Lynn students voice opinions on dress code

LYNN – Shane Caufield said even though he puts on the “same old” variation of his school uniform every day, he thinks uniforms are a way for schools to show equality.”Uniforms reduce discrimination,” said Caufield, a student at St. Mary’s Junior-Senior High School. “No one is judged by what they’re wearing and everyone feels like an equal.”Last week The Daily Item reported on a proposal to implement a dress code with school uniforms in Lynn public schools. Parents of children in Lynn public schools favored the idea, while students vocalized that they didn’t think school uniforms were the way to go.In an itemlive.com poll that ran on the Web site Monday through Friday, an overwhelming majority favored uniforms. Of the 620 readers who voted, 522, or 84 percent, answered the question, “Should Lynn schools institute a dress code? with, “Yes. It will bring uniformity to the schools.”Students interviewed at KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School and St. Mary’s Junior-Senior High School had mixed opinions about their required dress codes.KIPP Academy is an open enrollment public charter school, which requires students to wear t-shirts, long sleeve shirts and/or sweatshirts with the KIPP logo on them. Pants must be black, blue or khaki. Jeans are allowed since they fall under the “blue” pant category. Students must also tuck their shirts in.The majority of fifth- and sixth-graders interviewed at KIPP Academy said they like the dress code.”I think uniforms are good,” said student Paul Simard. “A lot of kids don’t get nice clothes or can’t buy them, so I think uniforms are more fair because everyone wears the same thing.”Krystal Campbell agreed. “I like (uniforms) because kids don’t feel left out if they don’t have new clothes.” She added that uniforms make it easier to get ready in the morning. “I don’t have to pick out an outfit because I already know what I’m going to wear.”Jocelyn Mauricio favored the conventional aspect of school uniforms.”I like them because you can’t show off your body,” she said. “I don’t think kids my age should be able to do that.”Victor Rivera disagreed with his peers and said he doesn’t like uniforms because they’re “boring.””If I get a new shirt for my birthday or Christmas, I can’t wear it to school,” he said. “I get tired of wearing the same clothes every day.”Seventh- and eighth-grade students for the most part said they liked the KIPP Academy uniform over other school’s uniforms, but also shared reasons as to what they don’t like about school uniforms in general.”I like our uniforms because they’re more laid back than other schools’,” said Isaiah Wilson. He also said he appreciates that KIPP Academy lets students choose which KIPP shirt they can wear each day and sometimes students can even help design the shirts. “It’s fun to be able to create designs,” he said, but adds that he wishes he could express himself more through his outfit. “I don’t mind the uniform but sometimes I wish I could just where whatever I want.”Jakob Bourgeois agreed with Wilson that the KIPP uniform is better than other schools. “Our uniforms are better than most schools that have uniforms. I think our teachers are good at picking them out and knowing what we want to wear,” he said.Rayquan Fregeau said even though the uniforms are “relaxed,” some days he wishes he could choose what he wants to wear. “Some days we should be able to wear whatever we want,” he said.Students Anaidysl Uribe, Serena High and Mikayla Collins all said they dislike wearing uniforms. “They’re uncomfortable and I don’t like having to tuck my shirt in,” said Uribe. High agreed. “Plus, I don’t think (uniforms) give us a chance to show our personality,” she said. Collins also agreed, saying, “As long as what we choose to wear is appropriate, I think we should be able to do so.”St. Mary’s Junior-Senior High School students had varied opinions about their dress code as well.The dress code requires students to wear a St. Mary’s polo shirt in white or navy blue, long or