By ANNA DAVIS
Executive Editor
In our first edition of WordSmith, we featured an editorial regarding President Bill Clinton�s campaign promise calling for American students to be clad in uniforms. Clinton and his ilk have argued that wearing uniforms would significantly decrease the amount of violence and other undesirable behaviors in American schools. Obviously, implementing a uniform policy would cause a great deal of consternation among students, many of whom argue, as Leigha Baugham did in our fall issue, that it would be the end of creativity and individuality. Would wearing uniforms promote a more peaceful and orderly school environment? Is such peace worth surpressing students� privilege to express themselves through what they wear?
Of course, Clinton has made no mention of the policy since he won re-election in November. His call for uniforms was just a political ploy designed to earn him votes. But for the sake of argument, let�s continue to take his word seriously.
Because of a unique educational opportunity that I was afforded this past winter, I can offer some first-hand evidence that should put the uniform debate in a new light.
This past January and February, I had the opportunity of traveling to New Zealand, a small British Commonwealth island nation in the South Pacific. During the duration of my two-month stay, I had the privilege of learning about various facets of the education system at several different age levels.
From the day a child in New Zealand starts school at age five, that student wears a uniform. Each school�s colors are slightly different, giving each school its own identity. Yet all remain a modest conventional color. Young girls wear dresses until they are older, exchanging them for a shirt and blouse. Boys wear slacks and a shirt similar to a Polo. Uniforms are altered slightly to accomodate the seasons.
As soon as I got the chance, I asked Michael, a 17-year-old New Zealand native, if he thought uniforms stifled individuality.
�What?� he said, giving me an incredulous look, as if the concept was entirely foreign to hm. �Is that something Americans are thinking?�
I told him that Clinton campaigned for uniforms because the president believes they will make for more orderly and more peaceful schools.
�Your president thinks that?� Michale exclaimed, giving me a look like I had just told him I was Marilyn Monroe.
I asked him if there was violence in his school.
�Yes, there�s some and we wear uniforms,� he said, �but I don�t think there would be a change in people fighting if we stopped. I like wearing a uniform. I never have to think about what to wear. I don�t understand why your president thinks what you wear has much to do with violence.�
It seems as if uniforms are as natural to New Zealand�s students as desks, books and homework. Michael didn�t question wearing a uniform. It is part of his educational experience. It is part of tradition.
Rev. Miceal Adams, a native of Ireland who moved to New Zealand as an adult, said discipline is the key.
�I wore a uniform where I went to school [in Ireland],� Adams said. �There wasn�t any violence, but it was because discipline starts in the home.�
The loss of individuality is still in question. However, the idea of attributing behavior to the wearing of uniforms seems proposterous.
Anna Davis is a junior honors student, a junior marshall and a inveterate editor.
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