And every month Parent Connection presents columns on health, education and child psychology, also a comprehensive calendar of things to do with kids, and reviews of books, movies and music. For information, call 751-0356. Day camp directory Preschool directory School uniforms, the pros and cons By Diana Erbio Uniforms for Scouts, police officers, team sports and many other groups are a symbol of unity.
Uniforms can foster a oneness that nurtures a feeling of belonging to something outside of oneself.
In the aftermath of horrendously violent acts such as the one at Columbine, the issue of school uniforms has resurfaced as a topic of debate. Private schools have used uniforms to unite students within the walls of their institutions for years. But those same uniforms that may unite the students within one school may act as an agent that separates one body of students from another body within the same community or surrounding communities. Still only 3 percent of all public schools require students to wear uniforms, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Uniform growth gained momentum after the 1996 State of the Union address when President Clinton recommended uniforms as one way to help keep schools safe.