THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 7, 1996 TAG: 9603070427
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Long : 102 lines
A year ago, naysayers warned inner-city school principal Pamela Hoffler-Riddick that her plan to require students to wear color-coded uniforms would never work.
But now, with President Clinton's endorsement, public school uniforms are all the rage, and Hoffler-Riddick's experiment in mandatory student dress at Ruffner Middle School is aglow in the national limelight.
In a manual sent last week to the nation's 16,000 school districts to promote uniforms as a way to improve schools' learning climate, the U.S. Department of Education listed Ruffner's policy as one of eight ``model'' policies nationwide.
Since the six-page document was released, Hoffler-Riddick and her school have been bombarded with media attention: She spoke Monday on the ``Diane Rehm Show'' on National Public Radio; the ``Today Show'' called the other morning; and a Japanese broadcasting company wants to talk to school officials to examine an emerging trend in U.S. schools that is old hat in Japan.
Ruffner students have worn their matching uniforms since September, when the school became the first secondary school in Virginia to adopt a mandatory dress policy, Hoffler-Riddick said. Students wear navy blue slacks or skirts, solid-color Oxford shirts, plaid ties and black shoes.
``Not only did it work,'' Hoffler-Riddick gushed Wednesday, ``but it's now on the president's agenda. Our industry is changing and we're going to have to do things differently. It's like icing on the cake to be recognized nationally when we were a year ahead of being in vogue.''
Hoffler-Riddick said she's angling for a presidential visit. As practice for the upcoming Iowa Test of Basic Skills, a national standardized test that includes reading and writing components, the school's 1,000 students will write to President Clinton.
``He's going to get a 1,000 letters inviting him to come,'' Hoffler-Riddick said.
Clinton endorsed the use of uniforms during his State of the Union address in January, and last month instructed the Department of Education to issue the uniform guidelines.
The department's manual touts the potential benefits as reducing violence, keeping gang colors and insignias out of schools, improving discipline, focusing students on their studies and helping school officials spot intruders.
Virginia has been ahead of the curve on uniforms. Last March, the General Assembly passed legislation allowing school boards to require that uniforms be worn. And even before that, several elementary schools in Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach had adopted voluntary uniform policies.
Maymont Elementary School in Richmond also was among the eight ``model'' schools in the federal department's manual. The other schools were in Long Beach, Calif., Seattle, Kansas City, Memphis, Baltimore and Phoenix.
Most Ruffner parents have bought into Riddick's mandatory policy. Parents and students had a say in whether it was adopted, a key to its success, said PTA president Sheryl Brennell, whose son is in seventh grade.
``It's just so easy,'' Brennell said. ``It's less cost and you don't have to mess with it in the morning - they know what they're going to wear.
Some students still complain about having to wear the uniforms but are resigned to the requirement. ``I don't really like it, but I've got to put up with it,'' said sixth-grader Chris Williams.
``They're very strict about it,'' said seventh-grader Susan Thomas, 13. ``You can get Saturday detention, sent to in-school suspension or get suspended.''
Hoffler-Riddick said only a handful of students who have repeatedly violated the policy have actually been sent home on suspension.
Thomas and other students said there have been fewer fights and students are concentrating more on their work since they started wearing uniforms. They said students often fought after being teased about their clothes.
``Last year, people came to school to show off their clothes, and school was one big fashion show,'' Thomas said. ``Kids used to get joked about what they'd wear.''
While Hoffler-Riddick said she doesn't view uniforms as a cure-all, they have contributed to an improved learning environment.
The school has tracked a 30 percent decline this year in suspensions caused by disruption, insubordination, disrespect and fighting, she said.
The number of students on the first-quarter honor roll rose by nearly 20 percent.
``It makes clothing a nonissue, as far as being able to distinguish between the haves and have-nots, or the ones who don't have trendy clothing,'' said Hoffler-Riddick, whose school draws heavily from neighborhoods with public housing. Nearly 80 percent of students qualify for the federal free- and reduced-price lunch program.
``They behave differently,'' she said. ``It's like every day is picture day.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
An Idea Wears Well
MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN
The Virginian-Pilot
Uniformed students at Ruffner Middle School in Norfolk chat between
classes in the school's media lab. From left are Jennifer Wamsley,
Michael Rouse, Emily Corbin, Angela Allen, Kymberly Boyer, Patricia
Nadeau and Heather Roberts.
KEYWORDS: SCHOOL UNIFORMS by CNB