THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 24, 1996 TAG: 9603220254
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY MARK YOUNG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
Seventy-five percent of the 49 candidates for the Virginia Beach School Board who responded to a recent Beacon survey said they favor school uniforms in city schools.
Thirty-two of the 49 candidates responded clearly enough and in time for publication. Two candidates submitted completed surveys but asked that those surveys not be used without detailed answers.
The highest positive response on the survey was given to the specific effectiveness of uniforms as a tool for improving the educational climate within schools. Of the respondents, 88 percent agreed that uniforms were a ``reasonable and effective measure'' for reducing distractions and improving order in school. Nancy Dahlman Guy, like many of the candidates, had a caveat:
Another high response came to the question of participation to be expected from the candidate's own children. Seventy-two percent said they would participate; 25 percent said they would not.
Steven Michael Emmanuel wrote, ``I think they would be uneasy with the idea that only some students wear the uniforms, thus making them the objects of criticism.''
Sonja M. Watts saw her role differently. ``I have always believed in being an example of what I teach or a model of what principles I support,'' she said. ``This principle has always been practiced with my own sons, no matter what the issue is.''
Opinion was less cohesive when it came to mandatory vs. voluntary programs. Fifty-six percent believed mandatory to be the more effective of the two, though many indicated that this must result from a clear indication that this is necessary and supportable to the school community. Voting for voluntary implementation, Robert J. Birch wrote, ``I have concern that a mandatory program needs to follow, if received well, from a voluntary examination of benefits.''
Sixty-nine percent said that uniforms were a desirable change to make at the middle school level. Opinion was evenly split over the application to high schools. Forty-four percent said high schools could benefit while an even number were opposed.
Mike Mitchell approved of the middle school application while withholding his support for high school use of uniforms. ``I think it is possible to make uniforms a desirable change for middle schools, however, I think it would be very difficult to implement on the high school level.''
George T. Coker emphasized that the issue should be decided by each school. ``Again, this is a local issue, not a citywide ideological battle to win or lose,'' he said. MEMO: Main story on page 16.
SURVEY SAYS
The following responses are based on a Beacon survey about school
uniforms that was posed to the 49 candidates for the School Board. Of
those, 32 responded.
Do you feel that adopting school uniforms is a reasonable and
effective measure to reduce distractions and improve order in school?
YES - 88 percent
NO - 12 percent
Are you in favor of children in the Virginia Beach public schools
wearing uniforms?
YES - 75 percent
NO - 16 percent
OTHER - 9 percent
What kind of program do you feel would be more effective?
MANDATORY - 56 percent
VOLUNTARY - 34 percent
OTHER - 10 percent
If you had children in a school that began a voluntary uniform
program, would they participate?
YES - 72 percent
NO - 25 percent
OTHER - 3 percent
In your opinion, are school uniforms a desirable change to make in
other grade levels?
In middle schools:
YES - 69 percent
NO - 25 percent
OTHER - 6 percent
In high schools:
YES - 44 percent
NO - 44 percent
OTHER - 12 percent by CNB