Support school uniform policy

School uniforms achieve a variety of beneficial purposes when all students in a particular school wear them. Officials at Harleyville-Ridgeville Elementary School want to encourage their use without making them mandatory. Unfortunately, full participation isn't likely with an optional program.

The Harleyville-Ridgeville school is the first in Dorchester District 4 to try uniforms. Students have the options of white or light blue shirts and khaki or dark blue trousers or skirts.

Some parents who have decided their children won't wear uniforms are complaining to school and district officials. They contend that the school's plan to encourage uniforms by incentives will negatively affect their children.

The school, in contrast, reports a generally positive response to the uniform policy. School officials decided to try school uniforms after the idea was supported by a majority of parents in a survey last school year. There are numerous reasons to back their use.

Clearly uniforms curtail fashion competition among children. Their use eliminates a potential source of labeling by students, reducing classroom cliques and the resultant conflicts among students.

Uniforms also eliminate discussion over what constitutes appropriate attire for the school environment, and allow school officials to avoid conflicts over dress code enforcement.

And they reduce costs for parents by cutting back-to-school expenses for clothing. With school uniforms, students don't require as many outfits.

Mandatory wearing of uniforms is the rule in the Charleston County schools where they are used. Since the policy was begun 12 years ago, well over half of Charleston schools now require them. That speaks to the success of the policy.

Dorchester 4 District officials, including the school board, should support Harleyville-Ridgeville's move toward uniforms, recognizing that they eliminate a potential distraction to the academic program. The experiment in the elementary school may recommend their mandatory use elsewhere in the district.