Middle Schoolers May Wear Uniforms

A parents survey revealed late Wednesday revealed 66% of parents favored the idea of instituting uniforms in Danbury's middle schools.  The survey was parent generated.

 The majority of time at Wednesday night's Board of Education meeting was spent discussing whether or not to institute a policy of uniforms at Broadview and Rogers Park middle schools. Members of the board were divided on the issue, with Sal Pascarella, Ph.D., superintendent of schools, stating that if uniforms were to be mandated, the idea would not have his vote. The declaration surprised many audience members who wondered how the idea could possibly be instituted without a mandate. Many in the audience supported the idea of uniforms.

“The devil is in the details. We know that there are clothing wars over who has the most expensive sneakers, and certain types of clothing are associated with gangs, although we don't have a real gang problem,” Pascarella said.  “A lot of schools have taken the uniform approach."

Most people seemed to agree that if students could not afford the uniforms, there would be a scholarship for them.

 There were several ideas for the actual uniform, and William R. Glass, Ph.D., deputy superintendent, mentioned that students might wear collared shirts with school colors, the only insignia allowed would represent the schools, and students would wear khaki pants or skirts. There would be no disciplinary action taken if a student did not come to school out of uniform. Pascarella said, “If kids dressed to our policy, wearing certain pants is a form of discipline.”

 Board member Robert Taborsak said, “As long as there is common decency. I don't see a lot of energy being spent on enforcing dress codes.”

 Another board member, Susan LeRoy, liked the idea and said, “Uniforms would level the playing field, I would love to see it at the high school as well.”

 Danbury High School Principal, Robert Rossi was ready to start tomorrow. He said, “It's more affordable to go this way.”

 Agreeing with Rossi, Glass said, “We made a list from Target and it was very affordable.” However, Glass also noted, “The only problem is, some schools have not adhered to it; there have been disciplinary problems with it.”

 “We have no right to do it,” Pascarella said. “How would these expectations impact teachers? We'd have to be very careful not to make it a machine for suspending youngsters.”

 Gladys Cooper, school board member, said, “If we are going to put these kind of restriction on the kids, the staff must also be dressed appropriately.”

LeRoy agreed and said that some of the teachers dress like students. She also believed that instituting the uniforms without policy would make the decision ineffective and belived that, “There can still be a policy without discipline.”

 “Since Rogers Park and Broadview did this survey, has there been a problem with the way people are dressing? This is the first time in twelve years I have heard of this, is there a problem?” Taborsak asked.

 Pascarella said there has not been a problem, the idea was conceived by parents.

 Glass was most supportive of the idea, saying that uniforms can create a sense of pride and unity among the students. He said, “When a number of parents can't keep up with kids next door, this can be a way of equalizing. It would be better in terms of kids wearing what is appropriate. You know at another school, a kid was stopped at the door. Before you come in pull your pants up, fix your belt, and then come on in.”

“There are no teeth to this policy. As long as someone is wearing something appropriate, clothing is a form of expression. If it is unity to dress alike, next thing you know, everyone comes to art class and has to do the same picture,” Board Chairman Irving Fox said.

 That perspective was not shared by all of the other board members. Pascarella said, “There is a movement in the parochial schools; with uniforms they don't have a lot of those boy-girl issues. That knowledge is out there. But you can't make it madatory unless there is a gang problem. We need to vet it out. If we decide to do it, we do it in one grade and see how it goes.”

 Pascarella said, “We are doing our own due diligence. We need to know if there is a population that is against this.”

 LeRoy said, “I do believe it works for a lot of districts, I personally don't think it would work unless mandated.”

 Pascarella said, “This would put us in the place to be sued if mandated.”