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Study to look at uniforms in schools
By Ashley Rhodebeck
Daily News staff writer
In light of the recent escalation of gang violence in the community, one Beloit school board member is spearheading an ad hoc committee involving community members and district staff that will research the possibility of implementing uniforms in the schools.
“We're looking at everything the schools can do to help resolve the problem in any way we can,” Policy and Personnel Committee chair Pam Charles said, noting students have worn gang colors and insignia to school.
There's no scientific study that indicates uniforms have a definite positive influence in schools, but Charles said other schools have experienced a decrease in violence and disciplinary issues after requiring uniforms.
“I haven't heard of any school district that initiated a uniform policy and didn't see positive results of some sort,” she said.
Other benefits may stem from implementing uniforms, Charles said, charging that the district's dress code isn't being enforced.
Students complain about girls showing too much skin, she said, and kids can hide things in baggy pants and sweat shirts. Having uniforms would decrease these incidents and would help reduce the visible differences between children from various socio-economic backgrounds, she said.
Charles has contacted 15 people who expressed a strong interest and commitment to serving on the committee, and she invited four students to participate. Creating a diverse group was important, she said, explaining the invitees represent different genders, races, socio-economic backgrounds and geographic regions of Beloit.
While some support uniforms and others don't, Charles said all are willing to change their opinions depending on what the group learns during the research process, which may include visits to districts with uniforms and conversations with the administration at such school systems.
Thorough research is needed, Charles said, because implementing school uniforms must be accepted by the community.
“It's not going to be decided by seven people,” she said.
Forming the ad hoc committee does not indicate uniforms will be implemented, Charles said, nor does it mean uniforms would be required at every school.
Charles wants the group to begin meeting by mid April. An end date for the committee has not been set because she doesn't want to rush the decision. However, she would like a decision to be made this summer so parents have enough notice if a policy were to begin by the next school year.
“No one's picturing plaid jumpers,” Charles said.
The board's policy committee began discussions about implementing common school attire last August by inviting the Aldrich Middle School principal to discuss a school uniforms survey parents had taken in 2006. Of the 347 families that participated, 214 said they would support a dress code that would include polo or front button shirts with a collar. The committee agreed to gather more information and revisit the topic at a later date.
Daily News staff writer
In light of the recent escalation of gang violence in the community, one Beloit school board member is spearheading an ad hoc committee involving community members and district staff that will research the possibility of implementing uniforms in the schools.
“We're looking at everything the schools can do to help resolve the problem in any way we can,” Policy and Personnel Committee chair Pam Charles said, noting students have worn gang colors and insignia to school.
There's no scientific study that indicates uniforms have a definite positive influence in schools, but Charles said other schools have experienced a decrease in violence and disciplinary issues after requiring uniforms.
“I haven't heard of any school district that initiated a uniform policy and didn't see positive results of some sort,” she said.
Other benefits may stem from implementing uniforms, Charles said, charging that the district's dress code isn't being enforced.
Students complain about girls showing too much skin, she said, and kids can hide things in baggy pants and sweat shirts. Having uniforms would decrease these incidents and would help reduce the visible differences between children from various socio-economic backgrounds, she said.
Charles has contacted 15 people who expressed a strong interest and commitment to serving on the committee, and she invited four students to participate. Creating a diverse group was important, she said, explaining the invitees represent different genders, races, socio-economic backgrounds and geographic regions of Beloit.
While some support uniforms and others don't, Charles said all are willing to change their opinions depending on what the group learns during the research process, which may include visits to districts with uniforms and conversations with the administration at such school systems.
Thorough research is needed, Charles said, because implementing school uniforms must be accepted by the community.
“It's not going to be decided by seven people,” she said.
Forming the ad hoc committee does not indicate uniforms will be implemented, Charles said, nor does it mean uniforms would be required at every school.
Charles wants the group to begin meeting by mid April. An end date for the committee has not been set because she doesn't want to rush the decision. However, she would like a decision to be made this summer so parents have enough notice if a policy were to begin by the next school year.
“No one's picturing plaid jumpers,” Charles said.
The board's policy committee began discussions about implementing common school attire last August by inviting the Aldrich Middle School principal to discuss a school uniforms survey parents had taken in 2006. Of the 347 families that participated, 214 said they would support a dress code that would include polo or front button shirts with a collar. The committee agreed to gather more information and revisit the topic at a later date.
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