A Uniform Plea

Mrs. Townsend, I think it is an excellent plea to the community to assist those less fortunate to comply with school requirement of apparel. However, I feel there is a better way to do so. First, there is no complete uniform for merely twenty-five dollars(dress-ware, socks, shoes - bare necessity). Therefore, what the PTO need to do is get a list of the students (now) who are in NEED of assistance and perhaps adopt a child to outfit. I am very much aware of confidentiality issues, however there is a way to get around that. Maybe one person or family may not be able to completely donate everything a student may need. But, perhaps a couple of persons/family may be able to outfit a student. Only the PTO themselves will know who the individual in NEED are. But as far as sex, sizes and articles, those you are petitioning to for HELP could go out and purchase needed items and hand them over to the PTO to distribute.

I would also suggest that "WE" target for two outfits for each student and one pair of shoes where necessary. I hesitate not to say "WE" because my child, grand-children, nieces, nephews are alumni's of ROBERTO CLEMENTE and would be more than willing to help.

SUGGESTION TO YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH LOVE.

thank you juan caldenario and norma reyes for the first to donate to clemente p.t.o uniform drive
thanks from the bottom of my heart
charisse

good work charisse I will cal the school to give my donation and I wish people was like you more
billy williams

Reasons For and Against School Uniforms

Educators, parents, and students site many reasons in favor of school uniforms:

•School administrators face a complicated task setting a dress code: with inappropriate coverage (for example, strapless, halter, and midriff tops and too-short skirts and shorts) and inappropriate insignia (for example, slogans for alcohol and cigarettes and clothing with vulgar language or representing otherwise objectionable connections, such as gang membership), it may be easier to have a uniform than to detail and enforce independently chosen clothing.
•Dress code aside, the interest in fashion and fad combined with peer pressure can lead to pressure to spend money that some families can ill afford: school uniforms refocus this issue.
•Wearing of school uniforms prevents the formation of dress-identified cliques
•The wearing of school uniforms emphasizes membership and group identity, fostering a community spirit.
•Crimes involving stealing items of apparel are unlikely to be perpetrated if everyone's apparel is identical.
•Because students can be easily identified, intruders in the school setting can be more readily identified and students on field trips are more easily accounted for.
•The wearing of school uniforms helps students to realize that a person's unique gifts and personality traits go deeper than their apparel and aren't diminished by uniform dress.
Other educators, parents, and students are opposed to school uniforms and give reasons like the following:

•Uniforms interfere with students' rights for self-expression.
•Uniforms are an unnecessary expense and can create an economic hardship themselves.
•Uniforms are an unnecessary exertion of power by administrators who don't know how to exercise responsible authority.
•The wearing of uniforms does not prevent the formation of cliques or gangs.
•The wearing of uniforms does not prevent students from expressing unpopular or inappropriate views in other ways.
•School uniforms can be ugly and/or unflattering, and having to wear something unattractive or unflattering is not good for students' self-image.
•The wearing of uniforms my delay or prevent students from having to learn how to get alongside of people whose personal taste differs markedly from their own and which they may find unappealing.
•The wearing of school uniforms may give students the impression that conformity is the way to prevent conflict, and this is not an appropriate message for schools to send.

By the way I read about some uniform students call the Brown Shirts.Sturm Abteilung (SA)


http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERsa.htm

I don't known you but i wish there were a lot people like you who care about children. i will call you next week to buy a uniform good luck

Can't afford uniforms? What a crock. I work at a school where nearly every student qualifies for free lunch (on top of free breakfast, after school programs and busing). Yet, their kids come to school with $40 Yankee hats, gold jewelry and expensive toys. WAKE UP DOWNTOWN. WAKE UP NEW HAVEN. AND HOLD THESE PARENTS ACCOUNTABLE. UNTIL YOU DO, THE ACHIEVMENT GAP WILL GET WIDER AND WIDER, AND THE FREEBIES WILL BLEED OUR CITY DRY.

Last month, a National Bureau of Economic Research article appeared entitled, "A Community College Instructor Like Me: Race and Ethnicity Interactions in the Classroom."

Go to www.nber.org for access.

The researchers conclude that Afro-American students have significantly higher outcomes when taught by someone like them than by others.

Research documenting similar conclusions goes back to at least the 1960's.

My own experience in the classroom echoes the researcher's conclusions.

Why does this fall on deaf ears?

Brutus makes a good point. I have always felt my fellow AA teachers were at an advantage when working with AA students. But it appears that less AA's are going into teaching. Most of my students say that they would never become teachers because of the lack of respect teachers get from students as well as administrators. We need to be providing incentives to make teaching a viable profession for AA students. And that begins by providing school environments
that make one want to work there.

Regarding uniforms, teachers/administrators are well aware of those students who are truly in need. Those students don't wear hundred dollar sneakers, carry I-phones, have their nails done weekly, etc. Those are the students who need support and should receive it. And for those who don't comply with the policy, keep some extra shirts and sweatshirts with school logo for kids to wear over their clothes or call parents and have them bring in clothes before they are allowed to go to class. And while they're waiting have teachers send down something for them to work on. That generally curbs the problem. Of course, this will only work if you have an individual who will coordinate it......VP's step up!

It is wonderful to see parents pulling together to support the school!

However, we should all be VERY concerned that Renaissance School Services, LLC is charging New Haven $800 per student ($456,000 for the year) for their "services". The fact that they collect this large sum and cannot find money to provide uniforms for needy students is outrageous.

Just to refresh everyone's memory, this $456,000 is money above and beyond the operating expenses for the school. We have been told it is salaries for their 3 top operators.

If this is what corporatization of New Haven Public Schools looks like, we see it as fiscally unsustainable and irresponsible.