Letter: Board should enforce school uniform policy

Monday, Nov. 22, 2004 | 9:07 a.m.

Parents are groaning and moaning about a dress code for middle and senior high school students. The School Board vacillates and hesitates to follow through when the public becomes restless about its policy.

The board should develop a uniform dress code for all schools and quit demonstrating weakness in developing and enforcing its own policies. A basic premise of the uniform code is that it would eliminate the practice by students of wearing and identifying with gang colors, etc.

Also, teachers recognize that students behave the way they dress. If students dress in a sloppy, slovenly manner, their attitude and work effort is adversely influenced.

I see nothing wrong or expensive for students being required to wear uniform attire. What is wrong with male students wearing a plain dress shirt or sweatshirt and slacks or pants of a given color, and female students wearing white blouses and skirts or slacks of a given color? None of these basic items would be any more expensive than current attire chosen by many students. The only logos permitted on attire should be those related to the school name or mascot.

Many insist that a dress code apply to the professional staff of a school as well. I was a classroom teacher in the Clark County School District for 30 years and I always supported the idea that teachers should dress in a manner similar to those in other professions. It is obvious that flexibility would be necessary in special situations, such as for a physical education teacher, art teacher, lab science teacher or those conducting field trips.

VIRGIL A. SESTINI