THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9502210093
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
LOCAL DEBATE over how students dress for school is heating up as the state General Assembly moves to pass legislation allowing school districts to require that children wear uniforms. While the idea is popular with adults, many students are adamantly opposed.
Uniforms have proven popular at Bowling Park Elementary, where school officials ask students to wear them once a week. But because of lobbying from parents, Principal Herman D. Clark Jr. said, students will wear uniforms three times a week beginning next school year.
``The PTA executive board and other parents came to me and said that they want this more than one day a week,'' Clark told the School Board recently.
Cost should not be an issue, Clark said, because businesses have agreed to help the school supply students with the uniforms.
The uniforms now worn consist simply of blue slacks and white shirts for boys and blue skirts and white blouses for girls.
Ruffner Middle School, under new principal Pamela Hoffler-Riddick, is expected to experiment with uniforms in the fall if the school's plan is approved by Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. and his cabinet.
The plan met mixed reviews when it was unveiled to parents last month, but there is enough support to try it at all grade levels, Hoffler-Riddick said.
So far, Bowling Park and Ruffner are the only two Norfolk schools serious about uniforms, said Thomas B. Lockamy Jr., assistant superintendent for school governance.
Lockamy predicted the state legislature's blessing would make uniforms a popular topic. Gov. George F. Allen supports the legislation.
``I think you'll see more and more interest being shown,'' Lockamy said.
The city's school administrators already are moving that way as they develop a plan to establish districtwide schools of choice, including a few that would feature uniforms as a requirement, Lockamy said. The plan would offer parents more options of where to send their children to school, Lockamy said.
Delores J. Brown, a fifth-grade teacher at Sherwood Forest Elementary, said she thinks uniforms are a good idea. But schools considering the idea should be careful not to place a financial hardship on parents, she said.
``I'm definitely pro,'' Brown said. ``I think it would eliminate a lot of the problems. I really believe that if you're dressed nicely you tend to act better. I've noticed that on special occasions when the children dress up, they behave better.''
Brown's class, however, has a decidedly different opinion. As an assignment, she asked her students to write letters giving their reaction to a uniform requirement. Only one student favored it.
Most of the students said such a requirement would violate their right to choose what they wear to school.
``The only place students should have to wear uniforms is at a military school!'' wrote Ginger L. Bristow. ``I think it's just a waste of money and time.''
``I would be embarrassed,'' wrote Sean Lee. ``I do not want to look dorky like a dweeb.''
``Really, I don't want to feel like I go to a private school,'' wrote Craig Smith.
``This feels like a punishment,'' wrote Devin Taylor. ``I know we should dress a little better, but what do people expect? We are in a public school!''
And then there were a few students with mixed feelings.
``In my opinion, freedom to wear what you want is one of the best things about going to a public school,'' wrote Paul J. Sedorka. ``But if it solves any problems, which I don't think it will, we really should do it. If it helps kids from getting beat up or picked on.''
KEYWORDS: EDUCATION SCHOOL UNIFORMS by CNB