Uniform dress codes rare in Ohio

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by Emily Canning-Dean

Reporter

Maple Heights -- The Bedford School District last month implemented rules for what types and colors of clothes students may wear to class next year.

But for Maple Heights students, the dress code will stay the same.

Maple Heights Superintendent Charlie Keenan said while Maple Heights does not have a uniform policy, the school does follow a dress code.

"We expect our staff and parents to work together to hold the children in our district accountable for wearing appropriate apparel while in school," Keenan said. "And we expect them to work together to address issues if any of our children do not come to school in appropriate clothing."

"Any policy regarding appropriate attire cannot be supported or enforced solely by a school district," added Maple Heights Board of Education President Lori Chick.

Adrienne Carr, Maple Heights PTO president and a parent of a high school student, said she is in favor of a dress code similar to Bedford's, but not of uniforms for students.

But while dress codes are rare for public schools in Ohio, officials from a couple of districts that do say they would encourage other districts to follow suit.

Jim Gault, principal of Deveaux Junior High School in the Toledo City School District, said the Toledo district approved a dress code three years ago after a year of research.

Gault said Deveaux is one of a few schools he knows of in the state to approve a standardized dress code. He admitted that some parents and students voiced concerns at first, but now it's just part of everyday life. Gault said he can think of only three or four incidents in his school where dress code violations have been a problem.

"With a first-time violation, we call parents," Gault said. "A second offense would warrant a detention, and the third time would be an in-school suspension."

While Gault said he is not aware of any data showing that the dress code has improved students' grades or test scores, he believes it does eliminate some distractions for pupils.

"It gets rid of a lot of the nonsense," he said. "Students aren't trying to out-do each other by what they are wearing, because they are all wearing the same thing."

Winton Woods Public Schools near Cincinnati also approved a standardized dress code three years ago. Anita Williams, principal of Winton Woods High School, said she recommends clothes guidelines to other districts.

"I think the atmosphere is much more calm now," she said.

Williams said her district provided clothing vouchers to parents who needed financial assistance the first year the dress code was in place.

"Although the clothes aren't that expensive," she said. "Students can buy the clothes anywhere ... One sells the polo shirts three for $10."

Like Gault, Williams said she has not seen a direct correlation between the dress code and academic performance, but that it helps students focus more on learning.

Gault said he thinks the dress code also helps to keep the school buildings more secure.

"I think it would be much easier to spot someone wandering the halls who shouldn't be there if all of the students are dressed alike," he said.

Would Gault recommend the dress code to other districts?

"Absolutely, 100 percent," he said.

Students at St. Peter Chanel High School in Bedford are also required to wear standardized clothing.

"I think the uniform looks good and prepares students to dress for success as they will have to do later during their careers," said Chanel spokesperson Scott Gongos.

Gongos, who attended Chanel in the early 1990s, said the standardized dress code became a way of life for him.

"When we were in college, my brother and I were the only ones of our friends that still tucked our shirts in," he said.

Bedford students will not be required to wear uniforms, but staples in the wardrobes of some, such as jeans, hoodies and cargo pants, will no longer be allowed starting in the fall. Students must also stick to solid colors, tuck their shirts in and wear pants with a belt.

E-mail: ecanning@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3166