When students are asked whether or not they want a uniform, the answer is usually a loud “No!” but we have all had the downsides of choosing what to wear or the frustration that the outfit we chose does not look how we want. We have experienced feelings of pride and belonging as we wear our sports uniform or the color of our favorite team on game day. Sometimes, we experience the downside of a uniform in an unflattering color or designed for a different body size. Friends never had a uniform, but they used to have restrictions that prohibited students from wearing sweatpants, leggings, or shorts and dresses that were more than four inches above the knee. Those rules have since vanished, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with COVID-19 in the rearview mirror, should a stricter dress code or even a uniform be considered? How does a uniform fit Quaker values and our school mission?
We are all familiar with the joy of wearing what we want each day, choosing whether it’s the day to show off your newest pair of jeans or the type of day for baggy, comfortable sweatpants. At Friends, we have the freedom to wear what we want and express ourselves as individuals as we continue to grow and change. Dr. Childs, the Director of Equity, Justice, Community, and Engagement, says, “We have a dress code that allows students to be themselves as individuals and that is of high importance to us, and a big part of our mission as a school, so a uniform isn’t really necessary.” Dr Childs believes how students dress tells a story about who we are as a school. She says, “If we had a stricter, more business-type dress code, where we didn’t allow students to wear sweatpants or jeans, and button-up shirts were required, it would give off more of a formal vibe, and a certain impression.” Not having a uniform doesn’t just come down to whether the Quaker values support it and what it conveys about our school. Dr. Childs says, “I think the story that we tell is that this is a place where people can be who they are, and be accepted as who they are regardless of what they wear.” Diversity is also a focus at Friends, and is an essential part of our educational objectives. We strive to recognize diversity and that there is “that of God” in everyone. Dr. Childs says, “I don’t think we can be diverse if everyone is wearing the same thing.” Dr. Childs also mentions that if everyone is wearing a uniform, small changes, like who has the nicer red polo shirt, become more noticeable and evident. Uniforms complicate parents’ already busy lives. Dr Childs says, “There is also a cost factor by adding uniforms… they are just another thing for families to pay for.” If uniforms are unnecessary, and we can avoid them, then it is one less thing for parents to worry about. Moreover, years of not having uniforms would complicate things for students, who would have to adjust to being heavily restricted in what they wear and adapt to a new set of expectations. If put into place, uniforms could also warrant a new set of rules and consequences that address a student’s punishment for not following uniform rules or not wearing the correct clothing.
As much fun as getting to pick outfits is for school, at some point, it can feel like a chore, remembering if you wore this top a few days ago and trying not to repeat it too frequently. Uniforms eliminate the time spent finding an outfit, simplifying students’ routines by ruling out the need for a decision. Mrs. Hegenbarth is the Upper School Quakerism teacher. “ Uniforms can go under simplicity because they take away the decision-making in the morning or night. If every day you wear the same thing, there is no decision needed, and it takes away that part of your brain,” she says. Wyeth Gary, ‘28, is a freshman who previously wore a uniform for 8 years. “Wearing a uniform can be frustrating as it limits what you can wear, but also can make deciding what to wear in the morning easier,” he said. Uniforms are usually associated with equality, making all students look the same to help support equitable education access. Equality is part of Friends’ core spices. Mrs. Hegenbarth says, “There is just as strong of a case for uniforms, supported by our Quaker equality testimony. With a uniform in place, students wouldn’t have to worry about who has designer clothes, or the most stylish uggs. None of that would be an issue.” Uniforms could limit comparisons between students about their clothing and what some students do and don’t have. Furthermore, as a community that practices integrity, we are not living as people who act on what they believe regarding uniforms. We believe in equality and simplicity, and both Quaker values support the idea of uniformity. Our actions would resemble our beliefs, meaning there is a strong argument for uniforms. Our school’s policy on uniforms should be mainly based on what the school needs, but our policy may affect the decisions of prospective students and families. Mrs. Hegebarth says, “I wonder what people who come and visit think. Students typically like having a lenient dress code, but parents decide on whether their child will attend this school.” Ultimately, parents just want their children to receive an adequate education, and if what students wear prevents them from doing so, it is something to consider before attending Friends. In the future, situations requiring conversations about implementing a uniform could arise. Mrs. Hegenbarth says, “It would have to come through business meetings, but it has always been supported by faculty but shot down by students.”
If both having and not having a uniform support the Quaker values and our school’s mission, then is there any need for change? Our school can look too casual because of what some of us wear, which may not create a positive impression. Maybe we should explore a compromise solution with constraints that still allow us to express our authentic selves.
