School uniforms evolve, but remain important

OMAHA, Neb. (The Catholic Voice) - Saddle shoes have been replaced with bright-colored sneakers. And instead of bow ties, button down shirts and dress slacks, polo shirts and khaki shorts or slacks are now the standard.

But no matter how the styles change, school uniforms remain an important part of Catholic education and a trademark for it, too.

So say two Catholic educators from the Archdiocese of Omaha with more than 74 combined years of experience - Sofia Kock, principal of Holy Name School in Omaha, and Joyce Gubbels, principal of St. Pius X/St. Leo School in Omaha.

"For those of us that have been around for a while, you can be anywhere around Omaha and see a student in a uniform and know where he or she goes to school," Kock said. "Being easily recognizable is a great way to be representatives of your school and of Catholic education."
'It levels the playing field'

All of the 78 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Omaha have some sort of official uniform or a dress code that the students must follow.

"With uniforms, students don't feel bad if they don't have a fancy shirt on or socks with a certain logo, because it levels the playing field for everyone," Gubbels said. "With such a broad range of socio-economic levels in our area that is important."

Kock agrees.

"Minimizing the outside world's influence is important," she said. "We want our kids to focus on what's important - the education - and the uniform helps that.

"I am grateful for uniforms. I think it is important to change with society, but a lot of what is 'in style' today is not appropriate for school."

Gubbels believes the rationale behind the uniform requirement today is much the same as when Catholic schools first started requiring uniforms.

"I assume back when uniforms were started that they were also used to level the field for all economic levels, and that much has not changed," she said. "They were probably also seen as a good way to prepare the students for the workforce."

The art of dressing up

Wearing a certain uniform on a certain day also helps to teach students an important lesson - dressing for the occasion.

"If we have guests in the building or a special Mass that day, we do ask students to wear the dressier version of their uniform," said Kock. "We are teaching them the importance of dressing up for occasions, which they will need later in life."

Uniform costs vary, but students would never be turned away because their families can't afford a uniform, Gubbels said.

"We always seem to find one somewhere," she said. "Our parents hold a used uniform sale twice a year, we get donations and gift certificates - uniforms last a long time."

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Although styles of uniforms will continue to change over the years, one thing that won't change - the demand or preference for uniforms, especially by parents, the educators said.

"Parents will always want uniforms," Gubbels said. "The parameters are already set for the students and it is just so much easier."

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This story was made available to Catholic Online by permission of The Catholic Voice (www.catholicvoiceomaha.com), official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Omaha, Neb.