
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 15, 1995                   TAG: 9501170066
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SURE, UNIFORMS OK - IF JEANS INCLUDED

Some students at William Ruffner Middle School in Roanoke say that uniforms in public schools would help end teasing and jealousy based on clothing. Others are concerned that uniforms would rob them of their ability to express their individuality.

``Some kids get picked on because their parents don't have the money to buy them clothes like those worn by other children,'' said Sonya Via, an eighth-grader at Ruffner.

Uniforms would make everyone equal in dress, she and others say.

``There are some good things and bad things about uniforms. If I had to make a choice, I would choose uniforms because they would help prevent people's feelings from getting hurt,'' said Donna Moran, an eighth-grader.

Some students reported hearing that jackets and shoes had been stolen at school.

Clothes are a big issue for students at Ruffner - just as they are in most schools.

Despite their concern for the feelings of schoolmates, many students would not want to give up their freedom to wear whatever they choose.

About a dozen sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders at Ruffner met with a reporter recently to talk about their views on clothes and uniforms.

Rodney Anthony said he would not like uniforms if that meant he couldn't wear blue jeans.

Liza Smoker said students should be free to wear their own clothes to express their individuality.

Misty Overstreet attended a parochial school and wore a uniform for four years before she moved to Roanoke and enrolled at Ruffner. She likes uniforms because they make all students equal in clothes and eliminate jealousy.

Uniforms could become boring quickly and make everyone look the same, said Quenton Keatts. Students should have choices, he said.

``I would get tired of uniforms. Everyone has their own style,'' said Laron Lewis.

Ben Mottesheard said he believes that uniforms would be too restrictive. ``I don't like to be controlled every day,'' he said.

Legal questions have been raised about whether uniforms infringe on the students' freedom, but the issue has not been resolved by the courts.

If schools use uniforms, all students agreed on one thing: They would be spared the early-morning agony over what to wear to school each day.

by CNB