| Updated: 2/07 10:20 am |
Published: 2/06 10:36 pm
|
The Tulsa school board votes to make uniforms mandatory for all district high schools.
After students heard the decision, there was a large sigh as they realized they will be wearing khaki and white next year.
About an hour before the school board meeting, students from Booker T. Washington and other high schools lined the streets to protest the vote. Many of them holding posters in their hands.
Inside the meeting, the board heard from numerous students about why they didn’t want to wear a uniform. Parents also got up to express their opinion. Then it was the faculty’s turn. Nearly a dozen principals stood up to say they supported the uniform vote for their schools, despite opposition from students. After hearing from nearly 24 people about why they didn’t want uniforms in the high schools, it was put to a vote, with the yes votes coming out on top.
“They didn’t ask, they didn’t get opinions and they didn’t think it through which is typical of what they do," said mom Shannon Inhofe.
“We know that it does make an impact on school discipline and I know our principals spend an enormous amount of time with violations of dress code and so it’s a big issue," said TPS public information officer Chris Payne.
The decision was not unanimous, with the board split 4 to 3. TPS says it is working to provide assistance with PTA fundraising, school partners, and gathering clothing donations for families in need of a uniform.
This decision will affect around 7,000 students not already in uniform. The decision will be implemented for the 2012-2013 school year.
