The Rumson Schools Uniform Answers

By Elaine Van Develde

Opinions on either side of the subject may be strong, but not enough parents weighed in to warrant moving forward with a Rumson schools uniform dress code.

School officials had explained that in order to implement any change in district policy, such as dress code, there must be an 80 percent response rate to official surveys on the subject.

This one fell short at a 58 percent response rate, with a total of 52 percent in overall disagreement or neutral on the idea of school uniforms. A total of 48 percent, slightly less, agreed that uniforms should be worn in Rumson schools.

The issue has been percolating for about the past four years, officials said. With some parents pushing for the switch due to what they see as lax school attire among students, officials agreed that an official gauge was warranted. And that's what they got.
 
"It is clear that there are strong opinions on each side of the discussion," Superintendent Maryrose Caulfield-Sloan said. "When the committee was planning this matter, we agreed that since instituting a uniform dress code meant changing our school policy, we would require a mandate from our parents to change our current practice. This meant we would change the policy if 80 percent or more of our parents responded. Since we did not receive this response rate, there will not be any change in our current policy." 

Broken down, of the 576 surveys sent out  — one per family — there were 336  responses, or 58 percent. The category that got the highest response rate was that which asked what parents thought the implementation of a uniform dress code would significantly impact. Most, or 62 percent, said it would affect competition among peers, with respect for others and attitude following closely, at 53 and 43 percent response rates, respectively.

Most, or 85 percent also said that implementing a uniform dress code would not be a financial hardship. However, with nearly a 50/50 split in votes, 48 percent said uniforms would be financially beneficial to the family and 47 percent said they would not.

For more details, by subject, see the survey results below:

What areas would the implementation of a uniform dress code significantly impact?

• School safety = 15%
• Respect for self and others = 53%
• Attitude = 43%
• Motivation/self esteem = 39%
• Discipline/behavior = 38%
• Competition among peers = 62%
• None of the above = 24%

What are the most important considerations you would have for a uniform dress code?
    •    Value for the money = 12%
    •    Style = 12%
    •    Comfort = 24%
    •    All of the above = 55%
    •    Implementing a uniform dress would be financially beneficial to your family?
    •    Yes = 47%
    •    No = 48%
    •    Implementing a uniform dress code would be a financial hardship to your family?
    •    Yes = 8%
    •    No = 85%
    •    What type of uniform dress code do you prefer?
    •    Uniform dress code every day. = 10%
    •    Uniform dress code every day, with occasional “free days” as student rewards. = 28%
    •    Uniform dress code Monday through Thursday, “free Fridays” and other specified days. = 35%
    •    None of the above = 32%
    •    Do you believe our current school dress code is adequate?
    •    Agree = 41%
    •    Neutral = 30%
    •    Disagree = 15%
    •    Strongly disagree 11%
    •    I support the implementation of a uniform dress code in the Rumson Schools.
    •    Agree = 48%
    •    Disagree = 31%
    •    Neutral = 21%