* the binding force that unites the

A YEAR ago IJ immigrated to Canada from South Africa.
Coming from a different background, I have experienced
what it is like to wear a uniform to school. Here in
Canada, it is a rare sight to see students in uniform, except
in private schools.

The issue of uniforms in schools
can be tackled from many angles,
both pro and con. As a student &
who has. grown up wearing
uniforms, and surrounded — by
_ uniforms, I have strong personal

opinions regarding this subject.

> By Ryan Land «<i
ZAP! Contributor «

stead of competing over fashion,
competition is focussed towards
sports and academics.

Through pride, school spirit,
and the reduced. peer pressure,
students grow to respect one
another and particularly authority
figures such as teachers, and el-
ders in general.

Certainly, one of the strongest
issues tied into the uniform story

Wearing a uniform is not. all
that bad, although many times |
have cursed and sweated over the
burden a uniform can impose,
especially in mid-summer’s heat.

I can quite honestly say that I
miss them. It simply boils down to
pride. A school uniform unites the
students, ‘not -just because they
». look the. same, but’ because when-
‘people look at them, they are di- forking out hundreds of dollars

Tectly ‘associated with a specific for fashionable clothing. One
school. Pride in one’s self and uniform would be enough for the
‘one’s school is strong. It becomes whole yeur.

Several weeks ago, parents were

after school, but not as many.
Students who don’t have as much
money. as their peers would feel
less pressure to keep up. The only
severe adverse cffects would be to
the clothing industry which relies
on profits from the sale of
_ back- to-school fashions.

.- whole school, is hard to destroy,
~and often becomes part of tradi-
tion, . ‘

This pride is overwhelming and
builds a.powerful school spirit,
‘which ‘encourages students . to
-. strive to.do their best in both
_. sports and acadeinics. . ~

would be the back-to-school saga. .

Sure, you still need clothes for.

». .In-a school where uniforms are
mandatory, and casual clothes and
-way-out hairstyles. are excluded
from day-to-day. activities, peer,
"pressure, particularly in regard to

Ryan Land is a 16-year-old Grade

- 42 “student at Carson Graham.
He's into computers, fishing, and

squash, and hopes to make a
future in computer programming

SCHOOL UNIFORMS.can promote. school
spirit and take away peer pressure (o spend
a lot of money on clothes. But they can
also take away individuality. Do you have
to wear a uniform to school? Do you think -

school uniforms are a good idea?

Students/teachers voice their opinions:

1 WANTED to find out how
others felt about this issue, so |
went into the community with
my trusty tape recorder, and
found some interesting opinions:
@A.K. (school counsellor):
“My feeling is that it restricts
individuality. I tike to see the
students express themselves indi-
vidually and | like the different
styles that they wear: the Grade
8s for example, with their
homeboy clothing, the !oose,
baggy pants, and the different
T-shirts; and the way the older
students dress, I think it’s just
really kinda neat. 1 might change
my mind as my kids get a little
older. I’ve got a two-year-old
and a five-year-old,’'

@ A.P. (Grade 12 student): ‘'}
think that wearing a uniform
makes you respect your school
and respect your teachers. Out
here (Canada) there’s no respect
for the teachers.”’ :

@ W.C. (art teacher): ‘‘! would
like to see a semi-formal, more
contemporary-style uniform
made available to all the stu-

dents. Many students would
probably like the option. I feel
that it is both smart and func-
tional in that it looks better than
plain clothes and that it can be
worn on many different occa-
sions.”

@ H.O. (English teacher):
considerable number of students
in the school are actually wear-
ing uniforms as we speak, These
are unifornis that their peers get
them to wear. Jt's the jeans, the
baseball caps, the particular kind
of running shoes, and the T-
shirts.

“The students don’t seem to
protest against that. However, |
think that if powers on high
came down and said that you
should wear uniforms, 1 don’t
think it would go over well with
the students, and it wouldn't go
over very well with me.

“It’s not something that any
one person or school board
should say, that ‘this is the way
it's going to be.’

@ W.D. (Grade !1 student):
‘“‘No way man. Are you crazy?!

I wouldn't wear a uniform if you
paid me. When I think about
uniforms, | think about more of
an authority-based school: ‘I say
it! You do it!’ End of conversa-
tion, no debate or nothing.”
© D.D. (administrator): ‘Cer-
tainly with the Schoo! Act, stu-
dents are required to wear dress
that is socially appropriate and
acceptable. As an administrator,
fam required to administer that
proponent of the School Act.
‘““My own personal feeling is
that uniforms would certainly
make life, from my perspective
as an administrator, relatively
easy in terms of monitoring
school dress. On the other hand,
! would be disappointed because
it is part of the character of the
school to see the uniqueness that _
students have in terms of how
they approach or stay within the
dress codes of the school board.

“Certainly a school uniform
provides an identity for a par-
ticular school and has a unique
aspect to it.’*

fashion, is greatly reduced. In-. or video production.

4 Due toa printing error in this week’s Extra Foods ad, which ran on
Wednesday, September 29th in the North Shore News, page 13, thes |
| following two coupons should have read:

With this coupon ‘and af

purchase of at least $100.000 (excluding prescriptions & tobacco)
we will daduct from yaur total the value of the caupon.
One coupon per family. Coupon must be Fresented |

at time ot purchase. Coupon expires Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1993 &

cannot be combined with any other coupon offer,
ens can TRE COE a Cm CS ORR EE EE eres SOD MOR Mean NS MOOS ca

with this coupon anda i
purchase of at least 1 $200. 000 (excluding prescriptions & tobacco)
we will deduct trom your total the value of the coupon.
One coupon per family. Coupon must be presented
at lime of purchase. Coupon expires Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1993 &
cannot be combined with any other coupon otter J

The North Shore News apologizes for any inconvenience
this may have caused Extra Foods’ valued customers.

Photo Laila Noormohsmed .

NORTH SHORE secondary school students are a mix of uniforms
and casual dress. Opinions vary on whether or not students
should wear them. The St. Thomas Aquinas students here must
wear uniforms to school while the others do not. Pictured are:
(standing, from left) Danica Murray, Stewart Lilley, Teya Mathias,
Ryan Land, (sitting, from left) Jason Malone, and Erin Purdey.

es