THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 28, 1995 TAG: 9512230174
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: JON GLASS
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Bowling Park primary graders slip into uniforms
Convinced that school uniforms have improved the self-esteem and behavior of fourth- and fifth-graders, parents at Bowling Park Elementary have persuaded school officials to dress up all grades, from pre-kindergarten to fifth-grade.
Bowling Park, one of the city's 10 majority-black community schools, in the late 1980s became the first school in Norfolk to experiment with uniforms, hoping that it would improve discipline and achievement.
Parents say the uniforms have made a tremendous difference.
``I think they can concentrate more and better on their work,'' said Tina Parker, whose 5-year-old son is in kindergarten there. ``All of the children seem to have that one thing in common and nobody is concerned about the sneakers or the jeans somebody is wearing.''
The children seem to act differently when they're dressed in the navy blue and white uniforms, parents say. The boys wear ties.
``The girls are acting like young ladies; they walk properly and sit up straight,'' Parker said. ``And the boys, you don't see them wearing baggy pants and acting up.''
Principal Herman D. Clark Jr. said teachers have joined the students in wearing navy blue and white to school. The common dress has increased school pride, he said.
The school's PTA raised $3,000 to buy uniforms for needy children, many of whom have single moms and live in nearby public housing neighborhoods. Two churches that are partners with the schools also have contributed, Clark said.
Clark said parents can buy a matching outfit for $20 or rent one for the year for $5. Students wear them three times a week; they wear Bowling Park T-shirts on Fridays. Tuesdays are ``free'' day.
While uniforms have long been standard policy in private schools, they have become in vogue in public schools across the country. Students at Ruffner Middle School this year began wearing uniforms, the only other school in Norfolk to do so.
Jacox students getting wired
Students at Jacox Elementary are getting a new window on the world thanks to an adopt-a-school partnership with Cox Communications.
Cox is installing a new cable connection to the school and is donating more than $15,000 in new televisions and VCRs for every classroom in the building.
Money for the donation was raised in part through a recent customer installation program, in which $2 of every installation was donated to a local education effort. Jacox is one of the city's 10 majority-black community schools.
Every teacher will be able to use video to enhance their lesson plans and will have cable TV to tune in to educational programs, said Frank Bowers, general manager of Cox.
Fred Oliver, assistant to the superintendent for continuous improvement, said the school's relationship with Cox is a true partnership. The company provides employees as mentors in a new program called HOST, for Helping One Student to Succeed.
``When they can donate time and manpower and financial help that really helps the students,'' Oliver said. ``All of the kids can benefit from this, not just one or two, so it's significant.'' by CNB