ST. VINCENT'S STUDENTS TRY ON TRADITIONAL LOOK

Rachael Essner looked down at her new plaid jumper, smoothed out a wrinkle in the pleated skirt, and said she loves the new uniforms for St. Vincent de Paul Grade School in Cape Girardeau.

Elizabeth LaFoe agreed. "In the morning, we will know just what to wear," she said.

Essner added, "I think it will be pretty neat for everybody to look the same. Plus they are pretty, very pretty."

Youngsters at St. Vincent's will start school Aug. 23 in new Catholic school uniforms.

Uniforms are traditional to many Catholic schools across the country, but St. Vincent's hasn't had uniforms.

St. Mary's grade school in Cape Girardeau doesn't have uniforms. At Immaculate Conception grade school in Jackson, uniforms are optional.

Sharon Thompson, the new principal at St. Vincent's, wore a uniform when she attended Catholic school in Ste. Genevieve.

Thompson, who taught junior high social studies at the school for 15 years, said she thinks the uniforms will be good for school spirit.

This year, uniforms are required for children in kindergarten, first and second grades. "This core group will work the way up the grades," Thompson said.

Older children may wear uniforms if they want. Rachael and Elizabeth, who modeled uniforms, will be in third-grade. They plan to wear uniforms.

Parents last year completed a survey about school uniforms and expressed support for the idea. A committee at the school picked the styles and will monitor the change.

Thompson said, "A uniform is a great equalizer in a time when people sometimes are judged by the clothes they wear. When kids wear Guess jeans, it separates them from the kids who can't afford them."

Thompson said another plus is the sense of unity a school uniform provides. "It's kind of like jerseys for sports teams. We are proud of who we are and these uniforms are an example of that team spirit."

Some parents say they like seeing the children dressed up instead of wearing baggy shorts and over-sized T-shirts. They avoid fights and decisions on what to wear to school, they say.

And a uniform is part of the Catholic school tradition, parents said.

The wardrobe is built on a green, navy and yellow plaid theme. Girls have choices of a jumper, shorts, slacks, blouses, turtlenecks, cardigan sweaters, and sweatshirts. Boys have choices of shorts and slacks, shirts, polos, cardigans and sweatshirts.

After the initial investment, parents think uniforms will be less expensive.

Rachael's mother, Mary Essner, purchased a basic uniform wardrobe for her daughter and spent $160. "I would have spent a lot more than that on school clothes," she said. As the year goes on, she will probably add a few pieces.

In the future, parents envision a process for handing down the uniforms to younger children.

Right now, the school is shopping and ordering from at a store in St. Louis. One Perryville store carries some of the items. But Essner said she hopes a Cape Girardeau retailer will buy into the idea and sell uniform pieces.

Thompson admits that school uniforms are controversial. The arguments against a uniform are that it takes the right of choice away from parents and reduces a child's individuality as expressed by his or her dress.

But, Thompson said, for the most part parents and children at St. Vincent's have been supportive of the change.

"It's a whole new look," Thompson said. "We're real excited."