Uniform proposal
welcomed at
Edgewood

By FULLER ROYAL
Staff Writer

Including administrative staff, board members, teachers and parents, about 100 people were on hand Thursday night at Edgewood Elementary School (EES) for the first of four public forums dealing with the Whiteville City Schools proposed student uniform policy presented by the Board of Education last month.

Superintendent Randy Shaver, his administrative cabinet and board members Carlton Prince, Dave Flowers and Jim DiMuzio were present to hear comments from 10 people in the audience who signed up speak.

EES Principal Deanna Shuman quickly welcomed everyone, introduced the panel and opened the floor for comments.

Leoman Floyd spoke first, asking if shirts were going to be different colors. He said he was worried that gangs might pick up on a certain color. He added that he is concerned that if a fight breaks out on campus, no one will be able to identify the perpetrators because everyone is dressed the same.

Floyd said he was also worried about the ability of some parents to provide uniforms,

“As for myself, we won’t have a problem but a lot of parents will,” he said, “Some of these kids wearing expensive tennis shoes are hand-me-downs from a neighbor. Their financial situations, I hope, will be taken into consideration.”
Floyd mentioned the importance of individuality.

“Are we going to raise a bunch of lemmings by removing individuality?” he asked. “We are raised in a competitive area. I grew up in the South. If you remove the ability to initiate and find a pecking order, are you raising future presidents or someone who is going to do whatever someone else tells them to do.

“I think the school uniform issue is a good one to an extent. I think it might increase the academic level of some kids. We are about our kids – not just our own but others. We went through an issue in the fall where our book bags got taken away from us because one kid got through the system. Are we at school uniforms because a minority group of kids get through the system and everyone has to pay for it?”

“I support the school uniform issue strongly,” said Drew Cox. “You hear a lot of rumors but you have to take them as such.” Cox said he would not be in favor of uniforms if the school has anything to do with the sales of the uniforms.

“In other places we have lived, the school uniform issue was not one where you are spending an extreme amount of money,” he said. “If it is something run through the school I would not be supportive. You school folks have enough on you as it is now.”

Cox said he also has issues with the schools purchasing uniforms for students who might not be able to afford them.

“Reasonably priced clothing can be provided,” he said, adding that students are not naked now. “I understand the sentiment in providing clothes for poorer students. Where do the funds come from? Schools are not doing that now?”
Cox said hand-me-downs are used in his home.

“I can’t see putting more financial burden on a school system that’s already burdened.”

Cathy Lashley spoke next, saying that she doesn’t feel the existing dress codes are being enforced.

“Why not follow that dress code?” she asked. “If we’re not following that, what makes you think you can enforce uniforms? With larger pants and belts below here, what difference does it make if we get uniforms. And how does the board determine financial hardships. If you have uniforms for school you still have to buy clothes for other occasions.”

Tarni Carter cited a study that former superintendent Danny McPherson had read when she has served on the school safety committee.

She said that using data collected before and after the implementation of uniforms, researchers showed that end-of-grade scores improved , six weeks scores had improved and bullying had decreased.

“I am definitely for it,” she said. “I do agree with the others that we can provide a cheaper uniform for the ones who can’t afford it. I think there are civic groups that will help with that.”

Carter said she asked her older daughter about uniforms. While her daughter isn’t bullied, she responded, “Mama, when I see those kids picked on because they don’t have the Abercrombie or Limited Too, we need uniforms,”

Carter said it is painful to see kids picked on because of their clothing. She added that uniforms at Central Middle School will help to quickly identify intruders on campus and at the high school, the clothing will be less provocative.

Suzanne Savage said uniforms would create a sense of belonging to the entire school and not to little groups.

“I would like to see it kept local,” she said. “We need all of the business here we can get.”

She said that new students transferring in needed more than five days to begin wearing uniforms because it can take longer to find properly fitting clothing. She also asked that khaki knee-length shorts be considered for the children who are hot-natured.

EES teacher Van Davis said he wants to see the uniform rules made at the board level and not placed at the school level so that all schools would be doing the same thing. He said the color choices should be consistent so that students moving up to a new school, can continue to still wear their existing shirts.

Leigh Kemp said she agrees with uniforms.

“It will eliminate being picked on,” she said. “Not every parent can afford Nikes, etc. We won’t have to worry about buying brand-name shoes and pants. And we won’t have to worry about a child coming home crying or gang members coming in.

“I am sure you have had some difficult days,” Amy Bailey told the board. “As a parent, I say ‘thank you.’ I think as we heard today everyone looking the same is important. For everyone to look the same – teachers and staff – I think it will help everybody and every situation.”

“I have a daughter at a school that requires a uniform,” said Gretal Harrelson. “It is much cheaper. You can figure $20 for the whole outfit.”

Harrelson said her daughter – who likes to dress like a “little fashion queen” – prefers wearing her uniform each day.

“She likes to dress up on the weekend , but she likes her uniform. They wear a skort or a jumper. She would like pants but that is not an option. She likes the fact that everyone in her school has a uniform. There aren’t kids being picked on. If she doesn’t have an Abercrombie shirt, she doesn’t feel any different. There are a lot of statistics that show (academic) improvement. When you eliminate the economic thing for children it’s a lot easier to focus.”

Harrelson said that on days when she volunteers at the school with PTA, she hears teachers and staff constantly addressing dress code issues in the halls and classrooms.

“I know it won’t totally eliminate the problem with the dress code but for girls it is a lot easier,” she said. “I am concerned about how we will help the families purchase the uniforms that need to be purchased. But overall, they are a lot cheaper than trying to buy casual everyday clothes.”

EES teacher Gina Browning said her son didn’t care what he wears as long as he has tennis shoes to run in.

“My daughter won’t have a problem with it, it’s not a real issue,” she said. “She’s there to learn, not to socialize. She chooses her friends carefully. Sometimes the kids with the name brands are too focused on who’s got what.

“They need to focus on academics,” she said. “I taught high school English for 10 years. The high school students are always going to make a big fuss. They are not going to be there that much longer. I was there when the original dress code took place. There were confrontations all the time. Parents were called in. It did not take long for them to assimilate into that environment. There was great improvement in students’ attitudes.”

Brown, who said it’s not easy to make ends meet these days, asked that if the board was going to look at helping parents who are unable to pay, “I want to be on the list for some help.

“We have some issues in our school system because of budgeting” she said. “There will have to be cuts made from time to time in other needs. I have a real issue with taking money from our school budget. Some students on state or federal assistant wear better clothes than my children do. Some of the ones who wear the (nicer) stuff are more difficult to deal with than the ones who shop at Wal-Mart or Target. They have a humility level that allows them to concentrate on their work. I do feel there are great academic improvements that come from having that consistency.”