. 2, 2016

(5)          Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, "National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Comparison of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 Population Percentages," samhsa.gov (accessed Jan. 8, 2018) 

(6)          Jim Dryden, "As More States Legalize Marijuana, Adolescents' Problems with Pot Decline," wustl.edu, May 24, 2016

(7)          Ronnie Cohen, "After States Legalized Medical Marijuana, Traffic Deaths Fell," reuters.com, Dec. 28, 2016 

(8)          D. Mark Anderson and Daniel I. Rees, "The Legalization of Recreational Marijuana: How Likely Is the Worst-Case Scenario?," ist.psu.edu (accessed Jan. 8, 2018) 

(9)          NORML, "Marijuana and Psychomotor Impairment," norml.org (accessed Feb. 5, 2018)