Students report in uniform for first day of school

Hundreds of teenagers passed through the doors of the city’s two public high schools Monday morning, some complaining that the new school uniforms they wore stripped them of their individuality, while others were relieved to blend in on the first day of school.

Though they were in the same colors, they were distinguishable. Crisp white oxfords and khaki shorts identified the preps; athletes leaned more toward school colors of red or maroon; and students at Dothan High overwhelmingly favored black. They wore the same, but they looked different.

Dothan City Schools implemented a new uniform policy this school year, primarily because of this age group which is more prone to value creative expression through dress. The main complaint about student dress which led to the establishment of the new rules has been baggy pants – which were still a small problem Monday.

School principals estimated students were about 98 percent in compliance with the new policy.

“I’m seeing a lot of compliance,” Dothan High School Principal Matt Humphrey said as he watched students walk into the building. “I’m tickled to death. With a new policy, you never know how things will be. We know there may be things we have to work out, but it is really mind blowing as of right now.”

Charles Hollis, who helps special needs students at DHS, kept an eye out on the north side of the building.

“Yeah, man, hook those pants up,” he shouted to one.

“You, with the backpack, tighten that belt,” he yells to another.

“Tuck that shirt tail in,” Hollis says as a group of boys pass.

One young girl mutters under her breath, “God, this sux.”

Not everyone thinks so. As they follow the freshly painted red paw prints up to the front doors of Dothan High, best friends Courtney Godwin and Zaboria Hill say it’s something they can live with. The juniors are wearing khaki bottoms and black polo shirts.

“It’s OK,” Courtney said. “I’m not like, ‘It’s so frigging’ cute!’ It’s just OK.”

Zaboria shows more enthusiasm.

“I like it. It’s not really that bad. I made a judgement too soon about how I thought it would be.”

On the other end of town, as they walk in the shadow of a large pine that was toilet papered by the seniors Sunday night – a tradition at both schools – Northview High School girls fold their longer polos under, hoping to look like they are tucked in.

In the office, SGA president Haley Hart, wearing a gold tank top under a gold polo, gets on the PA system and welcomes students. “The uniforms aren’t so bad,” she says.

No one was being sent home for non-compliance on the first day, Northview Principal Ron Snell said.

“We will call people into the convocation center, those who are not in compliance, and explain what’s wrong,” he said. Snell and assistant principals policed student wardrobe in the commons area as students made their way to home room just before 8 a.m.

Most of the problems at Northview have to do with color. Students are allowed to wear school colors, but what is maroon and what is gold? Merchants differed on their interpretation and their stock.

One student is stopped wearing a crimson polo. It was sold to him as acceptable, he insists. Another walks by in cargo shorts with pockets down the side, also not allowed. Students will be corrected, Snell said.

Economics teacher Jay Bruner has a home room full of freshmen. As if being a freshman is not humbling enough, being a freshman in uniform is almost too much for some.

“She looks like me,” Jaris Barner says, pointing to the girl seated next to him. Both wear maroon shirts and khaki pants.

“I don’t like having to tuck in the shirts,” Montrice Akins says.

Rose Adams tells them to lighten up. “I think the school uniforms are wonderful,” she said, an answer that illicits groans from the back of the room.

Bruner says he’s impressed. “I’ve seen several guys with blazers and ties. It adds a whole new element of respect. It looks good and I think it changes the mindset.”