The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-08-21

goes, provided the quality of all the
uniforms was prescribed; it would re-
lieve host of mothers of all the work
and worry of fitting the girl out for
school; and it would do away with
much of the envy and jealousy in
evitable in girls mind as she sees
her schoolmates better and more
fashionably clad than she can afford
to be. The uniform would take the
girls mind away from the frivoIities
and fripperies of fashion, and allow
more time for the serious work of
getting an education. So far, so good.
On the other hand, there are many
parents in moderate circumstances, on
whom the providing of extra school
uniforms for one or two or more
daughters, as the case might be,
would be a burdensome. and SEEM
ingly unnecessary tax. If they pro-
vide plain, neat and simple gar
ment, that can be worn anywhere at
any time, they feel they have done
their full duty by their girls, and all
that should be required of them. To
furnish another outfit that could be
WORE only at school. and that would
be out of place at church, or any So
cial gathering. in these days of ex-
pensive school books, and general
high cost of living, would not be a
welcome proposition. Many such
families already have their girls aft
ted for school, as completely as their
means will allow. and to invest in a
uniform would be an added burden.
Again, the feminine mind naturally
turns to personal adornment. The
girl likes to took WE'LL" which is all
right enough within reasonable linn
its. We all like to see pretty,
healthy, vivacious looking school girl,
full of life and spirits. She typifies
all that is best and hottest in the race.
She is "heaven's last, best gift to
man." But when she carries the idea
of personal Identification to the ex-
tent of the lavish use of complexion
destroying cosmetics; Of French heels
and pointed toed shoes, which made
the natural gait impossible. and ruin
the health: or when she thinks to
adorn herself with barbaric display
of jewelry; then the parents should
step in and kindly but firmly point
out to her that she is on the wrong
road, that such things detract from,
rather than add to her personal at
tractiveness. There may be q ques-
ton, too. how far the authority of the
board extends in regard to the adop-
ton of uniform for the school. Have
they authority to do anything more
than to recommend a uniform And
suppose some pupil asserts her indi-
viduality and refuses to wear the
uniform, or some parent refuses to
provide one recommended by the
board, what can be done in such a
case? Can the pupil be debarred the
privileges Of the school because for
some reason that may seem good to
herself or her parents, she refuses
to don the prescribed garb? It is q
matter which should be carefully in
vestigated before definite action"
A Happy Medium
It does not take a very close study
Of the two articles to see that they
agree in many things.
The ladies Of Miami or elsewhere
can count on the Star to sustain them
in any attempt to add to simplicity
and decrease Of expense in dress. We
think, however, that it should all be
left to the pressure of public opinion.
There is strong sentiment in the
state against school teachers wearing
a distinctive uniform. and of course
what would be wrong for the teachers
wouldn't be right for the students.
1t seems to the Star that there is
a happy medium. Good taste as well
as convenience demands that school
girls dress simply. For girl to go to
a school room dressed like she would
be dressed for party is unbecoming,
and if her parents haven't the good
sense and influence to prevent her
doing so, her teachers and the other
girls have ways Of showing their dis
approval that would soon cause her to
see the error of her way.
AS for the mildly blouses." ETC.,
some girls look all right in MILDLY
blouse and some do not. IL it isn't
right for girl to wear clothes that
make her look like peacock, neither
is it right to make her wear any that
make her look like goose. A great
many girls do not play tennis and
some can't go on hike. It is sign
of good sense for any girl to wear
low heels, in school or elsewhere. but
there is no law to make her do so.
A man is always biased by his en-
vironment, and so we have written
from an Ocala standpoint. Simplicity
and good taste prevail in the Ocala
schools, and the girls with few ex-
ceptions dress in the most becoming
manner. We don't think we would
like to see them all dressed alike.
Girls need individuality in their
clothes much more than men do. Il
they and their mothers adhere to the
rules of common sense and good
taste, no other uniformity will be