My 8-year-old son’s favorite shirt is his Superman T-shirt. That might be because it’s his favorite shade of blue or because it’s the softest cotton shirt he owns. Or maybe it’s because when he wears a Superman shield on his chest, he feels just a little braver, a little smarter, a little more SUPER? Gosh, I hope so.
My boys' elementary school, a public school, is in the process of implementing a mandatory school uniform policy. Under the current proposal, a child will be sent home from school if he or she comes to school wearing anything other than the red polo shirt purchased from the one vendor selected by the school, at the price set by the school (a price which is roughly estimated to be $10-12 dollars, because even if the shirts only cost $8, the school plans to charge parents more to create a “fund” from which to purchase shirts for those who cannot afford them--42% of the school qualifies for free lunch!--essentially a “uniform tax,” a tax which is unauthorized, unlawful and discriminatory, but that's another essay). So if your Superman shirt makes you feel a little smarter or luckier on test day? Sorry kid, you’re out of luck.
Is this reasonable? Many contend that mandatory school uniforms in public schools violate the rights to freedom of expression and religion, the right to privacy, and the right to a free public education. Expressing one’s independence through dress is an important aspect of child development. If you can’t be Superman in second grade, when can you?
Of course First Amendment rights can be reasonably restricted--No yelling “Fire!” in a crowded theater, and no wearing your bathing suit to kindergarten Johnny! Dress codes are a reasonable restriction on freedom of expression. A mandatory uniform policy in elementary school is excessive. The reasons behind implementing the uniform policy at my sons' elementary school are not for behavioral or gang issues (which are often the justification at higher grade levels), but rather to “foster school spirit.” This troubles me for two reasons.
1. When did school spirit become more important than performing your best on a test? Many experts contend that young children learn best when they are comfortable, and what is comfortable is as unique as the child. The best test-takers figure out what works for them: the number one guy in my law school class took every exam in a full suit and tie; the number two guy preferred sweats. In preparation for the upcoming CRT exams, the school recently sent a letter home encouraging children to “wear comfortable clothes” for the exams.
2. When did school spirit become more important than constitutional freedoms? Should it be? Uniforms teach children you must look the same in order to belong, and thereby discourage creativity and diversity. I am reminded of the conversation in the movie The Incredibles in which Dash complains because his mother won’t let him try out for the track team:
Dash: You always say ‘Do your best,’ but you don’t really mean it. Why can’t I do the best that I can do?
Helen: Right now, honey, the world just wants us to fit in, and to fit in, we gotta be like everyone else.
Dash: But Dad always said our powers were nothing to be ashamed of, our powers made us special.
Helen: Everyone’s special, Dash.
Dash: [muttering] Which is another way of saying nobody is.
It appears the school has decided it is time for kids' school identities to become their only identities.
I'm hoping there might still be time to restore reason and shift the emphasis back to educating children rather than clothing them. I'm going to the school board meeting, and I'm encouraging more parents to attend the next uniform meeting on March 16, 2011 at 5:15 pm in the school's library. First Amendment rights, like super powers, should never be easily conceded.
*Sometimes being Mom to 5 Super boys requires heroics.
I Do Now
6 days ago
4 comments:
#1, HOORAY for a blog post from Laurie!
#2, I have told you that I liked having uniforms as we did when Noah was in Kindergarten. But, it was quite a different situation than yours: for one thing, while the school is public it has a completely different curriculum and most kids there have been put there deliberately by their parents for said curriculum. Also, the code was not as strict: polos in any of 3 colors, purchased from wherever you want.
You definitely have an argument here. Charging what is essentially a uniform tax is absurd. Requiring ONLY one kind of shirt is silly; even in the most strict uniform schools I can think of there are at least two options. While I am not opposed to school uniforms as a general rule, I am on your side in this case.
But in answer to your question... he can be Superman after school and on Saturdays. :)
Funny how I wrote about all the things that were OK about school uniforms when you posted about it on FB, and how it all felt different, when 2 weeks later, I got a parent survey letter in my kids' peechees regarding uniforms at MY school!
While I still do really like having uniforms at the middle school, I see no need for it at the elementary school, and it would be very costly for us. Not only do I never pay that amount for a shirt for my kids, in fact, I have spent hardly anything clothing my kids, especially the 2 who are up for the uniforms. Almost all of their clothing has been second-hand -- either given to us or else purchased at thrift shops. If their school were to implement uniforms, my clothing budget would be crazy. Not only would they go through a couple of sets of uniforms during a school year, due to both growth and destroying clothes, but they would still need a whole other wardrobe to wear after school (to make the uniforms last as long as possible) and on weekends and during the summer.
So, my 2 biggest objections at the elementary level are:
1. There isn't a "need" for uniforms. There isn't enough disciplinary issues that they warrant requiring uniforms.
2. Standard Student Attire would seriously impact my finances.
Good luck! At least you aren't forced to have your kids on a year-round schedule for no reason!
Man! I can only imagine how much my clothing budget would go up - and on clothes that I wouldn't like to spend my money on! Our neighborhood school (which we do not attend) has uniforms, but the guidelines are much less strict. It's something like solid colored tees and jeans or khakis. Still - what's wrong with stripes? Or Superman? I want to hear about when you go talk to the schoolboard about this!
p.s. yay for blogging! I really don't keep up on fb.
first of all, love the incredibles references. secondly, everything i have to say has already been said. almost all my kids clothes are hand me downs. i buy socks and shoes for them. this would be a financial burden on me to buy uniforms for two kids. plus, my daughter does not wear polo shirts because i think they are ugly on girls.
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