THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 30, 1995 TAG: 9507300045
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
Jessica and Tiffany Gates weren't interested in vogue cropped tops, electric-patterned shorts or the racks of what's new in flannel as they made their way into JC Penney's children's department early Saturday morning.
The girls, their parents and younger brother Jack were looking for something more conservative - crisp white shirts, cardigan sweaters, plaid jumpers for the ladies and navy slacks for the gentleman.
The family was shopping for uniforms the kids will wear when classes resume at Seatack Elementary School in the fall. The children's section of the Lynnhaven JC Penney's store had opened two hours early so that students and their families could get a jump on their back-to-school shopping.
``They feel better than other clothes,'' pronounced 8-year-old Jessica, as she tried on the navy and green plaid jumper with the Peter Pan collar blouse.
``And we won't have to worry about `What am I going to wear to school today,' '' said her mother, Debra.
Seatack is one of four Virginia Beach public schools adopting a voluntary uniform policy this year, and it was the first of those schools opting to do so. Strawbridge, Thalia and Windsor Woods elementary schools are the others.
Cheryl Shoen, manager of the children's section at JC Penney's said opening the store at 8 a.m. helped familiarize her staff with new merchandise and guaranteed the families ``a little more personal attention.''
They also got an early shot at a seasonal sale - a wonderful bonus for any family, but particularly for those at Seatack, which serves one of the most economically disadvantaged communities in the city. Vouchers were available for families that needed them, thanks to community donations, including $2,000 from the Association of Naval Aviation.
Uniforms, long the attire of private and parochial school students, began popping up in public schools a few years ago. Educators, mainly in the inner-city systems of Washington and Los Angeles, were trying to offset a spurt of violence related to expensive or gang clothing and eliminate the distraction over who was wearing what. For low-income families, the uniforms also generally prove cheaper to buy and easier to maintain than the fashion of the day.
The trend has spread to suburbia as educators and parents look for better ways to eliminate competitiveness and peer pressure to better focus on academics. Virginia Beach School Board member Tim Jackson first raised the issue of a voluntary uniform policy with his colleagues. As he surveyed the families shopping Saturday morning, Jackson said he can't wait for the idea to spread.
``If we want to see change (in the schools), we need to do some things differently. I felt this was a piece in the puzzle to improve academic excellence,'' Jackson said. ``It's all positive. It's all good.''
Families were lined up before the store opened, and the first kids were headed to the dressing rooms within minutes of arriving in the children's section.
The conversations were echoes from generations of back-to-school shopping.
``I still want the shirt in a seven.''
``Those pants fit you fine.''
``I can look at it and tell it's going to be too big.''
Mary Owens and her 7-year-old granddaughter, Shante, were among the first into the store.
``I think it's a good idea,'' Owens said, as she headed to the sales counter with two jumpers. ``The kids concentrate more on their school and work than on each other. I think when they look alike, they have respect for each other.''
Ernestine Alexander, who was shopping with her three kids, said the uniforms - at about $28 per outfit - would be a relief to her pocketbook. Her 9-year-old daughter Nikki Holman said she liked ``everything'' about the knife pleated jumper she tried on. And as she twirled a rack of shiny little-girl-size jewelry, Nikki exercised her crucial fashion option to accessorize.
``I want to find me some earrings like my dress,'' she told her mom. ILLUSTRATION: GARY C. KNAPP/Staff color photos
From left to right, Ciara Holman, 9; C.J. Holman, 6; and Lindsey
Holman, 7, try on their new school uniforms during back-to-school
shopping at JC Penney. The girls will go to Seatack
Elementary in the fall.
Cathy Stanley looks at the new outfits for her daughter Kelly, who
will be attending a school with a uniform policy.
Graphic
BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS with VOLUNTARY UNIFORM POLICY:
Seatack
Strawbridge
Thalia
Windsor Woods
by CNB