The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-08-21
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Domestfc
UNIFORMS FOR SCHOOL GIRLS

Inc lQca OF dressing ScnOOI girls IN
uniform seems to be causing consid-
cradle discussion in Florida at pres
ent. It's fad. and like all other
fads is pounced on by people who
want to see something new, and don't
stop to consider what effect it will
have on other people.
The other day the Star printed the
following paragraph:
"A bunch Of Miami ladies got to-
gether the other day and decided that
the high school girls Of that city
should dress in uniform during the
coming term. But suppose some Mi
ami school girl decides she doesn't
want to dress in uniform, and her
father backs up her decision, by going
to the courts if necessary? Why
didn't somebody tell those good Miami
ladies that there is no law allowing
them to prescribe dresses for other
peoples children?'
The squib. reprinted in the Miami
Herald, brought the following letter
to the Star from that city:
Editor Star: One of our Miami la
dies was responsible, very innocently,
for the movement in Miami to uni
form the school girls. In commune
cation to the Metropolis she suggest
ed that as conservation measure it
would save worry, time and trouble
to the mothers (most of whom are
working hard for patriotic organiza-
tions) if simple uniform, inexpen-
sive and becoming, could be agreed
upon by. girls and mothers. It was
never the intention to force upon
school girls anything to which they
objected. Many of the girls were en-
thusiastic over the thought of middys
and skirts. low-heeled shoes and cot
ton hose. In this attire they could
go from school to the tennis court or
for hike and be perfectly comfort
able. Several ladies wrote responses
to the suggestion and enough interest
was aroused to warrant the calling of
a meeting to discuss the matter. At
this meeting the women were very
much in favor of simple dresses. Our
streets last winter were more like a
dress parade after school than any
thing else with girls in georgette
crepe waists. silk hose, high heels,
banded hair. paint and powder and all
that goes with these things. Many
mothers complained of this elaborate
dressing but seemed powerless to
check it, as individuals. So it seemed
that a concerted action might accom-
plish something. That a school room
full Of mothers and others interested
assembled on hot summer day tes-
titled the interest felt in the meeting.
Compulsion was not suggested, for
every woman present was thoroughly
familiar with the fact that no law
could regulate the dress of public
school. It was stated emphatically
that the committee was to draft
resolution recommending the points
of dress decided upon in the discus
sion. Unfortunately, the committee
used the word "adopt" instead of rec
ommend. To 4young America" dicta-
ton from parents or elders is very
serious crime now-a-days, and some
of the girls thought they were to be
"bossed," and backed by the morning
paper began to kick in the traces.
This is the thing in nutshell. There
are enough sensible mothers in Miami
who still believe in the God-given
right of mothers to control their chill
dren to handle the situation, and there
will be more sensibly dressed girls In
the schools in September than ever
before"
The Times Opinion
The Tampa Times, the most able
opponent of the idea in the state,
says:
"The question of uniform for
school girls IS being agitated in many
cities. There are many things to be
said in its favor, as well as some Sc
rious objections. Unquestionably it
would put all the girls Of the school