| Updated: 2/06 11:26 am |
Published: 1/31 6:49 pm
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Tulsa Public School high schools could soon be filled with khakis and polos or something very close to that. The school board will decide in February whether to require uniforms in all high schools. Right now, Rogers, East Central and McLain are the only three high schools that require uniforms.
Micah Surratt is a senior student athlete at McLain and was just accepted to the University of Oklahoma. He wasn’t happy when he found out he had to wear a uniform.
"Junior year we get this letter in the mail saying you have to wear uniforms or you can't come to school, so Wal-Mart was my friend that day,” says Surratt.
He wore a uniform in middle school and was looking forward to expressing his individuality in high school. Two years later, he’s feeling more positive about his blazer and dress pants.
"It's not that bad, I have went to interviews wearing my jacket and they are all kind of shocked because it's easier to get an interview set up and go directly to school,” says Surratt.
Dr. Ebony Johnson is a co-principal at McLain and believes in what the uniform represents, and what it brings to her student body.
“It's given our school a new face due to a previous unfortunate reputation, so we're excited about our students standing out,” says Johnson.
That new face comes in the form of increased grades and attendance. In the 2010-2011 school year, attendance numbers were just over 78%. Now, the numbers are up to nearly 84%. In 2009, McLain students held and C and D average. After uniforms and an intense discipline focus, students are now carrying a C and B average with more headed for college.
There were 15 incidents of bullying this time last year, and now there have only been 4 cases. Micah believes the uniform has helped give guidance and structure to his classmates.
“I think it has and I think it will. I've seen some people that I went to middle school with do a lot better, and I've seen myself do better,” he says.
The Tulsa Public School board is scheduled to vote on the uniform requirement for all high schools at its next board meeting on February 6th.
