I saw this article in the local paper and thought I would share it because it is such an interesting little story.

Rockford Beach Township – Requiring children to wear mandatory school uniforms has been a highly contested topic around the nation. Some proponents have stated that it helps schools run more efficiently and keeps students on the task of learning. The other main point that proponents make is that it narrows the gap between affluent and less fortunate students who may feel they have to live up to fashion trends set by wealthy peers. Opponents to the measure state that it takes away from a student’s right to choose and the freedom of self-expression.

All that said. Rockford Beach Upper Elementary School which services grades three to six has voted in mandatory school uniforms to be in effect for the beginning school year 2014 and imagine parents’ surprise when they discovered exactly what that school uniform will be.

“It’s a dress,” Moniquia Williams, whose son Travis will be a fifth grader next year said in dismay. “They expect my boy to go to school in a pink dress. Have they lost their minds?”

A lot of parents are asking the same question. It is true that parents did agree to institute the dress code by a resounding 2 to 1 vote back in early January, but they had no idea that the actually uniform would be cause for greater controversy.
Displayed for the first time last week, parents were left confused, befuddled and angry.

“I thought they were just showing off the girls’ uniform,” Bob Walker, who has both a son and a daughter attending the school said. “I kept waiting for another child to come out to show what the boys’ would be wearing. Imagine my dismay when I was told that the uniform was quote, unquote unisex and that all students would be required to wear this outfit come fall. I’m at a loss what to do. I can’t afford to move and I can’t manage to home school my kid. But I don’t see how making boys wear dresses is going to solve any problems.”

That’s right. Though some might expect to see this article in a humor magazine, Rockford Beach Upper Elementary School will be requiring students off both genders to wear the same outfit.

The Uniform in question is a pink sleeveless dress with a teal blouse or colored shirt underneath in keeping with the schools Caribbean motif. Children are even expected to wear back-strapped sandals when attending school or canvas sneakers.

I was able to track down Principal Eleanor Scrivens.

“First off it is not a dress, it is a smock. A smock is completely different from a dress and we did so for very good reason. Smocks are gender neutral articles of clothing and for parents who have multiple children going through the school, think of the savings as they can pass one outfit down to younger children. Second, the smock is not pink, it is salmon. Salmon is a neutral color and we thought it went in with the school atmosphere and would make learning fun once again for the children.”

What can be the good reason for such a drastic measure?

“The boys can thank themselves for the lot they cast,” Ms. Scrivens said. “In recent years there has been a despicable game going on where boys will pull down the pants of other boys and girls in the school. This is akin to sexual harassment and we sought a way to curtail the situation through our dress code. Without pants, there is nothing to pull down and it will save a lot of embarrassment for kids in the school.”

It might cut down on pants being pulled down, but I don’t know about embarrassment.

I thought this would be an interesting place to start my writing career. Think of all the students we can make up and write about. I wish my school had this dress code growing up, but I wonder if stockings and tights are allowed.

Tell me how I did, this was my first time posting a story.