Debate on school uniforms continues

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March 11, 2013

Debate on school uniforms continues

Latasha Everson CNHI The Tifton Gazette Mon Mar 11, 2013, 09:08 PM EDT

TIFTON — Since the discussion of school uniforms at February’s Tift County Board of Education work session, a committee has been put together to gather more information on the pros and cons of school uniforms and to develop a survey for parents, students and teachers.

At last week’s work session, board members were provided with school uniform information gathered by SuzAnne Lamb, parent involvement coordinator at Tift County High School Northeast Campus; April Holmes, Tift County school district social worker; and Reginald Phillips of Phillips Educational Consulting & Associates LLC. Phillips and Holmes were present at the work session. Lamb was unable to attend.

Phillips said, “Many schools have implemented mandatory dress codes, which include restricting of short skirts and baggy pants. However, some schools have changed those dress codes into mandatory uniforms. The debate over the effects of school uniforms centers around whether uniforms take away the opportunity for children to express their individuality or if they make it easier for students to look past clothing to see the person underneath.

“One of the primary goals of the Tift County Board of Education is to provide a safe and disciplined learning environment. One idea to assist in accomplishing this goal is to implement a school uniform policy as a creative measure to increase security and lessen distractions.”

He said there are varying opinions concerning the wearing of school uniforms and because of those varying opinions, it is necessary for parents, students and teachers to have an opportunity to express their support or concerns on the implementation of a school uniform policy.

“The superintendent (Patrick Atwater), along with the policy committee of the board of education, asked SuzAnne Lamb, April Holmes and me to research information pertaining to the school uniform and provide a mechanism through which parents, teachers and students could have input on the subject. Today, we are reporting the results of those findings and a way to solicit input from the affected stakeholders.”

Holmes then discussed what they found as some overwhelming pros and cons.

“Based on current research and events, it is necessary to understand the pros and cons of the implementation of school uniforms,” she said.

She addressed the pros (safety, behavioral issues and affordability) and cons (lack of self-expression/individuality, student identification and initial cost). She said the biggest pro was safety.

Surveys have been developed for parents, students and teachers to voice their opinions about whether the local school system should enforce uniforms or not.

Lamb informed The Gazette that the parent survey has been posted. Parents can go to any Tift County schools website or visit www.tiftschools.com. click on “Parent Survey for School Uniforms,” and then click on “Read More.” From here, parents will be directed to a page to take the survey. Participants are only asked to answer two questions.

Lamb said the survey will also be posted on the school system’s Facebook page and on Infinite Campus. She said the student and teacher surveys will be sent out internally within the school system. All surveys are set to close at 3:30 p.m. March 21.

“Based on feedback, this will determine how the board proceeds,” Lamb said. She said if a school uniform policy is adopted, student input will be sought to determine clothing item options.

She said during their research they also had an overwhelming response from teachers who would prefer wearing uniforms themselves. Some thought it would be much easier than trying to find what to wear to school each day. Lamb said she found this to be interesting. She said if teachers are for it, they will possibly pursue that avenue. This is why teachers are also being asked to participate in the survey.

She added there are local vendors that are already in business of providing uniforms, and if student uniforms are implemented, those businesses are readily available to provide the clothing.

At the work session, Dana Spurlin, Tift County school system’s instructional technology director, went over the survey format and its function. She said the survey for parents has been set up so that someone cannot take the survey twice at the same computer.

She said before taking the surveys, participants will be provided with the following rationale: “The primary goal of the Tift County school district is to provide a safe and disciplined learning environment. One way to accomplish this goal is to implement a school uniform policy as a creative measure to increase security and lessen distractions. We understand there are varying opinions concerning the wearing of school uniforms. Your input is needed! The Tift County Board of Education would like to give parents and students an opportunity to express their support and concerns on the implementation of a school uniform policy...”

A list of pros and cons will also be provided at the beginning of the surveys.

“We don’t want to be biased,” Phillips said. “We want the survey to dictate where the board would like to go.”

Board member Rita Griffin said Kim Seigler, interim principal at Tift County High School, had a situation where a student wanted to take an advanced placement class but felt she would be out of place because “she didn’t look like the other kids.”

Seigler said, “That should never be a reason for that child not to be in that class.”

Chairwoman Kim Rutland said she hopes parents, teachers and students take the survey serious.

“We don’t want to strong-arm anyone,” she said, referring to the board’s consideration of school uniforms.

She thanked the committee for their hard work.

It was also noted during the work session that high school students would still be required to wear their ID badge if uniforms are implemented.

At February’s work session, the board advised uniforms will make it easier to identify who enters the school buildings, as well as help with bullying and gang identification.

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