Uniforms Won’t Make Kids More Productive

EVERY FEW YEARS, the Norfolk School Board revisits the idea of the widespread use of uniforms in the city schools. This is usually at the urging of a small, concerned band of parents who feel that removing the clothing factor will make our students more productive, less distracted and safer (not tmention that uniforms are cheaper than a full school wardrobe and cut down on the laundry). Myriad studies provide a wide range of statistics that either support or dispel these assumptions. Take your pick.

While I am no research analyst with focus groups and statistics at my disposal, my family has lived an experiment of its own in regard to uniforms. My son recently spent two years in a private school where he wore a uniform every day. We had a fall/spring uniform consisting of a polo shirt and shorts, a winter uniform composed of slacks, white dress shirt and tie (sweater optional), and a dress uniform, which added a blazer and dress shoes to the slacks outfit.

In all, I probably spent $350 to $400 on his uniforms. It would have been a great deal for a year’s worth of clothes, provided he wore them every waking hour, seven days a week. Alas, he did not, so I still had to buy jeans, shorts, shirts, sweaters and dress clothes. And I still had to do his laundry three times a week to make sure he had the clean, full ensemble required on any given day. In the end, I was not ahead of the game financially.

The educational and ambient factors are also not as clear as many might think. My son returned to Norfolk public schools this year . Even decked out in his hoodie, jeans and red Chuck Taylors, he is more academically productive, focused and happy than he was in his neat uniform at his previous school. Believe me, homogeneity does not necessarily breed excellence. The private school’s educational opportunities and level of instruction could not even approach what my son is receiving in his current Norfolk public school.

As for safety, perhaps an argument can be made to discuss uniforms in the context of concerns over gang activity in or near the schools. But my son has never been harassed, nor has anyone laid a hand on him in public middle school. I wish I could say the same about the neatly uniformed students in his private school. Discipline, not fashion, is the key to keeping order. The private school had very little discipline, but the students looked really good while they tormented each other. In my experience, discipline has been very tight in our public schools — swift and appropriate to the offense.