Earlier this school year, the Wicomico County Board of Education heard details of a Consistent Attire Program (CAP) that is being considered by a number of Wicomico County elementary schools. CAP is tentatively scheduled to be discussed and voted on in early 2012.
Jason Miller, assistant principal of Prince Street Elementary, and Jennifer Rice, assistant principal of North Salisbury Elementary, have been leading the team that is researching CAP and helping schools survey parents to learn their interest in a CAP to ensure consistent attire. Consistent attire, like uniforms, can build team spirit, improve school climate, encourage appropriate attire, reduce bullying and peer pressure over clothes, decrease discipline issues, and make the morning routine easier for families, they said.
The following elementary schools have indicated interest in CAP: Beaver Run, Charles H. Chipman, Delmar, East Salisbury, Glen Avenue, North Salisbury, Pemberton, Pinehurst, Prince Street, Wicomico Early Learning Center, and West Salisbury Elementary. Wicomico High School also requested details of the CAP policy, though at this time the policy is written only for elementary school students.
At the schools surveyed, response was strongly favorable to the question “Do you think Wicomico County Public Schools should consider consistent attire for next year if your child had choices?” Staff members overwhelmingly favored a CAP for students. The majority of students grades 3-5 who responded to a survey said they would like to wear consistent attire next year if they had a choice.
The CAP team anticipates presenting additional information to the Board at a work session in January, with a first reading by the Board in February and a final vote in March. If the Board approved the CAP in March, that would leave plenty of time to inform families that it would take effect for the 2012-13 school year and alert local clothing merchants to the new program. Board members had mixed responses to the CAP proposal at the Nov. 1 work session, with some favoring it while others opposed it, and other Board members said they needed to know more about how CAP would work.
For more information about Wicomico County’s proposal for a Consistent Attire Program, please take a look at the presentation posted here, as well as the draft elementary Wicomico County Schools Consistent Attire Program Policy Statement, which provides guidelines for clothing under the CAP.
Input may be given at any time by leaving a voicemail message on the Public Input Line at 410-677-5251, emailing comments@wcboe.org, or mailing comment to Public Input, Wicomico Schools, PO Box 1538, Salisbury MD 21802.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
6 comments:
A great idea. Seems to work well at Delmar jr-sr high
Works well in Somerset.
I still can't understand why they would survey 3-5 graders. Does it really matter what they think? I told my children (6, 10) that it really doesn't matter what they think, they are still children, and not policy makers.
The cap will work if they are consistent about enforcing the rules. Time and time again, I see girls in flip flops (elem), super short skirts, with out regard to their underclothes, etc.
So they can put whatever they want in place, it is the enforcing that I see being the issue.
It would work well in Wicomico too if they will all just go for it. Too bad it is only for elementary age children - it is very, very badly needed in the high schools.
December 13, 2011 9:43 AM
Asking 3-5 graders is equal to asking most politicians from washington dc.
Why are we trying to take more and more rights away from people? Jesus, this is disqusting. AND YOU PEOPLE ARE FOR THIS?
Imagine if you were forced to wear the same god damn thing everyday? Children are people too. They have rights as well.
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