The Flagler County School Board voted 3-2 tonight to rescind their previous vote to require district students to wear school uniforms beginning with the 2008-2009 school year. The motion was presented by board member Evie Shellenberger, seconded by Peter Palmer. The third vote in support was from board chairwoman Colleen Conklin.
Board members Charles Gambaro and Sue Dickinson were extremely opposed to rescinding the previous action.
The board as a whole expressed their continued belief in the positive effects of uniforms and encouraged Supt. Delbrugge to bring them initiatives from PTO's and SAC's at individual schools that would like to go ahead with uniform plans in their buildings.
This fight is not over but has simply moved to a new jurisdiction. Parents who want to keep uniforms out of their schools will have to continue to be vigilant regarding the actions of the PTO and SAC committees at their childrens' schools.
It was evident from the board's discussion tonight that they continue to have no real concept of the impact that uniforms would have on the real families within this district. I was also extremely disappointed in the statements made by several board members regarding the parent contact that they have received (or not received) on this issue. Ms. Dickinson, in particular, seems to have a serious case of amnesia about events that have transpired and about contacts that she has received from members of the public. Another disappointment throughout this entire process has been the lack of response from the board to attempts to contact them - unless you are a potentially powerful political ally like the chairwoman of the local board of realtors. (My thanks to board member Peter Palmer for being the exception to that rule.)
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Is the fight against uniforms almost won?
According to an article in the News-Journal today, the fight against uniforms in Flagler Schools may be almost won. The school board meeting on Tuesday night at 6pm will be an important one, with the divided board having to reach a final decision.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
It's Crunch Time!
It's down to the wire on school uniforms!
At the workshop on Monday night, the board debated for hours about what to do about the uniform policy. At their next board meeting, they either must adopt an actual policy or vote to repeal the rule they passed requiring uniforms for the 2008-2009 school year.
Four of the school board members - Sue Dickinson, Colleen Conklin, Evie Shellenberger, and Charles Gambaro - claimed at the meeting Monday that they had not been contacted by any parents that were against school uniforms. Now is the time to change that! Their email addresses are listed in the side of this website - contact them and let your voices be heard. Peter Palmer, who has withdrawn his support for the board's uniform plan because he feels they have not gotten enough public input on it, would I'm sure love to hear from you in support of his thoughtful position as well.
The next board meeting, where this will be up for a final decision, will be on either the 28th or the 29th, in the evening. Currently the school board website lists a meeting on the morning of the 19th and a meeting on the evening of the 20th. The meeting on the 19th is a brief meeting at which not all the board members will be present, to reschedule the meeting from the 20th. When the final meeting date is determined I will post it here!
I will post more updates later about the drafts that the board is currently working with and will have available to them to vote on at the upcoming meeting.
At the workshop on Monday night, the board debated for hours about what to do about the uniform policy. At their next board meeting, they either must adopt an actual policy or vote to repeal the rule they passed requiring uniforms for the 2008-2009 school year.
Four of the school board members - Sue Dickinson, Colleen Conklin, Evie Shellenberger, and Charles Gambaro - claimed at the meeting Monday that they had not been contacted by any parents that were against school uniforms. Now is the time to change that! Their email addresses are listed in the side of this website - contact them and let your voices be heard. Peter Palmer, who has withdrawn his support for the board's uniform plan because he feels they have not gotten enough public input on it, would I'm sure love to hear from you in support of his thoughtful position as well.
The next board meeting, where this will be up for a final decision, will be on either the 28th or the 29th, in the evening. Currently the school board website lists a meeting on the morning of the 19th and a meeting on the evening of the 20th. The meeting on the 19th is a brief meeting at which not all the board members will be present, to reschedule the meeting from the 20th. When the final meeting date is determined I will post it here!
I will post more updates later about the drafts that the board is currently working with and will have available to them to vote on at the upcoming meeting.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Don't Forget: School Board Meeting Tues. at 6pm!
Don't forget the School Board meeting scheduled for 6pm tomorrow night (Tuesday the 16th) at the Government Services building in Bunnell. Agenda Item 8.04 is "Uniforms" so please be there to comment on uniforms for ESE students especially if you want the board to hear your opinion on this matter. The correct time to make this statement will be when the board asks near the beginning of the meeting for public comment on agenda items, since uniforms are on the agenda.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
The Promise
A clip from the end of Supt. Delbrugge's presentation at the July 11th town hall meeting in which he describes the plans to get parent input at all the schools, plus to hold "two or three" additional town hall meetings. (To my knowledge they have not held even one town hall meeting, unless you count the workshop on Monday which was not centered on getting public input.)
Empty Promises
Board Member Evie Shellenberger's comments at the July 11th town meeting, where she refers to the board's promise to get input from parents on the uniform code's design and responds to my earlier comments with a verbal head pat that the board will "take care of" the ESE students. Why do I have a hard time believing they know what is best for my child based on their recent track record?
Broken Promises
Once again the issue of impending school uniforms for Flagler Schools was in the News-Journal yesterday. And once again, the story told by the newspaper is of the school board breaking promises to parents about getting input from them regarding what the uniform code will be.
First, the school board scheduled a town hall meeting to get public input on whether there should be uniforms in Flagler Schools - and then went ahead and voted on the matter anyway before the meeting, denying parents their right to have input on the issue. Then they promised at that July 11th town hall meeting that before the uniform code itself was written, they would "take the show on the road" to each of the district's schools to solicit input from parents, students and teachers on the content of the actual uniform.
To my knowledge no single member of the school board has shown up at my daughter's elementary school to ask for input on the issue, and neither has the board held a public meeting at the school for parents to attend to discuss the issue. And yet somehow on Monday night the board felt it was time to write the uniform code in preparation for the first of two procedural votes on it to take place at the November board meeting. Apparently the board has once again developed group amnesia about the promises they made to get parent, teacher and student input at each of the schools.
I guess I am not really surprised. Our elected school board seems to have forgotten who they work for, and who they should answer to. They are behaving like dictators, making the rules up as they go along and changing them whenever they want.
The only recourse that we have is at the ballot box in Nov. 2008. I suggest everyone who is upset with them over the way they have treated parents regarding this issue let the school board members know that they plan to express their displeasure the next time the board members come up for election. Perhaps the threat of losing the power they seem to enjoy wielding so much would remind them who they work for.
First, the school board scheduled a town hall meeting to get public input on whether there should be uniforms in Flagler Schools - and then went ahead and voted on the matter anyway before the meeting, denying parents their right to have input on the issue. Then they promised at that July 11th town hall meeting that before the uniform code itself was written, they would "take the show on the road" to each of the district's schools to solicit input from parents, students and teachers on the content of the actual uniform.
To my knowledge no single member of the school board has shown up at my daughter's elementary school to ask for input on the issue, and neither has the board held a public meeting at the school for parents to attend to discuss the issue. And yet somehow on Monday night the board felt it was time to write the uniform code in preparation for the first of two procedural votes on it to take place at the November board meeting. Apparently the board has once again developed group amnesia about the promises they made to get parent, teacher and student input at each of the schools.
I guess I am not really surprised. Our elected school board seems to have forgotten who they work for, and who they should answer to. They are behaving like dictators, making the rules up as they go along and changing them whenever they want.
The only recourse that we have is at the ballot box in Nov. 2008. I suggest everyone who is upset with them over the way they have treated parents regarding this issue let the school board members know that they plan to express their displeasure the next time the board members come up for election. Perhaps the threat of losing the power they seem to enjoy wielding so much would remind them who they work for.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Lies and Statistics
The Daytona Beach News-Journal ran a story this morning about how much Flagler County parents spend on average per child for back-to-school clothes. This of course included a discussion about the upcoming school uniform policy.
The problem with the article (and the numbers that it contains) is that those numbers are just statistics. No reasoning is given behind those numbers. Why are Flagler parents spending an average of $361 per child per year on clothes, more than almost any other district in the study? It is not like Palm Coast has designer stores on every corner to supply us with the latest designer fashions. We have Walmart and Beall's.
What the statistics don't tell us is how much of that number was discretionary spending and how much of that number was mandatory spending by the families. How much of that money was money that had to be spent and how much of it was money that was spent because someone wanted to?
The study noted that the top geographic areas for clothing spending all shared a common demographic of having high concentrations of seniors. This might account for some of the amount of clothing expenditure being given by doting grandparents as gifts. I know in our family that is certainly the case.
How much of that amount was simply spent because the parents could afford to spend more? That's up to those parents to decide what they want to spend. That is why it is called discretionary spending. People can use their discretion to make their own decisions.
How much of that amount was spent because parents refused to stand up to their kids and draw a line about what was appropriate spending on the child's wardrobe for the family's financial situation and the child's age? That is a more problematic question and possibly at the root of some parents' support for the school uniform policy. Are some parents, unwilling to draw a line of their own with their kids about what they will spend on clothing, looking instead to the school system to do it in the form of a uniform policy? If so, that is sad. Kids need to be taught responsibility by their parents, not see that responsibility abdicated to a school administration. That doesn't teach them anything except how to avoid standing up to kids for their own good.
Schools are here to educate our children. We expect stellar FCAT scores from our schools while also expecting them to take on more and more responsibility for teaching things like responsibility. They can't do it all. They shouldn't have to.
We should do our jobs as parents and teach our children responsibility at home, and leave the schools to educate our kids about math, science and reading. That's their job - not teaching a child what is appropriate to wear to school.
The problem with the article (and the numbers that it contains) is that those numbers are just statistics. No reasoning is given behind those numbers. Why are Flagler parents spending an average of $361 per child per year on clothes, more than almost any other district in the study? It is not like Palm Coast has designer stores on every corner to supply us with the latest designer fashions. We have Walmart and Beall's.
What the statistics don't tell us is how much of that number was discretionary spending and how much of that number was mandatory spending by the families. How much of that money was money that had to be spent and how much of it was money that was spent because someone wanted to?
The study noted that the top geographic areas for clothing spending all shared a common demographic of having high concentrations of seniors. This might account for some of the amount of clothing expenditure being given by doting grandparents as gifts. I know in our family that is certainly the case.
How much of that amount was simply spent because the parents could afford to spend more? That's up to those parents to decide what they want to spend. That is why it is called discretionary spending. People can use their discretion to make their own decisions.
How much of that amount was spent because parents refused to stand up to their kids and draw a line about what was appropriate spending on the child's wardrobe for the family's financial situation and the child's age? That is a more problematic question and possibly at the root of some parents' support for the school uniform policy. Are some parents, unwilling to draw a line of their own with their kids about what they will spend on clothing, looking instead to the school system to do it in the form of a uniform policy? If so, that is sad. Kids need to be taught responsibility by their parents, not see that responsibility abdicated to a school administration. That doesn't teach them anything except how to avoid standing up to kids for their own good.
Schools are here to educate our children. We expect stellar FCAT scores from our schools while also expecting them to take on more and more responsibility for teaching things like responsibility. They can't do it all. They shouldn't have to.
We should do our jobs as parents and teach our children responsibility at home, and leave the schools to educate our kids about math, science and reading. That's their job - not teaching a child what is appropriate to wear to school.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Should droopy pants be outlawed?
No, I don't mean disallowed at schools. I mean made illegal, with fines for wearing them.
An Atlanta councilman thinks so, and his comments have spurred quite a debate there.
Outlaw Droopy Pants in Atlanta?
This debate is very interesting in light of the Flagler Co. School Board's constant referral to the droopy pants of male students as one of the reasons that they want to institute a uniform code for the 2008-2009 school year.
Is opposition to droopy pants simply a generational gap? Is it racist? Is showing off part of your underwear freedom of speech?
Answers to those questions are very relevant to the uniform debate.
An Atlanta councilman thinks so, and his comments have spurred quite a debate there.
Outlaw Droopy Pants in Atlanta?
This debate is very interesting in light of the Flagler Co. School Board's constant referral to the droopy pants of male students as one of the reasons that they want to institute a uniform code for the 2008-2009 school year.
Is opposition to droopy pants simply a generational gap? Is it racist? Is showing off part of your underwear freedom of speech?
Answers to those questions are very relevant to the uniform debate.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Asserting Parental Rights
Courtesy of AOL News, comes a very interesting article talking about the state of the school uniform debate in this country: Ironing Out Policies On School Uniforms
The article mentions the Texas-based group APROD (Asserting Parental Rights - It's Our Duty). On their website, APROD has some great information about uniform research under the headings Important Links and Uniform Myths.
The article mentions the Texas-based group APROD (Asserting Parental Rights - It's Our Duty). On their website, APROD has some great information about uniform research under the headings Important Links and Uniform Myths.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Thoughts on school uniforms after the 7/24 meeting
It took me awhile to put my thoughts together on this issue after the July 24th meeting of the Flagler School Board that I attended. I believe that this matter really goes so much deeper than just what our kid wear, into how our schools are being run and why they are being run the way that they are.
At this point it is becoming increasingly obvious to me that this move towards uniforms is about politics, and nothing more than that. I feel like my child is being used as a pawn in the economics and politics of Flagler County and there is nothing I can do about it unless I want to sue the school board. There are no recall or ballot procedures for school board members or school board issues. These people are dictators once they are elected - and they are making full use of that power to do whatever they want regardless of what the residents of this district, and the parents of this district, want.
Consider the following information and see what conclusion you reach.
The school board had, at the urging of board member Evie Shellenberger, been investigating implementing uniforms in the district for some time. A "town hall" meeting had been scheduled for July 11th to hear public opinion on the desirability of a uniform policy. The board had scheduled a final vote on implementing a policy for its July 24th meeting, after the town hall meeting.
On June 29th, the Florida School Accountability Grades were released by the Florida Department of Education, grading several Flagler schools poorly, including a "C" for Matanzas High School and a "D" grade for Flagler-Palm Coast High School.
The evening of June 29th, at their regularly scheduled meeting, the Flagler School Board suddenly changed the publicly announced schedule for the uniform process and voted to implement uniforms for the 2008-2009 school year and to change to purpose of the July 11th town hall meeting to be to get input on what the actual uniforms should be. This vote took place despite the fact that a newly appointed member of the board was being sworn in that night, effectively leaving 20% of the school district without a representative during that vote.
Newspaper stories from the Flagler education beat the following day focused on the uniform issue, not on the abysmal Florida School Accountability grades received by the two high schools in the district.
At the town hall meeting the school board touted the endorsement of their uniform plan by the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce.
No one I have talked to has any knowledge that the teacher's union (who presumably are more relevant to this issue than the Chamber of Commerce?) has been even consulted about uniforms, let alone endorsed the policy - including a teacher who is a building rep. for the union.
After the members of the public spoke at the town hall meeting, more than half of them against uniforms, the response they received was a very dour attitude of "well, the decision is already made, too bad."
Members of the school board have repeatedly pointed to the examples of other districts in the implementing of uniforms.
When it was pointed out to the board on July 24th by the ACLU that the examples of methods that other districts have used to implement uniform policies include parent polling on the issue, all but one board member chose to ignore that statement completely. The only board member who responded to that fact was Ms. Shellenberger, who has been the most ardent supporter of uniforms, and even she dismissed those examples by saying that it wasn't practical because she felt the whole district would have to be polled because "all residents are taxpayers and have a stake in our schools."
To me, that quote from Ms. Shellenberger sums up what this is all about. This uniform effort is not about a genuine effort to make our schools better. It is about propping up property values in this town by making the schools look better than they are, and about attracting business by making the schools look better than they are. It is about using uniforms to whitewash over our growing gang problem. That is why the Chamber of Commerce cares about uniforms, because this policy is about economic growth, not about educational quality. This is about jobs, not about students.
Taxpayers have a right to voice their opinion on school matters that they will pay for. Everyone in this community does not have a right to voice an opinion on whether my child should have to wear a uniform every day, unless they are going to shop for and pay for those uniforms, do battle with my child everyday to enforce the wearing of them, and do the resulting extra laundry from them. That affects my family, not the retired lady next door, or the single guys down the street. Since I will be the one that has to live with it, I should get a say in it. And only me.
It's really easy to have an opinion on something when you don't have to live with the consequences. Let the parents decide. They are the ones that have to live with it.
At this point it is becoming increasingly obvious to me that this move towards uniforms is about politics, and nothing more than that. I feel like my child is being used as a pawn in the economics and politics of Flagler County and there is nothing I can do about it unless I want to sue the school board. There are no recall or ballot procedures for school board members or school board issues. These people are dictators once they are elected - and they are making full use of that power to do whatever they want regardless of what the residents of this district, and the parents of this district, want.
Consider the following information and see what conclusion you reach.
The school board had, at the urging of board member Evie Shellenberger, been investigating implementing uniforms in the district for some time. A "town hall" meeting had been scheduled for July 11th to hear public opinion on the desirability of a uniform policy. The board had scheduled a final vote on implementing a policy for its July 24th meeting, after the town hall meeting.
On June 29th, the Florida School Accountability Grades were released by the Florida Department of Education, grading several Flagler schools poorly, including a "C" for Matanzas High School and a "D" grade for Flagler-Palm Coast High School.
The evening of June 29th, at their regularly scheduled meeting, the Flagler School Board suddenly changed the publicly announced schedule for the uniform process and voted to implement uniforms for the 2008-2009 school year and to change to purpose of the July 11th town hall meeting to be to get input on what the actual uniforms should be. This vote took place despite the fact that a newly appointed member of the board was being sworn in that night, effectively leaving 20% of the school district without a representative during that vote.
Newspaper stories from the Flagler education beat the following day focused on the uniform issue, not on the abysmal Florida School Accountability grades received by the two high schools in the district.
At the town hall meeting the school board touted the endorsement of their uniform plan by the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce.
No one I have talked to has any knowledge that the teacher's union (who presumably are more relevant to this issue than the Chamber of Commerce?) has been even consulted about uniforms, let alone endorsed the policy - including a teacher who is a building rep. for the union.
After the members of the public spoke at the town hall meeting, more than half of them against uniforms, the response they received was a very dour attitude of "well, the decision is already made, too bad."
Members of the school board have repeatedly pointed to the examples of other districts in the implementing of uniforms.
When it was pointed out to the board on July 24th by the ACLU that the examples of methods that other districts have used to implement uniform policies include parent polling on the issue, all but one board member chose to ignore that statement completely. The only board member who responded to that fact was Ms. Shellenberger, who has been the most ardent supporter of uniforms, and even she dismissed those examples by saying that it wasn't practical because she felt the whole district would have to be polled because "all residents are taxpayers and have a stake in our schools."
To me, that quote from Ms. Shellenberger sums up what this is all about. This uniform effort is not about a genuine effort to make our schools better. It is about propping up property values in this town by making the schools look better than they are, and about attracting business by making the schools look better than they are. It is about using uniforms to whitewash over our growing gang problem. That is why the Chamber of Commerce cares about uniforms, because this policy is about economic growth, not about educational quality. This is about jobs, not about students.
Taxpayers have a right to voice their opinion on school matters that they will pay for. Everyone in this community does not have a right to voice an opinion on whether my child should have to wear a uniform every day, unless they are going to shop for and pay for those uniforms, do battle with my child everyday to enforce the wearing of them, and do the resulting extra laundry from them. That affects my family, not the retired lady next door, or the single guys down the street. Since I will be the one that has to live with it, I should get a say in it. And only me.
It's really easy to have an opinion on something when you don't have to live with the consequences. Let the parents decide. They are the ones that have to live with it.
Board Member Shellenberger's response to parent survey proposal
Flagler School Board member Evie Shellenberger, who has lead the charge for some time to put uniforms on Flagler Schools students, chose to respond to the proposal for a parent survey by completely ignoring the actual argument for one: the importance of parent cooperation in implementing a uniform program.
My Statement in Support of the Parent Survey on Uniforms
My statement to the board on July 24th addressed some of my concerns regarding uniforms and the needs of ESE students, as well as seconding the ACLU proposal of following in the footsteps of other districts and utilizing a parent survey to decide the issue.
ACLU Statement at July 24th School Board Meeting
George Griffin, president of the Volusia/Flagler ACLU chapter, proposed at the July 24th Flagler County School Board meeting that the board should hold a parent survey on the implementation of a uniform policy the way most other districts in Florida have done.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Reminder: School Board Meeting Tomorrow Night!
Don't forget that there is a school board meeting tomorrow night (Tuesday) at 6pm at the Government Services Building in Bunnell.
We'd like to get everyone who can come to show up to show their support to the school board for having a parent vote on the implementation of uniforms. This vote will protect both the parents who are for and against uniforms. It will protect the rights of parents who are against uniforms from being railroaded by a flawed school board process from not having their opinions heard. And it will protect parents who are pro-uniforms from investing in that process and then possibly discovering that too many parents are not complying with the policy, making the uniforms pointless.
The board keeps pointing to the fact that so many other Florida districts have uniforms as a reason for Flagler to have them. So why aren't they following the same process as those districts?
Please show up to ask the board to let the parents make the decision, which is how this issue has been handled in most other Florida school districts!
We'd like to get everyone who can come to show up to show their support to the school board for having a parent vote on the implementation of uniforms. This vote will protect both the parents who are for and against uniforms. It will protect the rights of parents who are against uniforms from being railroaded by a flawed school board process from not having their opinions heard. And it will protect parents who are pro-uniforms from investing in that process and then possibly discovering that too many parents are not complying with the policy, making the uniforms pointless.
The board keeps pointing to the fact that so many other Florida districts have uniforms as a reason for Flagler to have them. So why aren't they following the same process as those districts?
Please show up to ask the board to let the parents make the decision, which is how this issue has been handled in most other Florida school districts!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
News-Journal Editorial Gives Thumbs Down to Uniforms
A great (if a bit dense) editorial today in the News-Journal explains exactly why uniforms are not the solution to what ails our schools:
No, Meaningless Frock
Some extremely relevant points made by Mr. Tristam in the editorial include:
"With next year's election season approaching, the board needed an artificial issue to make it look decisive. Uniforms are it."
"Masking society's inequalities and prejudices by donning a uniform, instead of confronting them head on, teaches children deception and evasion as much as it may give them a break from feeling superior or inferior. It's trading one vice for another."
"My objection to uniforms isn't that they're irrelevant, but that they give schools an added presumption of authority and regimentation that schools aren't entitled to, and pupils don't deserve -- legal and academic fad in favor of treating pupils like wards of their schools notwithstanding..."
I highly recommend a read-through of the piece. It's a very interesting trip through an alternative viewpoint for those who are pro-uniforms.
No, Meaningless Frock
Some extremely relevant points made by Mr. Tristam in the editorial include:
"With next year's election season approaching, the board needed an artificial issue to make it look decisive. Uniforms are it."
"Masking society's inequalities and prejudices by donning a uniform, instead of confronting them head on, teaches children deception and evasion as much as it may give them a break from feeling superior or inferior. It's trading one vice for another."
"My objection to uniforms isn't that they're irrelevant, but that they give schools an added presumption of authority and regimentation that schools aren't entitled to, and pupils don't deserve -- legal and academic fad in favor of treating pupils like wards of their schools notwithstanding..."
I highly recommend a read-through of the piece. It's a very interesting trip through an alternative viewpoint for those who are pro-uniforms.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
What do uniforms really cost?
A lot of parent opinion centers around whether or not uniforms are cheaper for families.
There has been one study on the subject that I have been able to locate:
Note this critical part of the abstract: Findings indicated that consumers do not replace their nonuniform purchases with uniform expenses. Instead, uniforms are considered as complementary purchases, thereby, leading to increased clothing expenditures. According to the results of this study, the actual purchase price of uniforms compared to regular clothes is irrelevant to the argument about whether school uniforms are more expensive. Since families purchase them in addition to, and not instead of, their usual clothing purchases, uniforms are more expensive for families no matter how much or how little is spent on them.
Even if you are a parent who is convinced that you will be able to replace other clothes purchases with uniforms, what do uniforms actually cost? The answer varies widely. Very young students may be more prone to spilling on their clothes, requiring more frequent laundering or even replacing of outfits due to stains. The oldest students will require frequent laundering due to body odor. Then there are variables such as how fast a child is growing, and a major variable in cost: how hard to fit a child is.
Walmart and Target are being widely touted as sources of affordable school uniforms. That may be true - if your child is of average size. If you can walk into a store and pull anything off of the rack and it will fit your child, then you will likely have no problem finding plenty of inexpensive uniform options for your student.
If, on the other hand, your child is hard to fit and requires slim or husky sizes? Well, you may be out of luck on the affordability of uniforms - especially if your child is a girl.
Walmart offers slim and husky sizes in boys, but only plus in girls. No slim sizes.
Target offers plus sizes but no slims in either boys or girls.
Bealls offers a few husky sizes in boys items. Not sure about plus sizes for the girls.
Old Navy: A good selection of plus and slim sizes is available for both boys and girls but a pair of basic uniform pants start at $17.50 per pair (compared to pants that start at $11.88 at Walmart).
JC Penney: A full range of sizes is offered but pants start at $19.99 for girls and $26 for boys.
Sears: Pants start at $20 for girls and $24 for boys and only plus/husky sizes are offered.
Gap: Again, a good selection of complete size ranges is available but a basic pair of uniform pants starts at $29.50.
Lands End: Their selection of uniform pants available in a complete size range starts at $29.99.
Uniforms would definitely be more expensive for my family since my daughter is very slim and hard-to fit. I can currently buy two very nice complete knit outfits or dresses at Target that will fit her for school for what it would cost to put her in one pair of uniform pants from Old Navy that would hopefully fit her and be long enough and still stay up. Buying uniform outfits would be a significant cost increase for us. I'm sure there are other families facing the same situation because of hard-to-fit children.
Also we shouldn't forget that other help to the clothing budget: gifts that do double-duty as school clothes. Our 7 year-old niece (who lives in Michigan) loves to shop. So for her last couple of gifts from us (birthday and christmas) she has received Target gift cards that she could spend on clothing with the supervision of her mother. Our niece has fun shopping, and she gets some new school clothes to put in her closet without her parents spending anything. Somehow, I think the fun would go out of that gift for our niece if she had to pick out uniform clothes, and the added benefit would be lost to her parents if she picked out regular clothes and they still had to buy her uniforms.
In addition to gift cards, actual clothing gifts can expand school wardrobes. They certainly do in our family with two grandmas that love to shop for their granddaughter. But opening a box of khaki pants and white shirts on your birthday somehow just isn't that exciting for a little kid...or as exciting for a grandparent to give.
Give a thought to all of these things before you decide what uniforms will really cost your family and other families.
There has been one study on the subject that I have been able to locate:
The effect of uniforms on nonuniform apparel expenditures.The full study can be read in full from your home computer on the Library's InfoTrac database if you have the password (just ask the reference librarian for it).
Norum, Pamela S., Robert O. Weagley, and Marjorie J.T. Norton. "The effect of uniforms on nonuniform apparel expenditures." Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal 26.n3 (March 1998): 259(22). Expanded Academic ASAP. Thomson Gale. Flagler County Public Library. 13 July 2007
Abstract:
The effects of uniform expenses on household expenditures for some nonuniform apparel subcategories based on an economic model of conditional demand were investigated. Expenditures formulas were derived from the 1990-1991 Consumer Expenditure Survey. Findings indicated that consumers do not replace their nonuniform purchases with uniform expenses. Instead, uniforms are considered as complementary purchases, thereby, leading to increased clothing expenditures.
Thomson Gale Document Number:A20584197
Note this critical part of the abstract: Findings indicated that consumers do not replace their nonuniform purchases with uniform expenses. Instead, uniforms are considered as complementary purchases, thereby, leading to increased clothing expenditures. According to the results of this study, the actual purchase price of uniforms compared to regular clothes is irrelevant to the argument about whether school uniforms are more expensive. Since families purchase them in addition to, and not instead of, their usual clothing purchases, uniforms are more expensive for families no matter how much or how little is spent on them.
Even if you are a parent who is convinced that you will be able to replace other clothes purchases with uniforms, what do uniforms actually cost? The answer varies widely. Very young students may be more prone to spilling on their clothes, requiring more frequent laundering or even replacing of outfits due to stains. The oldest students will require frequent laundering due to body odor. Then there are variables such as how fast a child is growing, and a major variable in cost: how hard to fit a child is.
Walmart and Target are being widely touted as sources of affordable school uniforms. That may be true - if your child is of average size. If you can walk into a store and pull anything off of the rack and it will fit your child, then you will likely have no problem finding plenty of inexpensive uniform options for your student.
If, on the other hand, your child is hard to fit and requires slim or husky sizes? Well, you may be out of luck on the affordability of uniforms - especially if your child is a girl.
Walmart offers slim and husky sizes in boys, but only plus in girls. No slim sizes.
Target offers plus sizes but no slims in either boys or girls.
Bealls offers a few husky sizes in boys items. Not sure about plus sizes for the girls.
Old Navy: A good selection of plus and slim sizes is available for both boys and girls but a pair of basic uniform pants start at $17.50 per pair (compared to pants that start at $11.88 at Walmart).
JC Penney: A full range of sizes is offered but pants start at $19.99 for girls and $26 for boys.
Sears: Pants start at $20 for girls and $24 for boys and only plus/husky sizes are offered.
Gap: Again, a good selection of complete size ranges is available but a basic pair of uniform pants starts at $29.50.
Lands End: Their selection of uniform pants available in a complete size range starts at $29.99.
Uniforms would definitely be more expensive for my family since my daughter is very slim and hard-to fit. I can currently buy two very nice complete knit outfits or dresses at Target that will fit her for school for what it would cost to put her in one pair of uniform pants from Old Navy that would hopefully fit her and be long enough and still stay up. Buying uniform outfits would be a significant cost increase for us. I'm sure there are other families facing the same situation because of hard-to-fit children.
Also we shouldn't forget that other help to the clothing budget: gifts that do double-duty as school clothes. Our 7 year-old niece (who lives in Michigan) loves to shop. So for her last couple of gifts from us (birthday and christmas) she has received Target gift cards that she could spend on clothing with the supervision of her mother. Our niece has fun shopping, and she gets some new school clothes to put in her closet without her parents spending anything. Somehow, I think the fun would go out of that gift for our niece if she had to pick out uniform clothes, and the added benefit would be lost to her parents if she picked out regular clothes and they still had to buy her uniforms.
In addition to gift cards, actual clothing gifts can expand school wardrobes. They certainly do in our family with two grandmas that love to shop for their granddaughter. But opening a box of khaki pants and white shirts on your birthday somehow just isn't that exciting for a little kid...or as exciting for a grandparent to give.
Give a thought to all of these things before you decide what uniforms will really cost your family and other families.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
ACLU Comments at Town Hall Meeting
George Griffin, President of the Volusia/Flagler Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, commented on the uniforms issue at the town hall meeting on July 11th and the constitutional issues related to such policies.
I was the parent that contacted him about my concerns regarding the lack of proper process in the board's consideration of this matter and also whether or not they would include a constitutionally required opt-out policy.
Board Member Sue Dickinson's Comments At The Town Hall Meeting
Sue Dickinson essentially tells parents expressing their opinions against uniforms in Flagler Schools that she doesn't care what parents think, that the board will go ahead with what it wants regardless of parent opinion.
Chairwoman Conklin's Remarks
These are Chairwoman Conklin's remarks at the close of the town hall meeting on July 11th. I find it fascinating that she mentions the board has been studying this issue for two years. So why was there no request for parent input on the topic until after they had already voted on it? Was there not time for it in that two years?
Friday, July 13, 2007
FYI: The Draft Code for Uniform Policy
(Click on image for larger view)Although this is titled "dress code" this is actually a draft of the possible uniform code that was distributed at the town hall meeting of the school board on July 11th. Items #3-5 are discussion items, with the things listed being only suggestions for discussion, not actually proposals for a code.
Some fascinating statistics about the sides of the uniform debate
It's becoming increasingly evident to me that this uniform debate is about money, in more ways than one.
The Chamber of Commerce has taken an inappropriate interest in the issue.
Despite reliable studies to the contrary, certain people continue to insist that uniforms are cheaper for families.
Now lets take a look at the attendees at the town meeting on Wednesday night.
Average property value of attendee speaking in favor of uniforms: $284,674
Average property value of attendee speaking against uniforms: $151,861
Average property value of Flagler Schools parents for 07-08 who spoke for uniforms: $192,548
Average property value of Flagler Schools parents for 07-08 who opposed uniforms: $120,971
Tell me again that this isn't about money?
Cost is all about perspective. Yes, school uniforms are cheaper - if you are an upper income family who is spending a lot of money on designer label clothes for your child. Uniforms mean being able to replace a few of those expensive purchases with cheaper uniforms.
But for the lower to middle-income families, it will mean more expenditures since you will have to add uniforms to your child's already basic wardrobe so they can have school and play clothes to wear every day.
It's all about your (financial) perspective.
I think a lot of this push for uniforms come from certain people's desires to see Flagler Schools as "elite" schools. When this generation of parents were kids, the only schools that wore uniforms were the special, private schools. I think some people think that we can perhaps add some "class" and desirability to our school system - and thus our community - by dressing up the kids.
Well, you can put a fresh coat of paint on a car that won't run and you know what? It's still not going to run. Put a tux on a skunk and it's still going to stink.
Putting a pretty wrapper on our schools will not change the fact that they have real problems. It will not magically turn our students into idyllic models of learning and citizenship.
Clothing can't instill morals. It takes parents, teachers and other mentors to do that.
The Chamber of Commerce has taken an inappropriate interest in the issue.
Despite reliable studies to the contrary, certain people continue to insist that uniforms are cheaper for families.
Now lets take a look at the attendees at the town meeting on Wednesday night.
Average property value of attendee speaking in favor of uniforms: $284,674
Average property value of attendee speaking against uniforms: $151,861
Average property value of Flagler Schools parents for 07-08 who spoke for uniforms: $192,548
Average property value of Flagler Schools parents for 07-08 who opposed uniforms: $120,971
Tell me again that this isn't about money?
Cost is all about perspective. Yes, school uniforms are cheaper - if you are an upper income family who is spending a lot of money on designer label clothes for your child. Uniforms mean being able to replace a few of those expensive purchases with cheaper uniforms.
But for the lower to middle-income families, it will mean more expenditures since you will have to add uniforms to your child's already basic wardrobe so they can have school and play clothes to wear every day.
It's all about your (financial) perspective.
I think a lot of this push for uniforms come from certain people's desires to see Flagler Schools as "elite" schools. When this generation of parents were kids, the only schools that wore uniforms were the special, private schools. I think some people think that we can perhaps add some "class" and desirability to our school system - and thus our community - by dressing up the kids.
Well, you can put a fresh coat of paint on a car that won't run and you know what? It's still not going to run. Put a tux on a skunk and it's still going to stink.
Putting a pretty wrapper on our schools will not change the fact that they have real problems. It will not magically turn our students into idyllic models of learning and citizenship.
Clothing can't instill morals. It takes parents, teachers and other mentors to do that.
Flagler Schools Parents & Teachers: Save This Date!
More information from the school board town hall meeting on Wednesday will be posted later today.
In the meantime I would like to request that all parents of Flagler Schools students (and teachers as well) please plan on attending the Tuesday, July 24th, 2007 school board meeting at 6pm at the Government Services building in Bunnell. Whether you are for or against the uniform policy, if you are a parent of a Flagler Schools student, or a teacher, I would ask that you please attend that meeting to help request that the school board turn the decision about uniforms over to the parents through a parent survey and vote.
The school board's process up to this point has been severely lacking in public - and specifically parent - input on this matter. They voted on the issue before hearing from parents and staff about it at the town hall meeting. Even at the town hall meeting, about half of the input the board listened to in favor of their uniform policy was from people who are not Flagler Schools parents or staff, people whose lives it will not affect in any way.
Most districts that have started using uniforms have done so only after a parent survey/vote, and I don't believe that the parents of Flagler county should be denied our right to decide what we want for our children in this case.
Representatives of the ACLU will be at the school board meeting again on July 24th to assist Flagler Schools parents in getting back our rights to determine what is best for our kids. It is time to stop playing politics with our kids' education. Please come out to the meeting to show your support for a parent survey, whether you support uniforms or not. Tell the board we want to decide what is right for our kids ourselves.
In the meantime I would like to request that all parents of Flagler Schools students (and teachers as well) please plan on attending the Tuesday, July 24th, 2007 school board meeting at 6pm at the Government Services building in Bunnell. Whether you are for or against the uniform policy, if you are a parent of a Flagler Schools student, or a teacher, I would ask that you please attend that meeting to help request that the school board turn the decision about uniforms over to the parents through a parent survey and vote.
The school board's process up to this point has been severely lacking in public - and specifically parent - input on this matter. They voted on the issue before hearing from parents and staff about it at the town hall meeting. Even at the town hall meeting, about half of the input the board listened to in favor of their uniform policy was from people who are not Flagler Schools parents or staff, people whose lives it will not affect in any way.
Most districts that have started using uniforms have done so only after a parent survey/vote, and I don't believe that the parents of Flagler county should be denied our right to decide what we want for our children in this case.
Representatives of the ACLU will be at the school board meeting again on July 24th to assist Flagler Schools parents in getting back our rights to determine what is best for our kids. It is time to stop playing politics with our kids' education. Please come out to the meeting to show your support for a parent survey, whether you support uniforms or not. Tell the board we want to decide what is right for our kids ourselves.
Tuesday, July 24th, 2007
6pm - 8pm
Board Room, Government Services Building, Bunnell
6pm - 8pm
Board Room, Government Services Building, Bunnell
Thursday, July 12, 2007
The Latest Daytona Beach News-Journal Article
Here is the latest article from the News-Journal covering the school board town hall meeting on uniforms last night: School Board: Uniform coming; what kind is the question
A reporter from the Flagler Times was also present so watch for coverage from them as well later this week.
Extensive coverage of last night's events will be posted here later today! It was an eventful evening.
A reporter from the Flagler Times was also present so watch for coverage from them as well later this week.
Extensive coverage of last night's events will be posted here later today! It was an eventful evening.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Why does the Chamber of Commerce care about uniforms?
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?
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?
Monday, July 9, 2007
Don't forget the school board town hall meeting on uniforms!
The school board is holding a town hall meeting on school uniforms this Wednesday evening at 7pm in the Board Room at the Government Services building in Bunnell.
The Government Services Building is at 1769 East Moody Boulevard, a mile west of the intersection of Belle Terre and S.R.100.
The Government Services Building is at 1769 East Moody Boulevard, a mile west of the intersection of Belle Terre and S.R.100.
Uniform debate hits News-Journal, "Lookism" in schools
The school uniform debate in Flagler Schools once again made the Daytona Beach News-Journal today, complete with pro-con on uniforms: Town Hall Meeting on Uniforms Slated
The "Today" show ran a piece this morning on the latest research on "lookism" among young people. Children as young as 6 years old have been shown to make character judgments based on a person's physical appearance. Research also says that even teachers are guilty of basing judgments of students on how that child looks. Good looking children were assumed to be more intelligent and more personable than less attractive students, even when the teachers were given identical statistics other than photographs to evaluate them by!
Anyone who has ever been to a restaurant or store where a uniform is required to be worn by the staff knows that uniforms just simply look better on some people than on others. Uniforms don't create equality. They actually enforce the social standard of who looks good, since certain people just simply look good in anything. Everyone else, who are encouraged by fashion stylists to "dress to flatter your bodies" are stuck in things that not only don't flatter them but can actually be actively unflattering. The self-esteem blow to a person of being stuck in an unflattering look instead of being able to dress to their best potential can be harsh.
Educating our kids is supposed to be about teaching them self-worth and about teaching them to fulfill their potential. So why then should we limit their potential and tell them they can only look good during school hours if they were born looking a certain way?
The "Today" show ran a piece this morning on the latest research on "lookism" among young people. Children as young as 6 years old have been shown to make character judgments based on a person's physical appearance. Research also says that even teachers are guilty of basing judgments of students on how that child looks. Good looking children were assumed to be more intelligent and more personable than less attractive students, even when the teachers were given identical statistics other than photographs to evaluate them by!
Anyone who has ever been to a restaurant or store where a uniform is required to be worn by the staff knows that uniforms just simply look better on some people than on others. Uniforms don't create equality. They actually enforce the social standard of who looks good, since certain people just simply look good in anything. Everyone else, who are encouraged by fashion stylists to "dress to flatter your bodies" are stuck in things that not only don't flatter them but can actually be actively unflattering. The self-esteem blow to a person of being stuck in an unflattering look instead of being able to dress to their best potential can be harsh.
Educating our kids is supposed to be about teaching them self-worth and about teaching them to fulfill their potential. So why then should we limit their potential and tell them they can only look good during school hours if they were born looking a certain way?
Friday, July 6, 2007
School Board votes on tougher dress code for 2007-2008
The Flagler school board has voted to enact what they describe as a "tougher" dress code for the 2007-2008 school year while they are waiting to put in place the uniform policy during 2008-2009.
The details can be found in the News-Journal's story on the board meeting, but according to the News-Journal "changes" coming include:
It doesn't seem much different from the previous dress code, quoted here from the student manual for last year posted on the district's website:
I'm all for the dress code. Enforce that instead of forcing kids into uniforms that don't actually solve any problems and cause even more expense and work for parents.
The details can be found in the News-Journal's story on the board meeting, but according to the News-Journal "changes" coming include:
· Miniskirts, short shorts or dresses must be 4 inches above the knee.
· No underwear should be seen at any time.
· Shirts must reach the belt line of pants or be long enough to get tucked in.
· Footwear that is a safety hazard will not be allowed (this includes those with wheels and possibly flip flops).
· All pants must be properly sized and worn secured at the waist level.
It doesn't seem much different from the previous dress code, quoted here from the student manual for last year posted on the district's website:
1. Short shorts/micro-mini skirts or dresses must be no shorter than the length of the student's longest finger with their arms relaxed at their side.Looks like the only real change is the definition of how the skirts are measured and the inclusion of footwear in the code. The real question is - will there be actual enforcement of the dress code now? The uniform debate wouldn't even be happening if the existing code had been enforced.
2. Hats, headgear, or any head covering (bandanas, sweatbands, du-rags) are not allowed.
3. Tops must be long enough to clearly overlap the belt line or stay tucked in during the course of the normal movement throughout the school day.
4. Bare midriff tops, halters, revealing tops, tank tops, muscle shirts, mesh clothing, see-through clothing, blouses or shirts with string straps are not allowed.
5. Underwear, including bra straps or boxer shorts that show is not allowed.
6. Underwear and sleepwear as outer clothing are not allowed.
7. Tight fitting clothing or spandex-type material that is not covered by other clothing is not allowed.
8. Clothes or tattoos that show profanity, violence, sexually suggestive phrases or pictures, gang related symbols, alcohol, tobacco, drugs or advertisements for such products or other phrases or symbols deemed inappropriate by the administration will not be allowed.
9. Wearing apparel, which tends to identify association with secret societies or gangs as prohibited in Florida Statues are not allowed.
10. No sunglasses can be worn inside buildings.
11. Wallet chains or dog collars are not allowed.
12. Chains in excess of 12” that hang outside clothing are not allowed.
13. Jewelry that presents a safety or health hazard or causes a major disruption to the educational process is not allowed.
14. Footwear that is a safety hazard will not be allowed. (i.e. footwear with wheels, including but not limited to Healy’s)
15. Clothing which is not worn appropriately, is not properly fastened, or has tears that are indecent will not be permitted.
16. All trousers, including oversized or low-hanging trousers, must be worn and secured at waist level.
17. Clothing must be free of intentional holes or rips that are 4” above knee. This can cause a distraction to the educational environment.
Students who are considered to be dressed inappropriately or who violate above guidelines will be sent to the office. The administration/designee shall determine whether a mode of dress is in violation of the district Dress Code Policy. In cases where a student is inappropriately dressed, arrangements will be made with the parents for an appropriate change of clothing. In the case of high school students, with parent authorization, the child may be sent home for a change of clothing.
Students who are sent to the office more than one time for Dress Code violations will be subject to disciplinary measures.
I'm all for the dress code. Enforce that instead of forcing kids into uniforms that don't actually solve any problems and cause even more expense and work for parents.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Sign Up For The Mailing List!
If you'd like to be kept up-to-date on developments in the fight to keep uniforms out of Flagler County's public schools, you can send an email to StopFlaglerUniforms@gmail.com to be added to the news mailing list.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Make sure your voice is heard on uniforms!
The Flagler County School Board has apparently decided to limit parent input on the topic of school uniforms to what the uniforms should be instead of whether they should be implemented at all. The board, which had a Town Hall Meeting scheduled for July 11th to hear community input on the possibility of implementing a school uniform policy for the district, decided at their June 19th meeting to go ahead with uniforms for the 2008-2009 school year. The town hall meeting will now be used to solicit community input on the content of the uniforms instead of whether they will exist at all.
Flagler Decides Against School Uniforms, For Now
I for one am furious at the school board "moving the goal line" on community members who want to participate in the process of deciding whether to implement uniforms in our schools. We were told that the Town Hall Meeting was our opportunity to express our opinion to the board. Then, the school board decided to go ahead and approve the policy before that date. Why the rush? Were they afraid of community opinion? Do they not value or care about the opinions of the voters who elected them?
Was the rush was that there wouldn't be time to implement a uniform policy for the 2007-2008 school year after the July 11th meeting? Then I don't see what the rush was to adopt a policy at the June 19th school board meeting since even at that date the board acknowledged it was too late to implement the policy for the 2007-2008 school year. Why not just wait another 3 weeks before voting on the issue for the 2008-2009 school year? What was the urgency?
I will be contacting the Flagler County School Board members (contact information in the right hand column of this site) and making my dissatisfaction known to them. I suggest that anyone else who disagrees with the idea of school uniforms does the same. I also suggest that you show up at the following town hall meeting to make the topic what it was supposed to be about in the first place: whether there should be uniforms in our school at all.
Town Hall Meeting on School Uniforms
July 11th, 7-9pm
Government Service Building - Board Room
Don't be railroaded into a policy that doesn't work by an over-zealous school board that is limiting parent input. If we work together we can make our voices heard and make a difference!
Flagler Decides Against School Uniforms, For Now
I for one am furious at the school board "moving the goal line" on community members who want to participate in the process of deciding whether to implement uniforms in our schools. We were told that the Town Hall Meeting was our opportunity to express our opinion to the board. Then, the school board decided to go ahead and approve the policy before that date. Why the rush? Were they afraid of community opinion? Do they not value or care about the opinions of the voters who elected them?
Was the rush was that there wouldn't be time to implement a uniform policy for the 2007-2008 school year after the July 11th meeting? Then I don't see what the rush was to adopt a policy at the June 19th school board meeting since even at that date the board acknowledged it was too late to implement the policy for the 2007-2008 school year. Why not just wait another 3 weeks before voting on the issue for the 2008-2009 school year? What was the urgency?
I will be contacting the Flagler County School Board members (contact information in the right hand column of this site) and making my dissatisfaction known to them. I suggest that anyone else who disagrees with the idea of school uniforms does the same. I also suggest that you show up at the following town hall meeting to make the topic what it was supposed to be about in the first place: whether there should be uniforms in our school at all.
Town Hall Meeting on School Uniforms
July 11th, 7-9pm
Government Service Building - Board Room
Don't be railroaded into a policy that doesn't work by an over-zealous school board that is limiting parent input. If we work together we can make our voices heard and make a difference!
Frequently Asked Questions About School Uniforms
Q. Won’t uniforms improve school security?
Proponents of uniforms argue that having kids dressed in uniforms will make it easy to spot someone who doesn’t belong at the school. This is incorrect for several reasons.
1. To be constitutional, courts have ruled that uniform policies must have a parental “opt-out” clause. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that 100% of the students at any school will be wearing the uniform, effectively erasing the effect of making an intruder immediately visible since there will always be a small percentage of students out of uniform.
2. If uniforms are simply store-bought items in certain colors, they can be obtained by anyone who wishes to enter a school, camouflaging them and allowing them to blend into the student body.
3. If uniforms are mandated as specific shirts with embroidered logos, they are still difficult to identify from a distance, making it easy for someone to blend into a crowd. Also embroidered shirts negate any arguable cost savings that uniform proponents could claim. (see next question).
4. While it is true that similar clothing makes keeping groups together on field trips easier, this can be done in much simpler ways than requiring uniforms everyday when kids may take field trips only 2-3 days per school year. For instance, it is currently done at BTES by having the kids purchase t-shirts for about $10 that they are requested to wear on the field trips. Kids who join the class after the t-shirt purchase date are requested to wear a shirt the same color as the purchased shirt on field trip days.
5. Adult intruders are a major source of security concern at the schools, particularly the elementary schools. Unless teachers are also required to wear the uniform, the uniform policy does nothing to address that concern. Even if teachers were required to wear a uniform, the constant stream of volunteers and parents in and out of the schools, not wearing uniforms, means there would always be people in the buildings not wearing uniforms for an intruder to blend in with.
Uniform advocates also claim that student-on-student violence decreases, and gang activity is prevented, when uniforms are required to be worn by students. No credible, conclusive research supports these claims. As researchers at the University of Notre Dame pointed out in their study on the subject of school uniforms, case studies that claim to show successes from implementing uniform policies in schools cannot show a clear relationship between the uniform policies and the school improvements. The changes in the schools can almost certainly be credited to other events that took place at the same time the uniforms were implemented, or simply to the attention that was brought to the school’s problems by the implementation of the policy. There is no research to support the idea that actual wearing of uniforms improves student behavior or security.
Q. Aren’t uniforms cheaper and easier for parents?
Uniforms are simpler and easier in one way: assuming that your child’s uniform is clean and in their closet in the morning, there are no arguments about what to wear to school. But that one possible advantage is outweighed by several downsides in both hassle and cost.
First, there are the laundry problems. Uniforms would end up generating twice as much laundry (and thus higher water and electric bills) for most families, since most kids would wear two outfits in a day instead of one. Also, if only a very limited set of clothes could be worn to school, there would have to be constant vigilance to ensure that those clothes were clean for wearing. This would mean more frequent laundry quite probably for most households.
Then there are the cost arguments that are put forward in favor of uniforms. Buying some cheap pants and shirts for kids for school rather than the wardrobes they wear now might sound cheaper but in fact for most families it will increase their wardrobe costs. This would be especially true if embroidered shirts, expensive compared to discount store polo shirts, were required as part of the uniforms.
Very few kids are going to want to wear their uniforms after school. This will be especially true for older, more fashion-conscious kids. They will end up needing their uniform wardrobe as well as an after-school wardrobe – two whole wardrobes instead of just one.
In many families, like mine, using clothing as gifts for birthdays and holidays cuts clothes shopping budgets. Outfits or clothes store gift cards are practical gifts that the kids love to get. Somehow I doubt that most kids would be thrilled to receive school uniforms from Nana for Christmas, or would want to spend their birthday gift card from the Gap on khakis and golf shirts they can wear to school.
Q. Aren’t uniforms easier to enforce than a dress code?
Contrary to popular belief, dress codes still need to be part of uniform policies. Enforcement of uniform policies is not a black-and-white “either you are wearing the uniform or you are not” decision with no gray area to interpret. Even if it is dicated what color pants and what kind of shirts are to be worn, there still needs to be dress code rules about what constitutes pants that are too tight or too loose, skirts and shorts that are too short, shirts that are see-through or too tight, etc. Uniforms do not remove the need for school staff to police these sorts of gray areas in the uniform policy. It just dictates what colors of shirts and pants they are looking at when they do it.
Q. Don’t uniforms make kids more equal socially?
Uniform supporters like to believe that promoting “sameness” in appearance through uniforms will encourage kids to look past each others’ external appearance and instead at each others’ characters. This is unfortunately not realistic. In fact, uniforms don't prevent social stratification and can actually promote it in some cases.
Even with a strictly mandated uniform, children from families with more money will still be apparent. Their uniforms will be higher quality, not worn out, and fit better. Their accessories like shoes, watches, school bags, and haircuts will be more expensive and better maintained. These will be noticed among the children and a class system by financial status will still be in place.
Judgments being made by looks will still happen, and could even be increased by uniforms. Certain kids, who look good in anything, will still look good. Kids whose body type or coloring is not suited to the uniform's color or cut will be forced into wearing unflattering clothes everyday with no way to dress themselves in a more flattering way like they could if they had more options.
The social scene for most children extends well outside the school doors. Social judging and classing will happen in those contacts outside school, and will not simply be left behind the moment everyone walks through the doors in their school uniforms. That is a reality of life for our children that school uniforms cannot change.
Q. Don’t uniforms enhance the educational environment and promote learning?
A major argument for uniforms is that they “enhance the learning environment.” However, there is no credible and conclusive research that supports that argument. Studies at both Notre Dame and Michigan State University both concluded that uniforms did not improve the learning environment.
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