According to an article in today's Flagler Times, School Superintendent Bill Delbrugge is anticipating receiving a letter of support for a uniform policy in Flagler Schools from the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce.
Since support for business is usually their concern (and not local educational issues), I am curious why the Chamber of Commerce cares about whether there are uniforms in the local school system. Shouldn't that be left up to the parents and educational professionals to decide?
Superintendent Delbrugge says the Chamber of Commerce's interest is because they represent local employers who are concerned about potential employees being taught how to dress appropriately. He says employers want students to learn the difference between "appropriate dress versus beach dress."
It seems to me that forcing students to wear the same thing every day doesn't do anything to teach them judgment and decision-making skills about deciding what is appropriate to wear for a specific situation. It doesn't teach future employees how to determine what is appropriate dress for their place of employment and to follow that guideline. Instead it only teaches them how to obediently wear a uniform. Students learn no "real life" skills from wearing a uniform, other than how to wear a uniform.
Research shows that it costs parents an extra $200-$400 per year per child in clothing expenses when schools have uniforms. With over 11,000 students currently enrolled in Flagler County Schools, that could total at least $2-$4 million in extra clothing expenditures per school year for Flagler County students.
I wonder if that has something to do with the Chamber of Commerce's enthusiastic support of uniforms in Flagler County Schools?
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