Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Uniforms at Country Lane School allow for some individuality as Principal Bill Johnston chats with kindergarteners Jenna Church (left) and Mournir El-Koussa.

School considers uniforms

By Tim Persyn

Baggy pants, baseball caps and all the other latest fashions could be decidedly out of style at Saratoga School this fall if parents opt to implement a policy in support of student uniforms

The board of trustees of the Saratoga Unified School District on Jan. 23 voted to grant a request from two parents at Saratoga School and design a policy for a pilot uniforms program at the school.

However, parents who support the use of uniforms still have many hurdles to negotiate before a policy is enacted, including opposition from other parents. Advocates of uniforms aim to have the policy implemented by September.

At the board meeting, parents spoke on both sides of the issue. Shonna Larson, who requested that the board design a policy, argued that uniforms play a positive role in two ways. "When students are all wearing the same colors, it's easy to tell if anyone is on the playground who doesn't belong," she said. "Uniforms also put children in the mind-set to go to school, and promote solidarity among students."

She added that the uniform policy, which would be based on colors, would not be as strict as rules at parochial schools. According to state law, a policy on uniforms could not be enforced, but could only serve as a guideline.

Parent Kathi Hammill spoke against uniforms. "I think freedom of dress is a learning experience. Young people learn the consequences of dressing in certain styles," she said.

Hammill also had a problem with implementing a policy that state regulations prohibit from being enforced. "Since it can't be enforced, compliance will be based on peer pressure," she said.

Hammill wondered why Saratoga School should adopt a uniform policy when students at the school were performing so well already. "We don't have discipline problems or problems with low scores. If it ain't broke, don't fix it," she said.

The process involved in getting a uniform policy approved and in place is quite complicated. Advocates of uniforms must follow the state Education Code, which, among other regulations, requires that parents must be notified six months prior to a uniform policy being implemented. Because the advocates of uniforms hope to have the policy implemented by September, they will have to move quickly.

In addition to requiring that 100 percent of parents be notified about the policy, the code also states that 80 percent of parents must participate in a vote on the issue, and 60 percent of those who vote must approve the policy.

Larson said a letter notifying parents of discussions on the issue went out last week. After an initial round of open discussions, another letter will be sent out, followed by a forum in which both sides of the issue will be heard.

The school board plans to have its first reading of their policy Feb. 13, followed by a second reading Feb. 27. The board must hold two readings before a policy can be implemented.

Board President Cindy Ruby said that in addition to notifying parents, uniform advocates should talk to students before any policy is implemented.

Hammill discussed her children's reactions to the possibility of a school policy on uniforms. She said that although a uniform policy would not be her children's first choice, they would comply with it.

Bill Johnston, principal of Country Lane School in San Jose, said that students have been supportive of his school's uniform policy since it was implemented in September. His school was visited by a group of Saratoga parents, including Larson, who wanted to study the uniform issue. Fifth-graders who spoke before their school board on the issue gave positive feedback on wearing uniforms, he said.

Johnston added that his school's uniform policy appeared to reduce student materialism over clothes while allowing students enough room to express themselves through what they wear. Country Lane's policy allows for four different colors and short and long pants.

Finally, he said that student compliance with the policy was in the range of high 80s to more than 90 percent.

Choices about styles of dress are an important form of self-expression among young people, Hammill said. Children need to be allowed to experiment with what they wear.

"Children need to learn that there are consequences to what they wear," she said. Larson acknowledged that one argument against uniforms is that they can hinder expressions of individuality.

Given the strong points of view presented at the board meeting, the uniform issue promises to generate a lot of lively discussion.