2023:

(3/9/2023) - RPSB has finally released a survey for uniforms! We are making moves! We recommend speaking about what you would do for our uniform system. “Should we have a reward system? Should we have a no-skin system? Should we not be able to have hoodies on our head?” These are the questions that need to be answered. Go check out their survey! Link is not available here.

As of 2023 school uniforms should be abolished. Having to wear a uniform at a young age does not prepare kids for the future. Instead, it is institutionalizes them. Uniforms limit any amount of creativity that students may have. Prices go through the roof when school approaches. Not all children stay the same size. It is common for children to fit different sizes of clothes k-12. That means families have to buy new sets of uniforms frequently. The uniforms that do fit will inevitably degrade over the years. Families that receive lower incomes cannot keep buying expensive brands such as Old Navy, Aeropostale, etc. Even the supposedly “cheaper” clothing is becoming non-affordable. We share a love for the parents that are single and/or have more than one child. As students from Rapides Parish, we see a great divide in our schools. We see the struggle for families. To some extent, kids are regularly taking care of themselves. The demand for style today is different from the early 2000s. The times are changing. Generations in the past progressed without school uniforms, why can’t we? Families need to stop overspending on schools that are supposedly FOR THE PUBLIC. 

2020:

As of now, schools are barely opening.  With that being said, every year time and money are spent gathering school clothes including supplies.  Now that school is becoming more relevant, students should have the ability to dress in a comfortable manner.  This ideology applies heavily for parents.  Parents should no longer have to spend as much money towards school.  (Families’ income has significantly decreased due to COVID-19) This decrease already makes it hard enough for low income families to afford everyday items.  School uniforms shouldn’t be another cost that families have to make up during these difficult times.  Helping families reduce the amount of money they have to spend will take a step towards providing a sense of financial security in low income households.  Children in our generation, all income groups accounted for, wear articles that contain elastic waistbands.  Under Section XII The Right to Express and Dress of the Rapides Parish handbook it states nothing about the explicit use of elastic shorts.  (The out of dress day category or Girl/Boy sections of Dress and Appearance and Student Dress Code which are all under Section XII say nothing of the sort) Therefore these should be among other clothes to wear with this new policy.  Right now the world is not the same as it once was.  We understand the idea of inappropriate wear, which is why there should still be a dress code.  This petition is asking for no uniforms, other rules that restrict, hats, sunglasses, or ”items” stay the equivalent.  This includes no vulgar or racial language and symbols on the clothing.  Wearing face masks everywhere is already enough.  We feel for the parents that are single or have more than a singular child.  More are low on income, especially in Louisiana.  Kids are even regularly taking care of themselves.  Conventional prohibited clothing should be allowed.  New school rules make it easier to watch students for unreasonable activities.  Price tags are higher.  A strict manner of regular ”clothing” (no uniforms) policy is what we are asking for.  Rules that are adequate should still remain.  Times are progressing.  Rules should be altered to accommodate the world as it is today.