Most parents now favor clothing change
San Juan School next fall is expected to become the third public school in the county to adopt a uniform policy for students, citing economic and social concerns at the K-8 campus.
The idea was presented to parents in a take-home survey last year and “it wasn’t real popular,” said Principal Bronson Mendes-LoBue. “This year we discussed it at our School Site Council and Home and School Club meetings and decided to put out another survey,” this time during a school open house.
During the most recent survey, 76 percent of 236 parents who responded said yes when asked simply, “Do you want uniforms?” at San Juan School.
“That told us we need to pursue this again,” Mendes-LoBue said, noting that the school board has endorsed the idea and a committee of adults and students is being formed to work out the
details. “We didn’t go into why uniforms work or what the advantages or disadvantages are.”
“We have a group of seventh-grade students (who will be next year’s eighth-graders) who want to be on the committee also,” she said. “It’s very important that we have students involved in this. The more kids, the better. We know kids don’t want to wear uniforms.”
Hollister’s R.O. Hardin School implemented a dress code this year and will be joined next year by Calaveras School and the Accelerated Achievement Academy.
Mendes-LoBue said having a policy encouraging that students wear uniforms – public schools can’t mandate them – could be an affordable option for families.
The committees that will discuss the policy will have to figure out how to address families who don’t want to participate and they will consider having separate colors for elementary and middle school uniforms.
“We want the kids to buy into this,” Mendes-LoBue said. “That’s why it’s important they buy into this process.”
The school is having informational meetings about the uniform policy on Friday, June 1 at 8:15 a.m. in the cafeteria and Thursday, June 7 at 8:15 a.m.
Mendes-LoBue said parental attitudes about school uniforms have been changing over the years. The switch by other local schools has also “spurred us along,” Mendes-LoBue said.
“It’s been found that uniforms help with academics, there are lower discipline issues and it makes students feel more equal – especially when you’re dealing with students who have to have the latest fads in fashion,” she said. “It eliminates a lot of the peer pressure and discipline issues.”
While the school cannot mandate that students wear uniforms, the principal said she hopes “we can make it where it’s affordable for parents.”
“We’re not talking about uniforms that you have to go to a uniform shop to buy,” Mendes-LoBue said. “Maybe khaki or navy blue or black pants and a specific type of shirt, like a polo shirt in a specific color.”
