So, I read this morning in the City Paper that the school board’s uniform committee still isn’t finished with the policy, but they are sure they AREN’T including an opt out provision. Somewhere, I’ve missed something. Because without an opt out, they’re violating students’ civil rights, including their right to a free public education. And all the school districts that this committee cites as their models — like Long Beach and Memphis — DO include an opt out.
I know this sounds crazy if you haven’t been in the middle of this for weeks like I have, but I am starting to think this committee really believes that making kids dress the same will erase the disparities they bring to school with them. They’re bound to have some good intent, right?? But wearing baggy or sloppy clothes isn’t what’s stopping some kids in Metro from learning. Let’s talk about the kids who come to school hungry. Who don’t have a parent at home. Whose parents are at home, strung out on drugs. Who struggle with learning disabilities. Who don’t have money to buy school supplies. Who are being abused. Whose parents are getting divorced. Who dodge bullets in their own front yards.
The school uniforms won’t shield kids from those problems. They won’t make more fortunate kids feel empathy. They won’t create active PTOs at schools that haven’t had them. They won’t erase the differences between the so-called haves and the have-nots.
Bottom line: They will get the school district sued, and your tax dollars will be used to defend a policy that’s been proven in an academic study to be ineffective. Talk about a waste.
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You are so right. I guarantee that many parents who have not been following this closely and think that uniforms are “just fine” are going to be for a rude awakening (if this is enacted) and come August they either cannot find or must spend a ton of money on ugly clothes their children will absolutely despise wearing.