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After 153 years without uniforms, Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School has enacted a uniform requirement of all its students. Although the school had a strict dress code in the 1960's, this is
the first time the student body must wear uniforms.
Three years ago, selected students were given two Loughlin shirts to wear two days a week. This generated discussion about the advantages of
wearing school uniforms. The shirts,
either a golf or button down, caught people's attention. Just last year a committee of faculty and students met on the
issue. The committee considered various options and weighed all the pros and cons regarding a
school uniform. In the end, the decision to go with uniforms was unanimous. The committee agreed that
a "menu of choices" with options would best suit the needs of
the students who attend the school. The principal, Brother Dennis Cronin, wanted to allow students room for
individuality while also freeing them from the pressures of high cost name
brands. "Our uniforms promote school unity and not separation. By not limiting designated colors to grade levels, we allow our
students to be identified by who they are and not by what color they
wear."
The student's uniform consists of solid color brown, black or gray shoes;
khaki or black pants, and a khaki, black or gray pleated skirt for the
girls. The "menu" offers a variety of shirts and tops in
various colors all of which are imprinted with the Loughlin logo.
Students have reacted positively to the new uniforms. "I love it!" says
senior Damali Boston, "It brings order in the class and we all look really
nice." Her classmate Carelle Cherebin is of the same opinion. "I love it, I love it, I love it! They're economically
better and we still get different options." Not all students are in agreement but everyone does feel that
they are, as senior Sean Hutchinson says, "better than other school
uniforms. At least in this
school we have variety."
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