August 31, 1999

One thing seems to have improved every aspect of a middle school in Utah: Green and white uniforms.

New data makes a convincing case for other Utah schools and communities considering uniforms. Education Specialist Nadine Wimmer reports.

Look what's happened at North Layton Jr. High after one year in uniforms.

Truancies dropped by almost half. Suspensions fell even more dramatically. And behavior violations and disruptions fell by more than half.

At the same time, more students in every grade moved on to the honor rolls.

Is it proof uniforms are working?

John Zerbuchen/Principal: "IT'S NOT A RELIABLE STUDY, BUT IT'S THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT THING WE CHANGED LAST YEAR."

The list of changes goes on-- fights, vandalism and tobacco violations are also down.

School leaders say the biggest difference is students now act like school's important, because they're dressed that way.

John Zerbuchen/Principal: "MOST THE TIME THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO THE MALL, THE BEACH, TO THE PARK, AND THEY TEND TO ACT THAT WAY. AND WHEN YOU GET JUNIOR HIGH KIDS ACTING LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO THE BEACH, IT'S NOT REAL CONDUSIVE TO EDUCATION."

Nadine Wimmer, Eyewitness News: "IN THIS SEA OF GREEN AND WHITE, I STICK OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB. AND THAT'S ANOTHER BENEFIT FROM THE UNIFORMS. IT'S EASY TO TELL WHO BELONGS AND WHO SHOULDN'T BE HERE IN THE BUILDING BASED SIMPLY BY WHAT THEY'RE WEARING."

Many students were skeptical at first, but now, they too, offer testimonials.

Andrew Funk/student: "PEOPLE CAN'T TEASE YOU IF YOU'RE WEARING SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AND IF YOU'RE POOR AND NOT WEARING GOOD CLOTHES, THEY CAN'T TELL BECAUSE YOU'RE ALL WEARING THE SAME THING."

Marcie Kay/Student: "THERE WERE A LOT MORE FIGHTS, AND CONFRONTATIONS."

Travis Hodges/Student: "YOU DON'T HAVE TO PICK WHAT YOUR WEARING IN THE MORNING OR ANYTHING."

Uniforms aren't a cure-all, but leaders here believe other communities with strong support for uniforms will see similar successes.

John Zerbuchen/Principal: "THE UNIFORMS OBVIOUSLY SET A TENOR IN SCHOOL THAT WASN'T ESTABLISHED EARLIER."