I didnt have to waear one for more than my first year at school. we then wore polo shirts instead. They were more tidy and looked more smart than with ties as ties tend to look sctuffy when they arnt tied propery. Its up to the school but I prefered not to have them espectially in the summer. As for the idea of suicide by them, wont these people just use something else instead like a belt or a shoelace??