Delegation Resource Manual: Month by Month Implementation Guide
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YMCA PA Youth & Government Program
Local merchants do not seem to have been notified of the new requirements. This means that
approximately 400 Greenberg families (who, by definition, all live in the same small section of
Philadelphia) will be shopping at the same stores, searching for multiples of the same clothing items
in the same basic colors and sizes, for a total of nearly 600 children.
Parents will be forced to seek out and purchase two full wardrobes for each child (one for school,
one for play) where only one was needed before.
Since the majority of Greenberg families are single parents or two working parents, this places a
heavy and unfair claim on their budgets and free time.
Concerns have also arisen regarding the funding of subsidies to assist families that are financially
unable to meet the school uniform requirements.
Money which would be spent on subsidizing school uniforms for Greenberg families would be put
to better use in a high-achieving school like Greenberg if it was spent instead on educational
materials, computers or enrichment activities.
Upon request, I will furnish a list of officials to whom protests can be sent.
Janet Summers
Executive Vice-President, Greenberg Home & School Association
July 18, 2001 Putnam County News and Recorder, New York
School Uniforms Can Help Parents and Teachers
Dear Editor,
School uniforms can play a big roll in keeping our children focused on what is truly important from
their school experience. Issues regarding peer pressure and self-esteem can be affected simply by
what children wear to school. Anyone with children cannot deny this. Unfortunately, many parents
also succumb to the pressures kids pass on to them from their school environment. In their minds
they have no choice. What lessons does this teach our kids? That their character and heart is what is
most important in life, or that our self-worth is based on materialism? Is our place in society based
on what we wear? Is individualism more important than viewing ourselves as equally important
members of our community? It is clear that many parents have grown up learning the wrong lessons
and have been affected themselves by these early life experiences. "Keeping up with the Joneses"
may be important or even motivating for some adults, but our kids should not have to deal with this
issue from their initial school experience.
Concerned parents are well aware that the responsibilities of educating our children do not fall upon
the schools alone. Parents must take an active roll in preparing their children for the requirements
that they will face. The 30 hours per week spent at school represents a relatively small part of a
child’s life. There are many lessons and educational skills that must be maintained in the home. It is
clearly understood that schools look to the parents to "partner" in the education of our children.
However, our schools must also realize its responsibility in helping us raise our children at home.
The line between educating and raising our kids is unclear. Just as children learn their alphabet, basic
math, and respect for adults for the first time at home; they learn much of their group socialization
lessons for the first time at school. Kids learn about "fitting" in and where their place is regarding
