A plea regarding uniforms

Kristen Shamoon '22

Editor-in-Chief of Content

I’m going to define uniforms as everything under the “Dress Regulations and Personal Appearance” section of the school’s general information. I completely believe in keeping some kind of uniform policy for private schools. It’s important to keep a median for students, which works on paper. However, I believe that restrictions should be limited to that medium, rather than permeating into sock color, or what types of tennis shoes you’re allowed to wear.

Under the section “Dress Regulations and Personal Appearance,” the basis of the uniform policy reads:

“Uniform items should be clean, not wrinkled and in good repair, and students should maintain a neat and well-groomed appearance at all times.”

Could “neat” and “well-groomed” refer to something as minute as exaggerated makeup styles, maybe even long and unkempt hair and nails? Does unkemptness become a dress code violation?

I interviewed Mrs. Thinnes to clarify what she expects from every Louisville student, as well as comparing the prior uniform policy to what it is now:

Q: What do you expect from every Louisville student in order to maintain the school’s uniform policy?

A: “I think just an understanding that most students and families like having a uniform, and as much as students might not like a particular role, yet as a community, uniforms are seen as a benefit of private school.”

Q: Do you believe the uniform policy is more laid back now, than what it was last year? Five to ten years ago?

A: “I think there is more variety in the uniform than there is said to be, and so students take advantage of the many options, so sometimes when you look at the student body, it seems like there maybe isn’t even a uniform. I think coming back from COVID, it’s a slow adjustment from everyone doing school as a community, so there was a leniency coming back with a lot of policies because students, especially freshman and sophomores, do not know the policies as well, so it’s a gentle easing back into regular life. Uniform is not going to necessarily change, it’s just re-educating everybody.”

Q: What are the major changes in the recent uniform policy, if any?

A: “The addition of a spirit sweatshirt two years ago, [the navy quarter zip] that was very popular. The addition of a quarter zip sweatshirt from Dennis instead of a hoodie, the addition of navy blue pants, and we are considering adding the [grey] zip up hoodie, recently added to the spirit store. However, we would like to see students in full compliance with the dress code for the next several weeks before we add that privilege. Also, we would like to see students wearing polos under sweatshirts; polo shirts are required under all sweatshirts. If we do add it, we would like to see students wear polos under every sweatshirt, zip up, and hoodie.”

Q: What is Louisville’s objective, or goal, in keeping a uniform policy for its students?

A: “Minimizing the distraction and worry of what to wear to school, offering comfortable options; like what’s easy and comfortable with sweatpants and hoodies, and building a sense of community. Truth be told, students will always express their style on one hand, which is cool, but students could get hung up on brands. Uniforms allow students to focus on character; who they are rather than what they wear. We like students to express themselves in all ways, but through thought and actions, not through what they wear.”

Mrs. Thinnes makes it clear that uniformity is crucial for Louisville as a community. Self expression should follow through with words, character and action rather than material. I agree completely, but displays of material wealth will show in other ways, for instance the parking lot. Besides, a lot of students, including myself, just really like wearing something cool — for compliments, or for the sake of variety. Yet, I believe that the culture shifted from obvious displays of material wealth to how well you can conduct yourself, how well you can conduct an outfit, express yourself through variety.

Although uniforms offer a sense of community, us as Louisville students, I believe we should be offered more subtle freedoms, limiting certain types of uniform monotony. We are high schoolers, not factory workers or desk job employees. Besides, the difference between school uniforms and relaxed dress is only a weekend.