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Can NJ’s worst-dressed school board member competently decide on a dress code?

Posted By Scott Warnock On In education,virtual children by Scott Warnock | 10 Comments

I’m a member of two school boards: I was elected to Riverton’s BoE and am an appointed member of Palmyra’s BoE. (Riverton is a sending district for Palmyra High School.) One of my favorite logical fallacies is ad hominem [1]. Could these different bits of information cohere? We’ll see.

A hot topic lately at PHS has been the dress code. Since 2008, Palmyra has had a “Uniform Dress Code” policy [2] (the policy was revised in 2013). The core of the four-page guideline is that students should have a kind of neat, “work casual” look; for instance, khaki-type pants and shirts that are collared, logoless, and one of three solid colors: red, black, or white.

I remember thinking this was good when it was discussed in 2013. At the time, I even thought there was a buzz that many public schools might be moving in this direction and we at PHS were on the cutting edge. As a student in my days at Berlin Community School and Eastern High School, I never had a uniform policy, but the idea of this neat, no-stress general look seemed smart.

Well, it’s a few years later, and most public schools do not have uniforms. But a few months ago, at a Palmyra BoE meeting, an articulate, smart, charismatic high school student named Johnny Kay stepped up to the podium and delivered the first of several compelling speeches about the shortcomings of our dress code. In a careful refutation of the policy’s supposed benefits, he made it clear that the code should be rescinded or changed significantly. His ultimate point, which he emphasized last month by bringing forward a number of well-dressed, pleasant-looking students who were in reality still attired in ways — some quite subtle — that violated the policy, was simple: PHS students, faculty, and staff do not need a uniform dress code to have a well-run, academically serious, socially enjoyable environment.

During the course of these meetings, the uniform issue turned into a good grassroots movement. Spurred by Kay’s comments, the topic was discussed and the district sent out a Web survey. People got to weigh in and give their opinion.

Again, I initially thought a mild uniform was fine. I guess I felt it would help students, maybe making preparations for school easier. I remembered in high school keeping this crazy list of what I wore (okay, it was crazy list #43 of hundreds of crazy lists I have kept) so I made sure I wouldn’t wear my, uh, green, long-sleeved Adidas shirt with the white Lee corduroys twice in the same week. A dress code would have saved me from such garment-centric journaling.

But, overwhelmingly, Palmyra students, staff, and their parents have not voiced support for the code. Including some who live close to me, maybe even in the same house, the vast majority say they don’t want or need a uniform. Some wonder what they are going to do with all their solid red, black, and white shirts and khakis and others are okay with a relaxed dress code as long as it doesn’t include hoodies, but the will of the people is clear: No more uniforms.

Sitting behind the BoE table, I was struck by the many people who came out to give thoughtful opinions about this topic. They care about the school. I also see this topic as a great example of students having a chance to make a difference through democratic, communicative action-type processes. On those grounds alone, I’m supportive of change.

But, really, how could I say otherwise? In this video, which should be titled “Worst-dressed board member in NJ listens to testimony about uniform policy [3],” I sit listening to people talk about this topic while garbed in a crummy sweat pants and sweat shirt. Some might say: How can this rumpled man to judge the raiment of others?

But, you see, I have wrestling practice until 7:00 and the BoE starts at 7:00. I go right from one to the other without time to change from my wrestling coach costume to my school board costume. So judge me not. Clothes may not make the man. I do my best in both volunteer roles despite my meager trappings.

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Scott Warnock [7]

Scott Warnock is a writer and teacher who lives in South Jersey. He is a professor of English at Drexel University, where he is also the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education in the College of Arts and Sciences. Father of three and husband of one, Scott is president of a local high school education foundation and spent many years coaching youth sports.
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