Uniforms are just an extension of the 'no bullying set', soon to be followed by a mandatory style of hair cut. Can't we work on getting the 'government' out of lives?

Thanks for your comment. If uniforms mean fewer bullying incidents, wouldn't that be a good thing?

If they don't have clothes to bully over, they'll find another avenue for bullying (hair, makeup, length of pants/skirt, how you walk/talk, where you live, what you eat, who you hang out with, who you don't hang out with....the list could go on and on...bullies will always find something to bully over...with or without a dress code. I also wonder how often it is that kids are bullied about clothes...that is a new one for me....and I've had a kid in the public schools for years....which isn't to say it has never happened, but to what degree. There must be some other impetus behind this uniform initiative. I am not coming down for or against, but would like to know the real reason that this is suddenly on the table. Especially when there are so many academic issues that really need to be addressed by the district.

MsSummit, what grades are your kids in? Would you be in favor of across the board uniforms? Or just in specific grades. You raise a quality point about bullying, it can focus on anything.

High School. I don't really have an opinion on uniforms--on the one hand I see the benefit of having uniform--especially as Eileen W. pointed out, getting young ones dressed and out the door in the morning. Having done the parochial school route, that was definitely a bonus...saves time and the kids do tend to look more pulled together. I know at the middle school there were issues with how the girls were dressing (hence, the "big t-shirt" threat)....although I suspect that at MS and HS you'll have girls pulling their skirts up as high as they can go (they do that in parochial school...however, there skirt lengths were strictly enforced and girls were checked). There is the argument, however, on the side of individuality and I'm just not sure why this is important in an affluent area like Summit--unlike inner city schools, where many kids come from lower income homes (and there may be a feeling that uniforms bring discipline and perhaps save parents $), in Summit that is the minority..so clothing budgets are not an issue for most..and the kids wearing inappropriate clothes? Seems they were allowed to leave the house that way...and someone gave them $ to buy those clothes....so I don't see there being a lot of parental support for uniforms--again, I get back to the core question, Why is this an issue? Is Millburn, who beats Summit academically by a long shot, concerning themselves with uniforms? No. Please, BOE, focus on our kids brains, not their bodies!

What is really going on here related to uniforms? Is it not really about the 99%/1%. Think about it, the Summit Board of Education is run by a radical group of progressives, all of the income redistribution political mind. So logically, they will want to destroy all evidence of income inequality by putting everyone in ‘look the same’ box. Equality of dress is a good place to start, that way all will look ‘equal’. Makes you sick to think the schools are being used in such an obvious political way.

Duuuude: what stars are you gazing on?
If it's to counter bullying, uniforms are a waste because kids will find other things about other kids to pillory en masse. Also, if there's that level of bullying in Summit there's a bigger issue to address. If it's to make the kids more presentable, I think it bears further examination. But - and despite my early enthusiasm which was slightly tongue-in-cheek - there are many problems with the issue and with its sudden appearance on the docket. If there are strict uniforms - and as a Catholic School graduate (shudder) there are zillions of ways to circumvent the rules which will require teachers to do even more policing. If its a more formal dress code - which I'd regularly get around by wearing black jeans - and one can buy certain styles/colors from a variety of stores there will be large price differentials and again will require policing. So where do we want teachers to focus their energy? After further thought my question is this: uniforms never once came up in the 2 Community sessions I recently attended so why now? What did come up many many times was that the BOE needed to put news out into the community in a better way and in this case and in my humble opinion it's been a big fat failure. And what's going on with the All-Day Kindergarten committee Dr Parker & Mrs Stevenson?

Some varied opinions here. I've updated the story with info from Dr. Parker and another parent who feels uniforms will help cover up those students who need a little more covering. Still, she doesn't think such a policy will catch on. Hope to see some of you at the meeting tonight.

I don't know whether any of you actually spend time in the high school, but very few of us girls dress "in tube tops" with our "chests hanging out." Of course there are some girls who dress somewhat indecently, but it is not a wide enough issue as to warrant a uniform. Nor will uniforms solve bullying; however, the high school hasn't got a significant bullying problem either, and when the issue does arise, it's not about clothing. And on a more frivolous note, clothes are fun. We like wearing pretty things to school, and it's not distracting. All of these people who project their misbegotten opinions on why uniforms would be beneficial to students do not actually spend time in and around the high school sphere; their solutions address the wrong problems.

It's pretty amazing that one group of parents at one school were able to fast-track an issue this large. Friends in high places amongst the apolitical school board? :)

Regarding the parent statement, I think it's extremely naive to think a uniform will do away with label wars - what about shoes or hairbands or tights or underwear or backpacks or any of the countless other ways there are to "outfit" a kid . . .

Ms. Pulsar, I'm glad a student has weighed in, but, I've been around the HS (picking up various sitters) and seen some pretty objectionable items pass for clothing . . . and I'm a pretty progressive parent who also agrees it's nice to express yourself sartorially. However, and even though the nature of the working world is ever evolving - it would probably be a very appropriate lesson if someone guided the youths in how to pull together a real outfit of clothing. Leggings and half shirts (girls) and crazy LAX shorts (guys) don't really cut the mustard and you have to be able to dress appropriately for, say, a college entrance or internship or summer job.

Correction: I've changed the wording in the second graph from "The board is considering a one-year pilot program to require school uniforms" to "The board is asking for feedback to see if it should consider a one-year pilot program to require school uniforms."

and expects to hear from parents at tonight's Board of Education workshop meeting.

Ok, Camilo - what was said at the meeting?

Eileen--I was not at the meeting, but spoke to somebody who was. Camilio should confirm the information, however, from what I heard back the following occurred:
1. Michelle Stevenson seemed displeased at the manner in which this was placed on the agenda. It sounded as though this was not something that was sanctioned by the BOE for consideration, and one BOE member made a statement related to the fact matters such as these, which, evidently was initiated as the result of one parent speaking to the LH PTA, should not have made it to this meeting... Evidently Nathan Parker was contacted by the LH PTA prez about running a survey of LH parents on the matter. How the survey (which evidently has not yet finished) turned into an agenda item seems a mystery. But we have our Supt.'s continued poor judgment to blame for this extreme waste of time. That said, it sounds as though the question as to why this parent wants uniforms was never answered. I am thinking it is a case of "Pingry Envy"--dress 'em like a prep school and you'll get the same results. I'd really like to hear from a confirmed source why this really was initiated.

‘Friends in high places amongst the apolitical school board’, just who do you think your kidding. The Board, teacher’s union, Superintendent and the Mayor have so politicalized the school system to the point it is dysfunctional in so many ways. Just watch how the uniform issue will play out. Everything in the new Mayor’s background and the actions she has taken on Council give you ample evidence, beyond any reasonable doubt, she will continue the politicization of the school system. Just watch who her appointments will be

MsSummit: just like I said "friends in high places."
AStar Gazer (I can't believe I'm engaging with someone with that kind of moniker): I was being ironic. And quoting Dr. Parker from one of the community meetings. It's fairly obvious the BOE are political. How could they not? And if I had the energy I'd do more than muckrake online and push for an elected abd therefore admittedly political BOE.

Still wondering:
1) Why did the LH parent push for school uniforms?
2) Why did the LH PTA think it was a good enough idea to poll their parent community? And, did they not think about the ramifications this would have across all the schools in the district? Is this their role?
3) Why did Nathan Parker think this was a good idea to put forth to the LH community? Did he not recognize or think about the ramifications this would across all the schools in the district? What is he doing to improve our schools?

True, we should have an elected board...so that at least the politics are elected and express the majority (whether you agree with them or not) and not the opinion of one elected official and potentially his/her personal agenda--with no input from his/her constituents and transparency to the process. That said, the current BOE president seems sensitive to a lot of these concerns (hence the desire for more openness). Since she also is parent to a child/children in the schools, I feel that she has at least some vested interest, unlike the prior Bd. Prez... But this issue is really not about having an elected Board...I really think someone needs to hold Dr. Parker accountable for his questionable judgment call on this--and start asking him what he is really doing to move the district forward...I'm hoping, if the Board was truly as dismayed with this nonsense as it sounds they were, that they are holding Parker accountable and not going to let this drop.

I agree and am hoping to get to The Speak Up Summit event on the 28th to ask. Anyone else?

Thank you, Mary Jo! If that's all it takes I'm going to start, like, 7 school-related research projects!

Hi,
I'd just want to point out there has been only one serious research project into school uniforms and it found ZERO impact on grades, behavior, bullying and attendance! http://www.gate.net/~rwms/UniformBrunRock.html

It's very conclusive research.

Further can I offer you a view from the UK. Here nearly every school has uniforms and it's terrible!!! The teachers make ever stricter rules and ever more formal uniforms. Kids are punished for taking their blazers off in 80+ degree heat! It's a gross intrusion of the State over your rights as a parent. Kids even have strict rules on hair cuts. They're banned from wearing bracelets, even rosary beads, St Christs etc!!! Don't let the thin end of the wedge in! What's worse is that it appeases envy: kids never learn to accept difference, be themselves etc.

I know it can be hard getting kids ready each morning, but that's an issue to deal with as a family. Don't let the government tell you how to dress your kids, and your kids grow up accepting such government intrusion. It has a huge effect on them, believe me...Brits are doormats that accept endless state control and that attitude is formed as children at school.