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Dressed for success
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| H&N photos by Andrew Mariman Hosanna Christian School students Andrew Crawford, Mike Shaw, Kiley Barnes, Max Court, Becca Oosterman and Alexis McClellan joke about not having to worry what they will wear when they wake up in the morning. Hosanna has a school uniform policy that is fairly loose, but received favorably. |
Staff, students at local schools say uniforms make a difference
By STEVE KADEL
H&N Staff Writer
Hosanna Christian School student Kiley Barnes likes the togetherness that comes from wearing a school uniform.
“We feel more connected as a school,” she said.
Private schools in the area require their students to wear specific types of colors and clothing for just that reason, officials say. Public schools, however, tell students what they can’t wear, relying on dress codes that prohibit certain types of clothing, such as halter tops, baggy jeans and baseball caps.
But students like Barnes and classmate Becca Oosterman say uniforms prevent some students from lording over others because they have nicer clothing.
“We don’t get made fun of because of our styles,” Oosterman said.
Fairly flexible
Hosanna’s rules governing school uniforms are fairly flexible, giving options within the spectrum of black, khaki, white and teal. Principal Jeff Mudrow believes having school uniforms makes things easier for students, parents and teachers.
For example, students who can’t afford trendy clothing don’t feel left out when everyone is wearing pretty much the same thing.
It’s better for teachers, Mudrow said, because they don’t have to make daily judgments about what’s appropriate or inappropriate. Is the skirt too short? Are the jeans too baggy or ripped?
“From a parent’s perspective, it makes shopping easier,” he added.
Mudrow used to work for the Portland area’s North Clackamas Christian School, which didn’t require school uniforms. He said staff members there spent lots of time enforcing the dress code — time that would have been better spent on academics.
The principal can see the issue from some students’ perspective, saying, “Students sometimes feel stifled. They can’t express themselves.”
Keeping it even
But he believes school uniforms eliminate more problems than they create.
“Everybody is on the same even playing field,” Mudrow said. “And it helps from a modesty point — all that is removed from becoming an issue.”
Mudrow said some T-shirts might even carry inappropriate slogans that the student isn’t aware of.
He studied the dress code during the summer and tweaked it to be less restrictive. For instance, he deleted the requirement about wearing belts. Mudrow said he wanted to fine tune some of the items that didn’t seem to make sense.
“I like to know why we have a rule,” he said.
Rules at Triad
Uniforms are required at Triad School, too. Headmaster David Wehr said students’ behavior changes according to what they’re wearing.
“When the boys are wearing ties and the girls are wearing skirts, that’s the best behavior day,” he said. “From posture to courtesy, they behave in a much more professional way.”
On the other hand, Wehr said the once-a-month “free dress day” is a time more students tend to get into trouble.
But there is another reason he likes uniforms.
“In a uniform school you really are judged by the quality of your character and not what you wear,” Wehr said. “You don’t know who’s rich and who’s not. It’s not what shoes you wear.”
Kathryn Rutledge has a fifth-grade daughter, Emily, and a freshman son, Jeff, who attend Triad. Rutledge said wearing uniforms makes clothes a non-issue.
“It makes it easy in the morning,” she said. “They’re either going to wear khaki or navy.” “There are not a lot of arguments. It does make it easy to shop for clothes, and one of the neatest things about uniforms is that it levels the playing field.”
Jennifer Briscoe agreed. She has twin boys, Jacob and Jeff, who are Triad freshmen this year. They don’t balk at the idea of uniforms, she said, and the benefits are evident.
“I think it affects how they approach school,” Briscoe said. “I think they’re more serious about it” when in uniform.
The school has a free dress day one Friday each month. Briscoe said teachers don’t look forward to that day “because everybody’s attitude changes.
“We feel more connected as a school,” she said.
Private schools in the area require their students to wear specific types of colors and clothing for just that reason, officials say. Public schools, however, tell students what they can’t wear, relying on dress codes that prohibit certain types of clothing, such as halter tops, baggy jeans and baseball caps.
But students like Barnes and classmate Becca Oosterman say uniforms prevent some students from lording over others because they have nicer clothing.
“We don’t get made fun of because of our styles,” Oosterman said.
Fairly flexible
Hosanna’s rules governing school uniforms are fairly flexible, giving options within the spectrum of black, khaki, white and teal. Principal Jeff Mudrow believes having school uniforms makes things easier for students, parents and teachers.
For example, students who can’t afford trendy clothing don’t feel left out when everyone is wearing pretty much the same thing.
It’s better for teachers, Mudrow said, because they don’t have to make daily judgments about what’s appropriate or inappropriate. Is the skirt too short? Are the jeans too baggy or ripped?
“From a parent’s perspective, it makes shopping easier,” he added.
Mudrow used to work for the Portland area’s North Clackamas Christian School, which didn’t require school uniforms. He said staff members there spent lots of time enforcing the dress code — time that would have been better spent on academics.
The principal can see the issue from some students’ perspective, saying, “Students sometimes feel stifled. They can’t express themselves.”
Keeping it even
But he believes school uniforms eliminate more problems than they create.
“Everybody is on the same even playing field,” Mudrow said. “And it helps from a modesty point — all that is removed from becoming an issue.”
Mudrow said some T-shirts might even carry inappropriate slogans that the student isn’t aware of.
He studied the dress code during the summer and tweaked it to be less restrictive. For instance, he deleted the requirement about wearing belts. Mudrow said he wanted to fine tune some of the items that didn’t seem to make sense.
“I like to know why we have a rule,” he said.
Rules at Triad
Uniforms are required at Triad School, too. Headmaster David Wehr said students’ behavior changes according to what they’re wearing.
“When the boys are wearing ties and the girls are wearing skirts, that’s the best behavior day,” he said. “From posture to courtesy, they behave in a much more professional way.”
On the other hand, Wehr said the once-a-month “free dress day” is a time more students tend to get into trouble.
But there is another reason he likes uniforms.
“In a uniform school you really are judged by the quality of your character and not what you wear,” Wehr said. “You don’t know who’s rich and who’s not. It’s not what shoes you wear.”
Kathryn Rutledge has a fifth-grade daughter, Emily, and a freshman son, Jeff, who attend Triad. Rutledge said wearing uniforms makes clothes a non-issue.
“It makes it easy in the morning,” she said. “They’re either going to wear khaki or navy.” “There are not a lot of arguments. It does make it easy to shop for clothes, and one of the neatest things about uniforms is that it levels the playing field.”
Jennifer Briscoe agreed. She has twin boys, Jacob and Jeff, who are Triad freshmen this year. They don’t balk at the idea of uniforms, she said, and the benefits are evident.
“I think it affects how they approach school,” Briscoe said. “I think they’re more serious about it” when in uniform.
The school has a free dress day one Friday each month. Briscoe said teachers don’t look forward to that day “because everybody’s attitude changes.
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