PTA moves toward adopting uniforms

Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006

Gwynn Park Middle School may adopt a mandatory uniform policy to begin at the start of the next school year if parents and school staff give their approval.

This is the first time the policy has been discussed at the school, according to Gwynn Park’s Principal Laura Danner.

‘‘I think it would be extremely beneficial to have uniforms in the school. It helps to build a sense of school spirit, helps [with] discipline,” Danner said.

PTA President Cornelius Beidleman said the possibility of implementing a uniform policy came up over the summer when representatives were ‘‘just brainstorming what we could do to make Gwynn Park Middle School better,” he said. Representatives have started a petition, currently being circulated to parents and student guardians.

Beidleman echoed Danner in that he said parents also agree that establishing a uniform policy can help with discipline, unify students and can also help with school safety. With a uniform policy in place, if an intruder enters the school he or she can be easily identified, he said.

‘‘To me it’s a more professional look and the children will get that professionalism” when wearing a uniform, he said.

Correspondent secretary for Gwynn Park’s PTA Toya Williamson added that a mandatory uniform policy would eliminate much of the peer pressure students’ feel to dress in the latest fashion, would ultimately save money for parents and save time in the morning.

Currently, 14 of the county’s 29 public middle schools have adopted mandatory uniform policies.

According to its policy, the school board encourages schools and communities to consider the adoption of voluntary or mandatory uniform policies. However, the decision as to whether or not to adopt a policy is up to parents, said John White, spokesperson for the county schools. ‘‘The school system does not determine whether or not students should wear uniforms,” he said.

Schools can also adopt a voluntary uniform policy where students can ‘‘opt out” of wearing uniforms. However, Beidleman describes the policy as ‘‘too inconsistent.”

‘‘We’re not really accomplishing what [we’re] trying to accomplish ... with a volunteer policy,” he said.

PTA representatives said students have mixed reactions on the matter. ‘‘They want to wear what they want to wear. They don’t see the positives in wearing uniforms,” Beidleman said of students who are reluctant to the change or who may not have had to wear uniforms in the past.

As of Monday, PTA officials had 80 signatures on the petition and a total of 140 people must sign it before the PTA can move to the next step, Beidleman said.

PTA representatives say they are confident that the policy eventually would be adopted.

‘‘I haven’t heard many ‘nays’ on this,” Williamson said.

And, if instated, Beidleman hopes the policy will have a ripple effect. ‘‘Anytime we make any kind of change for the better for our children we make a positive improvement in the community,” he said.

Once the adequate amount the signatures are obtained, a school uniform committee would be established and school staff would vote on the issue. A final vote for parents would be held between March 15 and April 15.

E-mail Erin Henk at ehenk@gazette.net.