At Columbus School, the required P.E. uniform sparks divided opinions. While the sweatpants have become a staple worn even outside of class, the t-shirts have drawn years of criticism. Students complain about their uncomfortable material and design, yet the rule requiring them remains unchanged, leaving many to question whether reforms will ever come.
Uniform debates are hardly new, but the controversy over P.E. t-shirts highlights a deeper tension between student comfort and institutional policy. Although the school has considered changes before, the shirts have remained the same. With students like Emilia Valencia voicing consistent concerns and teachers such as Andrés Cadavid emphasizing tradition and school identity, the issue raises a broader question: should uniforms evolve with student needs, or remain fixed symbols of unity?
For many students, the sweatpants in the P.E. uniform are an unexpected success, but the t-shirts are an ongoing disappointment. “I don’t like the P.E. uniform. The sweatpants are really comfortable, but I hate the shirt,” said Emilia Valencia, an 11th grade student. Valencia explained that the shirts fail at their intended purpose. “The material is very bad. Exercise clothes should make you feel comfortable and keep you cool, but this shirt does the opposite,” she said. She added that the shirts are thick, heavy, and awkwardly designed. “The fabric is rough, it doesn’t let air through, and the neck and sleeves are made from a different material that feels very uncomfortable.”
Her frustration is so strong that she and other students often choose not to wear the shirt at all.
“I usually take it off right after P.E. class,” Valencia admitted. “Some students protest and never wear it, even if they get a zero. Others complain about it but still put it on.”
Teachers, however, see the uniform differently. Andrés Cadavid, a Columbus Life teacher, explained that while complaints can be voiced, uniforms also reflect the school’s values.
“When someone is not comfortable with something, it can be discussed with the administration and a new design can be created, but that takes a process,” Cadavid said. He emphasized that change is possible but requires time and approval from leadership.
Cadavid also noted that the school has occasionally revised uniforms when student petitions and surveys aligned with administrative decisions.
“It was a request from the students, but the administration conducted a survey and made decisions together with both the students and the leadership,” he explained. Still, he admitted that the P.E. shirts have rarely been a focus. “I’ve heard a lot about the competition uniforms, but I’ve never heard any discussion about the P.E. shirt.”
Outside perspectives echo these tensions. The Encyclopedia Britannica’s school uniforms debate notes that while uniforms promote equality and identity, critics argue they can limit comfort and self-expression. Industry data from Uniform Market highlights that many schools are now pressured to update athletic wear specifically, ensuring students can perform while still representing school identity.
The clash at Columbus School reflects a common challenge: balancing tradition with student comfort. Schools often defend uniforms as symbols of discipline and belonging, but if students like Valencia consistently reject them, their purpose is undermined. With sweatpants already embraced as part of daily wear, the t-shirt debate illustrates the difficulty of maintaining school identity while also responding to student needs.
As the new school year continues, Columbus students pull on their sweatpants but hesitate with the t-shirts. Whether administrators heed voices like Valencia’s, or stand firm with teachers like Cadavid, will determine if these shirts remain a rule—or a relic.