IN UNIFORM: SCHOOLS PONDER UNIFORM QUESTION

School uniforms have long been associated with parochial schools, but in an age when baby shoes cost more than some adult clothing, the school uniform debate has entered the public sector.

The idea of requiring public school students to wear school uniforms is increasing in popularity throughout the nation. Supporters cite safety, economic savings and eliminating social barriers as major reasons for adopting uniforms.

"Personally, I think there are a lot of advantages to school uniforms," said Gerald Richards, principal at Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School. "I would doubt that we'd see it required at the public school level, although there are some elementary schools in Southern California who have implemented uniforms and report successes."

Richards has seen research that shows some elementary schools requiring uniforms find improvements in both discipline levels and academic achievement. He said uniforms could be linked to the improvements because concentrating on academics kept the students away from conflict.

"Kids stereotype each other, first of all based on appearance," he said. "People tend to think if a person is dressed a certain way, they'll act a certain way, and that sets the stage for conflict. If there's that attitude of discord, then the kids are not focusing on math, or language, or whatever the subject. That means they're off task, and when all those things are going on, the student isn't able to achieve."

School uniforms have gradually been worked into the student body at St. Vincent de Paul Grade School since 1995. Principal Sharon Thompson believes students at the parochial school are happy with the uniforms because they still have the opportunity to look different.

"I think it has been very successful," Thompson said. "The children have enough variety in the uniforms that they don't come dressed exactly the same everyday. I think they need to be allowed that individualism."

Thompson said school uniforms also take away the role of clothing police for teachers. "One of the good things about uniforms is they get rid of the hassle for teachers as to dress codes," she said. "Some of the fads are objectional and teachers have to police that."

Although Richards thinks uniforms overall would have a positive affect in any school -- public or parochial -- he also sees legitimate arguments in opposition of them. The main objection is the effect on the economy, he said, because the set cost for the uniforms would eliminate the variable spending of students.

"Although it would be a financial savings to parents, I'm sure the clothing industry which really works with junior and senior high school students would have some opposition to school uniforms," Richards said. "The economic impact might hurt the smaller children's stores in the community pretty significantly."

He said another argument students could make is that they could lose important decision-making skills by wearing uniforms throughout the school year.

"We have to make decisions every morning when we get up and get ourselves dressed," Richards said. "If we have kids who spend 13 years without that decision, what happens when they enter the world of work? Maybe I'm stretching it a little bit, but I could definitely see that argument being used."