The following appeared as part of a letter to the editor of a local newspaper.
Bayview High School is considering whether to require all of its students to wear uniforms while at school. Students attending Acorn Valley Academy, a private school in town, earn higher grades on average than Bayview students and are more likely to go on to college. Moreover, Acorn Valley reports few instances of tardiness, absenteeism, or discipline problems. Since Acorn Valley requires its students to wear uniforms, Bayview High School would do well to follow suit and require its students to wear uniforms as well.
Discuss how well reasoned . . . etc.
In this letter to the editor the author argues that Bayview High School should follow the example of Acorn Valley Academy and require its students to wear uniforms to school. In support of this recommendation the author points to Acorns low rate of absenteeism and tardiness as well as its lack of discipline problems and superior student performance. The authors recommendation is questionable for a number of reasons.
To begin with, the author assumes that all of the stated benefits are a result of Acorns requirement that its students wear uniforms. On the face of it this appears to be simplistic assumption. It defies common sense to believe, as the author must, that the primary reason Acorns students receive higher grades on average and are more likely to go on to college is that they are required to wear uniforms to school. Similarly, the authors belief that Acorns low rate of tardiness, absenteeism, and discipline problems can be attributed directly to its dress code is not in accord with common sense.