School Uniforms Still Mandatory

The Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union announced that it dropped the complaint against the Woonsocket School Department over school uniforms this week, but Superintendent Robert Gerardi confirmed that policy is still in effect and is being enforced.

"The schools do have an enforcement policy and will continue to have disciplinary infractions," Gerardi said.

According to an article in the Providence Journal, the RI ACLU dropped the case because the policy isn't mandatory, and is waiting to hear from individuals punished for violating it.

"There seem to be more and more instances of spotty and sporadic enforcement," said Attorney John Dineen. Because they have not identified a specific case where enforcement resulted in a violation of a student's civil liberties, the attorney has recommended that the case be abandoned for now. "I don't think anyone has changed their mind about the uniform issue," Dineen said.

The school committee was informed of the change last Wednesday via a letter from Dineen.

"We've been trying to be reasonable with the policy," Gerardi said. Students cannot, for example, be suspended for lack of compliance and several students have, with the help of their parents, secured waivers for reasons of health, religion or free speech.

"Some parents see these kids, and other students that are being disciplined, and think that we're not enforcing the policy. It's not that it's not enforced. Those students are doing detention. Students that don't mind detention every day may be spotted out of uniform," Gerardi said.

Gerardi believes that the community as a whole has embraced the policy and confirmed that 95 percent of high school students, 98 percent of middle school students and 99 percent of elementary students are following it. These figures, he explained, come from daily reports which have been filed by school principals.

"I've heard a lot of positive feedback because they do help parents to save money," Gerardi said.

The superintendent is grateful to move past the debate as to whether or not the policy will be challenged and hopeful that once the schools get through the first year, enforcement will become easier. This will happen, he asserts, not only because parents will be more accustomed to buying uniforms, but also because affordable used uniforms will become more available. PTOs at many schools have already begun to examine ways to create drives for swaps and donations.  

Between 20 and 30 students have secured waivers so far via letters to Gerardi stating their reasons for non-compliance.

This article has been changed to reflect commentary from Attorney John Dineen.