School Uniforms

If the benefits of school uniforms is so obvious why are they not universally used? The answer is simple. Vanity by those how can afford to be vain. (The Greeks had a better word: Hubris.) And the weak knees of school officials.

Gabby Fely in her Vista Charter School Uniform

National Survey of School Leaders Reveals 2013 School Uniform Trends

Lands' End School Uniform and NAESP Partner to Report the Rise of School Uniforms

Dodgeville, Wis., July 31, 2013 -- Long associated primarily with private and parochial institutions, school uniform policies have become a part of the natural landscape in public schools across the country. In fact, according to a recent survey of principals and other school leaders conducted by Lands' End School Uniform in partnership with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), school uniforms or a formal dress code policy in public schools are on the rise as nearly half (49 percent) have a policy in place or have plans to implement one – more than double from 2000 (21 percent).

"In a constantly changing educational system, we often hear about non-uniform schools looking to transition to a more structured dress code," said John Maher, senior vice president, Lands' End Outfitters. "Through our partnership with NAESP, Lands' End School Uniform is happy to provide schools and parents with valuable information as the want for school uniforms continues to grow in their communities."

The steady growth of school uniforms or formal dress code policies in public schools may be due, in part, to students who struggle with wanting to wear the latest clothing looks in order to fit in at school. Unfortunately, many do not have the means to do so and may fall victim to peer pressure or bullying. In fact, surveyed school leaders with a school uniform or formal dress code policy in place believe their current policy has made a significant, positive impact on peer pressure (86 percent) and bullying (64 percent).

The survey also revealed there are other areas where positivity prevailed when it came to school uniforms. Leaders stated they believe their school uniform or formal dress code policy has made a positive impact on the following:

• Classroom Discipline (85 percent)
• Image in the Community (83 percent)
• Student Safety (79 percent)
• School Pride (77 percent)
• Student Achievement (64 percent)
• Attendance (44 percent)

"Principals are charged with developing and maintaining a positive and safe school culture," said Gail Connelly, NAESP's executive director. "We know that a school uniform policy can help reduce instances of classroom discipline and bullying, as well as improve student safety and attendance. The use of school uniforms, whether in public or private schools, has a powerful influence on school culture in ways that contribute to greater levels of student achievement."

Another reason for the rise of school uniforms could be the budgetary benefits they offer parents, especially in the current state of the down economy. Of the school leaders surveyed with a uniform or formal dress code policy in place, 77 percent estimated the average cost of school uniforms per child, per year, was $150 or less. With that said, it was not surprising to uncover that eight out of 10 survey respondents (86 percent) believed one of the main benefits to parents is that school uniforms are more cost-effective than regular apparel.

Besides budget, school leaders surveyed also believe parents benefit from the following as a result of having a school uniform or formal dress code policy in place:

• Eliminate wardrobe battles with kids (94 percent)
• Easier to get kids ready in the morning (92 percent)
• Time saving in the morning (93 percent)
• Easier to shop for school clothes (90 percent)

School Style 

Today, the majority of school leaders (90 percent) prefer to keep it casual, with polos and chinos, rather than dress casual (oxford dress shirts, blazers, plaids, skirts, ties, and/or chino pants) when it comes to their school uniforms. Apparently, the choice for casual over dress casual uniform styles is also on the rise as only 55 percent of school leaders surveyed in 2000 held a casual uniform policy.

Additional School Uniform Survey Findings:

• Long Lasting – Many survey respondents stated their uniform or formal dress code policy has been in place for 20 years or more (12 percent). Overall, eight out of 10 (85 percent) plan to continue the uniform policy as is in the upcoming school year
• The City and Suburbs Soar – Eighty-seven percent of school leaders at schools with a uniform or formal dress code policy are in the city and suburbs. When reviewing those surveyed that do not have school uniforms, the majority fall in rural areas (42 percent).
• You Be The Judge – When it comes to purchasing school uniforms, the majority of school leaders surveyed (66 percent) are allowing parents to shop at a retailer of their choice – as long as they follow the formal dress code guidelines (i.e. navy blue polo and khaki pant).
• Channeling Chinos – Seventy-six percent of school leaders said chinos best describe the pant choice their students wear as part of the school uniform or formal dress code policy.
• Tried and True – The classic navy polo is the go-to color of choice for 38 percent of school leaders when requiring students to wear polos as part of their school uniform or formal dress code policy. White is the runner up at 23 percent and red rolls in at third place (15 percent).
• Must Match – More than half (58 percent) of school leaders revealed the color of their school uniforms represent their school colors. 
• Logo Love – Sixty-four percent of school leaders said their uniforms do not currently feature a school logo; however, over half (53 percent) would like to see a logo on uniforms in the future for reasons ranging from school brand awareness to elevating school spirit.

Editor's Note: 517 U.S. school leaders participated in the Lands' End School Uniform and NAESP State of School Uniforms survey. The survey was fielded via Survey Monkey from May 31, 2013 to June 17, 2013.

Mark Twain

The Mississippi river from a riverboat Hannibal MO. What more can be said about Mark Twain and his works, that has not already be said except read and reread. My favorites beside Huckleberry Finn are Pudding Head Wilson & The War Prayer.

Favorite Quote:

"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lighting and the lighting bug."

From my tub to yours–
Carpe Diem
Carl

Camping Cincinnati Ohio

Separation-of-Powers vs Separation of Power

I took the expected tour of Washington DC (the three branches of government) that heralds the Separation-of-Powers cornerstone of our democracy.

The carefully encapsulated tour of the Capitol with all its statues and paintings of dead leaders. (No live ones in sight)

The view of the White House from afar. (No tours, thank you)

Surrounded by blocks of block buildings filled with bureaucrats.

I came away with a feeling of the Separation of Power between them and us.

From my tub to yours–
Carpe Diem,
Carl

July 4, 2013 Celebration in Washington, DC – My Personal Memorial

July 4, 2013: Visited "The Wall" and  found W/O Ray G Jenkins name – my cousin who I played and grew-up with. He was killed Feb. 28, 1968 while racing to his helicopter during a VC rocket attack.

More➤

God Bless America

From my tub to yours–

Carpe Diem,

Carl

Slow-Food

I'm in Florida and my wife's sister Millie greeted us with some Puerto
Rican "Pasteles".

A slow-food!

 The ingredients are: pork cooked in a sofsrito sauce: olives, onions, green peppers, garlic, cilantro, chick peas and raisins, then wrapped and tied in dry banana leaves and pasteles paper and boiled for 45 minutes. This process takes several hours to a whole day depending on how many you are making.

As I was enjoying my Pasteles I was remembering all the slow-foods my mother and two grandmothers made.

Enough said?

I purpose a national Slow-Food Day. The other guys are required to close, all microwaves must be unplugged and we dine only on slow-foods all day that must be eaten around a table.

In the meantime find and cook an old family slow-food recipe – you may have as much fun making it as you do eating it.

From my tub to yours–
Carpe Diem,
Carl

Nashville

 Nashville and" The Grand Ol Opera" what more can I say?

From my tub to yours–

Carpe Diem,

Carl

Inheritance

Slave Cabin on Andrew Jackson's "Hermitage" Plantation

Andrew Jackson champion of the common man, father of  “Jacksonian Democracy”.
Andrew Jackson champion of the slave economy, father of “The Trail of Tears”.

Freedom for those like you, slavery for those who are different. The fanatic belief that you are inherently superior to those who are different.

Prejudice!

Hermitage Mansion

All prejudices are based not on real superiority, but on a fear and insecurity, that requires the perpetual dehumanization of the “other” and a smug profound self-conceit in inherited superiority.

Before we smugly condemn the prejudices of the past, we should consider the present inherited political religious fanatic beliefs the afflict us today. They are the bane of the 21st Century and will determine what our children will inherit, just as, today, we have inherited the benefits of “Jacksonian Democracy” and the shame of “The Trail of Tears”.

From my tub to yours –
Carpe Diem
Carl

From Generation To Gereration

I'm in Graceland outside Memphis, Tennessee. Thirty-seven years ago I was at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. undergoing combat engineer training. That was after Elvis had released his hit "Love Me Tender", in 1956, and my buddies were singing it in the barracks.

Today my grandson Ian Hardy is in his 2nd week of combat engineer training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri.

In 1944 I, with my mother and two younger brothers were scraping by in a cold basement apartment in Logan, Utah while my father was in the army. One of my uncles was preparing to be in the second wave, as radio operator aboard a half-track, in the invasion of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines on Oct 23. Another uncle was in a rifle company somewhere in France as part of Patton's 3rd Army.

On Feb 28, 1968 my cozen Ray Grant Jenkins was killed in Ba Xugen Province, South Vietnam while racing to his helicopter during a Vietcong rocket attack.

My great-great-great grandfather Thomas Rich fought in the American Revolutionary War.

And so it goes from generation to generation.

In the 1960's there was a movement in this country to change our national anthem to another song claiming that a song about war was inappropriate.

But, it is appropriate because:

There will always be those, in different forms and colors, who will try to take our freedom from us. Every generation will have "bombs bursting in air" and must fight to keep: "out flag is still there".

From my tub to yours–
Carpe Diem,
Carl

Fifty-six years ago

Staying on the Arkansas river in downtown Little Rock across from the Clinton Presidential Library and not far from Central High School where in 1957 President Eisenhower ordered the 101Airborne Division to protect 9 black students and enforce integration.     

Oklahoma: Two Trails of Tears

I'm in Oklahoma City and not I'm not remembering the Oklahoma City Bombing or the musical Oklahoma but instead the: "Trail of Tears" in 1831– the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from their farms in the southeastern states to Oklahoma, and the Dust Bowl one-hundred years later that forced the "Okies" to leave.

The first group forced to live here and the second forced to leave. Two ironic trails of tears.

Carpe Diem
Carl

On the Road Again in Texas

On the road again crossing the Flat! Texas panhandle where mountains are forgotten replaced by A sky-dome in the land of bigness.

Route 66 The Adventure

When I was growing up I was enthralled with the stories of the pioneers trekking west on the wagon trails in the 19th Century. It seemed to be a great romantic adventure that could not be equaled.

Today, I'm backing-tracking over another route via US40 that parallels the old Route 66. A 20th Century motor trail that during my life time populated southern California.

I can sense the effect that journey had on the migrants, riding in cars with no air conditioning carrying extra water for drinking and overheated car radiators while  dreaming of opportunity just as their 19 Century predecessors had, ending up in a land of sunshine, orange groves, beaches and movie stars. It was A 20th Century romantic adventure.

They created the unique California culture free of eastern formalities. A culture that today is being replace by a new migration from the south.

And now my romantic adventure continues.

Carpe Diem
Carl

Land of Exceptions

A trip across the Southwest US is a lesson in exceptions. The exceptional hardness of the desert Southwest where human habitations only exist in the exceptions to this hardness. The exceptions among the Native Americans were the first to find these exceptions. The settlers who followed could only do so if they were also exceptions.

Carpe Diem
Carl

The Journey Begins

I've put my tub wheels, heading east, cross country, from the central coast of  California – alive with adventure – now that I'm older and have time to be young. 

Join me. 

Carpe Diem