Two school districts in Spartanburg District 7 started a dress code about a year and a half ago. News Channel 7 was there when Cleveland Park started sporting the new look: tucked in polo shirts, khakis and rubber soled shoes. Park Hills Elementary did the same thing.
Parents we spoke to then told us they liked it. A year and a half later, they are saying the same thing. Krystal Parker says, "You don't have to worry about taking forever to pick out this and pick out that. How I look? Do I have the best clothes on to wear or more expensive... or the designer clothes? We don't have to worry about any of that stuff." That's the idea - to eliminate the distraction. Park Hills Principal Donald Mims says it has had a tangible impact. According to Mims, "Because the students are not focused on their dress code, they are more focused on their academics... Our student achievement has improved. Also, our discipline referrals have been down approximately fifty percent."
He believes the dress code has played a big part in the schools upward trend. "We have 98% of our students dressed in uniform every single day… The overall atmosphere here at park hills is very positive,” says Mims.
Krystal parker was a parent volunteer before the school started uniforms. She can't think of any disadvantages to the dress code, which can still be accessorized. Parker says, "You can worth shorts....if you are a girl... You can wear skorts... dresses... My daughter has worn a jumper... She's worn the shirts... The capris..."
Meanwhile, Asheville City School Uniform Dress Task Force 2010 is researching the impact of a dress code. For more information about the task force click here.
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