FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Voluntary Uniforms at Schools Likely

Uniforms will likely become a choice at some schools next fall in the Fountain Valley School District.

The Board of Trustees recently gave its support for a voluntary uniform policy and next month are expected to formally adopt a voluntary dress code, giving each school the option to have one.

Board of Trustees President Robert Sedlak said he believes that uniforms would boost school pride, eliminate “class separation,” or competition among students to wear designer labels and expensive clothing, and make it easier and less costly for parents to buy school clothing for their children.

Katie Berger, a fourth-grader at Roch Courreges Elementary School, also thinks it’s a good idea.

“If everyone wore them, people couldn’t tease you about what you’re wearing because they’d be wearing the same thing,” the 9-year-old said.

“It will also be easier to choose clothes because you wouldn’t have to worry about what you’re going to wear.”

But Katie said some of her friends aren’t too keen on wearing a uniform.

“Some are against it because they think they’ll look dorky,” she said.

Her 12-year-old brother, a seventh-grader at Harry C. Fulton Middle School, is among those who wouldn’t wear a uniform.

“It’s kind of boring if everyone was the same,” said Seth Berger, who added that he doesn’t think many of his friends would wear uniforms, either.

Fern Zahlen Williams, the district’s director of student services, said that a mandatory uniform policy is not legal in public schools.

But under a voluntary program, Williams said the district’s 11 elementary and middle schools would be able decide whether they want to participate. Parents and administrators would decide together whether to institute the voluntary policy at each school. Schools that chose to have uniforms would then decide the colors and style of uniforms.

“That means some children will participate, and some may choose not to participate,” she said.

Williams said other schools in the county have a voluntary uniform policy, including those in La Habra, Santa Ana and Fullerton. Other school districts are also considering establishing a similar program, she said.

Last November, Fountain Valley School District parent organizations were surveyed to gauge interest for voluntary uniforms. Some schools did not participate in the survey.

Of the 578 parent responses, about 57% favored uniforms.

Schools in support of the program included Courreges; among those opposed were Urbain H. Plavan Elementary School, according to the survey.

Parents supporting uniforms believe that it would lessen pressure on children to keep up with fashion trends, cut clothing costs and reduce peer pressure. They say the “idea was long overdue.”

But those opposed said wearing uniforms--even if voluntary--interferes with personal rights and freedom of choice. They believe that the district’s dress code is sufficient in getting students to dress appropriately and that such a program would only work if it were mandatory.

Patty Berger, co-president of the PTA at Courreges, said that the school hopes to have a voluntary uniform program in place by next fall.