Uniform policy at elementary school level makes sense all
around
R.O. Hardin Elementary School is doing the right kind of
experimentation in the classroom. The school is going with a model
that is already proven to work.
R.O. Hardin to start the school year launched its new uniform
policy that includes guidelines for basic colors allowed in
outfits. For a public school locally, it was a bold move because it
is the first public campus in the Hollister School District to go
with the uniforms. It is not unprecedented, however, as Hollister
has joined a growing wave of districts to implement a policy.
Uniform policy at elementary school level makes sense all around

R.O. Hardin Elementary School is doing the right kind of experimentation in the classroom. The school is going with a model that is already proven to work.

R.O. Hardin to start the school year launched its new uniform policy that includes guidelines for basic colors allowed in outfits. For a public school locally, it was a bold move because it is the first public campus in the Hollister School District to go with the uniforms. It is not unprecedented, however, as Hollister has joined a growing wave of districts to implement a policy.

It makes sense from a variety of angles.

Most important, study after study has proven that uniform policies correlate with a boost to academic performance. That is enough of a reason alone to institute a policy.

In a city with growing gang problems, though, the policy also offer a mechanism to reduce the activity by curtailing associations with certain colors or styles of clothing. There is no better time to address the problem than at the elementary school level, when students start to get involved with the activities or become vulnerable to the possibility.

Additionally, from a social perspective, uniforms can play an important role in evening the playing field, so to speak. Students have less stress about their images. They don’t have to worry as much about criticism from peers. It prevents distractions.

It also helps ease the cost burden for parents and students. If families don’t already have the designated colors in the appropriate clothes, they can find decent outfits at thrift stores. For everyone, it should cut down on the hefty clothing bills for many parents each August. Another avenue is that the school offers extra clothing for students who need them, with help in 2011-12 from Sacred Heart School, which donated some to R.O. Hardin.

Ideally, the program can expand beyond R.O. Hardin after this year. District officials and principals at other schools should keep a close watch on the success or failure of the uniforms at R.O. Hardin and look to potentially kick-start the same process, for 2012-13, at mid-year.

There is always a possibility, though, that interest from students and parents could falter. That is because the state law governing uniform policies had the right idea – by allowing public schools to have such policies – but fell short in that it doesn’t permit schools to require the designated outfits and bars them from penalizing violators.

Still, it is time for a change. The argument for freedom of expression has lost steam. This is a matter of weighing priorities and deciding whether young students are better off with the ability to promote their interests on T-shirts or to achieve better results in the classroom. At some point, locally and broader, we have to decide if we want an education system that focuses on growth through expression or one that views academic success as the primary objective.

Previous articleWater polo: With new coach comes new offensive philosophy
Next articleUpdated: No damage related to series of earthquakes
A staff member wrote, edited or posted this article, which may include information provided by one or more third parties.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here