Merry L. Murray

Sharon

The students who participated in the sit-in at Sharon Middle-Senior High School protesting the proposed dress apparel policy should be commended for their use of freedom of speech, entrusted to us by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The dress policy is utterly abusive to these and future students. Wearing only plain, solid color, collared shirts, black or khaki pants or attire with school logos is an infringement on their individuality and creativity, things which should be nurtured.

There will be no stripes, Steeler jerseys, flowers, prints, snuggly sweaters, Winnie The Pooh, American flag emblems, D.A.R.E. logos or cancer awareness ribbons.

There will be no holiday red, St. Patrick’s Day green and no pastels celebrating spring.

What will this drab “style of uniformity” do to a child during adolescence who is developing their self esteem? In the end, instead of feeling good about themselves, students may feel dull and useless. And then what? Another Columbine massacre or a quiet suicide?

We are not a nation of people who want to look, think and act the same. In fact, it seems very similar to the lock-step uniformity method used in Nazi Germany in the 1930s and ’40s. Hello, this is 2009; we are the United States of America, land of the free and home of the brave!

This policy will not prepare our children for the future workforce, but transform them into drones, lifeless robots. It will not make them learn better or be smarter.

We need teachers, parents and administrators to inspire and encourage our youth into learning.

We all attended school with certain dress codes, so yes, there should be a policy. One that bans ill-fitting and offensive attire would do.

Mr. Sarandrea and board members have gone too far proposing this one. I am surprised they left out what color socks and underwear could only be worn. Perhaps that will be added in, if residents are gullible to re-elect these school board members.