09-22-2008, 05:25 PM
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New innings for battle of the sag
Waukegan High to survey parents on school uniform
September 22, 2008
By RYAN PAGELOW <!-- e --><a href="mailto:rpagelow@scn1.com">rpagelow@scn1.com</a><!-- e -->
WAUKEGAN -- Those pesky kids and their crazy fashions have riled up middle-age adults on the School Board again.
The perennial issue of whether or not Waukegan High School should adopt a uniform policy surfaced again when two School Board members recently asked to survey parent opinions on that issue.
Waukegan's 14 elementary schools and five middle schools currently have uniform dress codes that include wearing some combination of white, navy blue, khaki or black clothing.
The high school is the last bastion of fashion freedom for district students to wear what they want -- within the boundaries of the school's existing dress code, which already bans things such as pants that sag below a student's natural waistline and wearing anything affiliated with gangs.
While some students have said their peers' clothing can be distracting in the hallways, others said they preferred to wear what they want to show their individuality.
"Everyone has their own style. They like to express it," said senior Janelle Ramirez of Waukegan.
As a student at Webster Middle School, she adopted the navy blue and white uniform, but said controlling what high school students wear would be more difficult.
Student Council President Alejandra Mesa supports a stricter dress code but admits that uniforms would be hard to enforce in a school of about 4,000 students.
"There are a lot of kids that don't follow the rules," Mesa said. "People wouldn't buy the uniforms or follow them."
Trustees Anita Hanna and Sonny Garza said during the Sept. 9 School Board meeting that they support surveying parents on whether or not they would support school uniforms at the high school.
"I would like to revisit uniforms at the high school," Garza said. "Sure, it would be a hardship on parents initially ... but it would cut down on gang issues."
A survey will be handed out to parents during the curriculum night at the high school on Sept. 23 and 24. The question regarding uniforms will be added to a list of other unrelated questions for parents. In April 2005, the School Board approved spending $18,000 that year to survey parents of students in all grades about updating the dress codes at the schools.
"We need to get our students where they are adhering to the rules," Hanna said. "When you see guys going up the stairs with their pants at their thighs, they could trip."
Principal Steven Hamlin said adopting school uniforms is a "controversial issue," but the survey would get a "pulse check" on the community.
"If the School Board and the parents expressed a significant interest in a uniform policy, I would put together a subcommittee of parents, students and staff to come up with something," Hamlin said.
Although the existing dress code says students must wear their pants at their natural waistline, it's difficult to enforce because of oversized shirts covering their waists, Hamlin said. Students found wearing sagging pants are asked to adjust them.
"Having a uniform, it's easier to enforce. But at the same time, young people are emerging adults and the opportunity to self-express is denied somewhat with uniforms," Hamlin said. "I will let the community decide on that one."
New innings for battle of the sag
Waukegan High to survey parents on school uniform
September 22, 2008
By RYAN PAGELOW <!-- e --><a href="mailto:rpagelow@scn1.com">rpagelow@scn1.com</a><!-- e -->
WAUKEGAN -- Those pesky kids and their crazy fashions have riled up middle-age adults on the School Board again.
The perennial issue of whether or not Waukegan High School should adopt a uniform policy surfaced again when two School Board members recently asked to survey parent opinions on that issue.
Waukegan's 14 elementary schools and five middle schools currently have uniform dress codes that include wearing some combination of white, navy blue, khaki or black clothing.
The high school is the last bastion of fashion freedom for district students to wear what they want -- within the boundaries of the school's existing dress code, which already bans things such as pants that sag below a student's natural waistline and wearing anything affiliated with gangs.
While some students have said their peers' clothing can be distracting in the hallways, others said they preferred to wear what they want to show their individuality.
"Everyone has their own style. They like to express it," said senior Janelle Ramirez of Waukegan.
As a student at Webster Middle School, she adopted the navy blue and white uniform, but said controlling what high school students wear would be more difficult.
Student Council President Alejandra Mesa supports a stricter dress code but admits that uniforms would be hard to enforce in a school of about 4,000 students.
"There are a lot of kids that don't follow the rules," Mesa said. "People wouldn't buy the uniforms or follow them."
Trustees Anita Hanna and Sonny Garza said during the Sept. 9 School Board meeting that they support surveying parents on whether or not they would support school uniforms at the high school.
"I would like to revisit uniforms at the high school," Garza said. "Sure, it would be a hardship on parents initially ... but it would cut down on gang issues."
A survey will be handed out to parents during the curriculum night at the high school on Sept. 23 and 24. The question regarding uniforms will be added to a list of other unrelated questions for parents. In April 2005, the School Board approved spending $18,000 that year to survey parents of students in all grades about updating the dress codes at the schools.
"We need to get our students where they are adhering to the rules," Hanna said. "When you see guys going up the stairs with their pants at their thighs, they could trip."
Principal Steven Hamlin said adopting school uniforms is a "controversial issue," but the survey would get a "pulse check" on the community.
"If the School Board and the parents expressed a significant interest in a uniform policy, I would put together a subcommittee of parents, students and staff to come up with something," Hamlin said.
Although the existing dress code says students must wear their pants at their natural waistline, it's difficult to enforce because of oversized shirts covering their waists, Hamlin said. Students found wearing sagging pants are asked to adjust them.
"Having a uniform, it's easier to enforce. But at the same time, young people are emerging adults and the opportunity to self-express is denied somewhat with uniforms," Hamlin said. "I will let the community decide on that one."