Some schools in Norfolk require the wearing of uniforms by students, others do not. Norfolk City Council would like to see the School Board look into requiring uniforms at more schools, according to this article. The Norfolk School Board, whose members are appointed by City Council, has a policy in place for deciding whether uniforms will be required. The policy hinges on parental support.
Norfolk schools must follow a year-long process that involves the principal, parents, staff members and sometimes students before a request for uniforms can be brought before the School Board.
At least 70 percent of families with children attending the school must favor uniforms for the policy to go forward. Parents who object to uniforms may apply for a waiver or transfer to a school that doesn’t require them.
According to the article, “uniforms are mandatory in 13 of the city’s 50 schools” with a couple of other schools coming on board next fall.
When I was growing up, the only kids with uniforms in the neighborhood were the ones attending the local Catholic school. We wore whatever we could get out of the house in. (I still remember my father asking where the other half of my dress was 😉 ) And while baggy pants weren’t the rage in my day, I remember the low-slug Levis that were almost as bad when it came to exposing body parts.
Of course, we didn’t have the gang problems in my day, nor the discipline ones. (Not that we were angels, mind you.) But as the article points out, studies are inconclusive on the effect of uniforms on behavior or academic performance.
That being the case, what do you think? Are you in favor of uniforms? If so, why? If not, why not?
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Separation of School and State, I say. Then, the families who want school uniforms can send their kids to schools that have them, and those who don’t want uniforms can send them to schools that don’t. The same applies to religion in school, sex education, on and on and on.
This very sort of question exposes one of the primary problems with handing government this monopoly on education. It’s all in or all out on all of these issues that are better left to the family unit to decide, on a case by case basis.
yes on uniforms, they work for example chicago has gone to uniforms for a number of years now. one other thing check out hampton roads pride blogg , there is an election issue that will get people going. my stand on gay pride day in the city of norfolk.
For years I have thought that school uniforms are a good idea. It seems almost wrong to deprive adolescents the agony of deciding what to where to school every day- a rite of passage that builds the fundamentals of wardrobe management. However, the benefits of requiring uniforms for school are the same as those associated with sports’ teams: uniforms promote equality amongst peers and promote a “team” mentality. If we can diminish, or even eliminate, the social hierarchy within the institutions where are children and young adults are being developed, then they will learn to relate to each other more as equals, with fewer cliques and less prejudice from stereotyping.
The biggest argument I hear from students AND from some parents against school uniforms is that dress is (and always has been) a form of self expression. While this is true to a point, it is far more beneficial to students if they learn to express themselves with their MINDS and not by how they show off their bodies. If our children can master that, then they will have self confidence and all the equipment they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive world.
…wear… whoops
I don’t feel very strongly about it, which I suppose means I’m against it because why should I want to impose a rule on someone else’s kids if I don’t even care? I’m agnostic on school uniforms because In my mind, the problem with the debate is that it invites us to miss the broader point with the seductive promise that our children will be more-studious and better behaved if the school system imposes rules about what kids can wear. Really the solution is better parenting and educating, but it’s easier to blame the kids these days with their saggy jeans and their grand theft auto videogames and their crazy rock and roll music.
I think much of what can be accomplished with uniforms can be accomplished with a dress code. I’d support either.
what do they improve? uniforms would only cause greater student resentment, and i think worsen discipline issues. maybe if uniforms actually helped in a certain area, but i just do not see it.
And the dancing, anonymous, don’t forget the dancing!
the only things uniforms do is make gang memebers wear the same clothes in school…u cant tell the diffference.
I think the uniform issue is overshadowing a more important one: the school’ss fearing children killing each other over sneakers and other named brand clothing items. Too often we blame the schools for such failures on the part of our children, but the real blame rests with parents who are not only ill-equiped to train their children to disregard simple-minded materialism, but bolster their child’s educational opportunities while at home. Education is a 2 way street and its ends and begins at home.