Garrett Elementary in St. Louis to Start Uniforms in August

St. Louis -- The Hazelwood Public School District has been proposing school uniforms for a while now. Arrowpoint Elementary school has already had the uniform policy in place. There were two questionnaires offered to parents this past 2008-2009 school year asking if they wanted to pass the uniform rule. The first form was given out to parents at a parent teacher conference in the middle of the year. The second form was sent home at the end of the year asking, once again, if the parents wanted uniforms. With both of these votes coming out in favor of the new changes it is apparent that parents want less distractions and more learning from school.

Dr. Crystal Reiter, principal of Garrett Elementary, sent home a pamphlet for each parent on the last day of school this past year. Inside this pack of papers is the confirmation that the school will be starting uniforms August 2009. There is a list of goals the school hopes to meet by implementing the uniform policy. Some of these include: focus on school work, children are perceived equally, reduce conflict, save money, immediately recognize visitors, and for students to feel safer.

Then the pamphlet goes on to list the new uniform requirements that are to be used at the beginning of the next school year. These requirements are not hard to meet or unusually difficult. Items that can be worn include khaki or navy pants/shorts/Capri/skirts. Tops in light blue, navy blue, white, or grey. Each Friday is school spirit days where children are eligible to wear a school shirt and jeans. Students are no longer allowed to wear jackets during school, oversized clothing, hats or headgear, no logos on outside of clothing, and no chains on wallets or belts.

So this is a good thing right? I did not vote in favor of these changes at my child's school. I asked Mr. James, room 25, a 4^th grade teacher at Garrett Elementary if he thought the changes were needed during our parent teacher conference in the middle of the 2008-2009 school year. Mr. James stated he did not understand why they were asking if parents wanted uniforms, being involved with Garrett Elementary school for 5 years now I have never seen a need for change in this area either. I wanted a teachers opinion on the subject before I checked the "no" box on that little slip of paper because I do not spend all day at school like the teachers and staff do. If the teachers thought uniforms were needed then I would have supported that decision.

Never having had to wear uniforms at school growing up I feel this is an invasion of privacy and taking away our right to freedom of choice at an early age. Why do we want little people running around looking just like everyone else when that goes against our teachings of "be yourself", "don't be like your friends", and "you are special because you are the only YOU there is". Dressing differently than others is what separates yourself when you are a child. If you are a depressed person you wear dark clothing. If you are popular and happy you wear your cheerleading/band/football uniform. If you are trying to fit in you wear name brand clothing. That is the way we used to identify people. Not everyone is equal in this society. Those are the facts. Nothing we do will make that change. We are only giving our children a false since of society by teaching differently in our schools.

Timeline for having uniforms at Garrett Elementary is August 2009. This is the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. The uniform policy will be in effect for the duration of this school or until parents decide otherwise.

http://www.hazelwood.k12.mo.us/SchoolsAndPrograms/Elementary/Garrett/Pages/default.aspx