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Let’s Talk Trash! MAY/JUNE 2018
©2018 The Keenan Group, Inc
by Makayla Richardson
Schools uniforms are becoming a common interest or rather trend in
How do coalitions make a difference in communities?? Coalition building is a smart strategy that promotes coordination and collaboration and makes efficient use of limited community resources. By connecting multiple sectors of the community in a comprehensive approach, community coalitions are achieving real outcomes. Join us the 4th Monday monthly meeting at Community Bank & Trust, Ashland City, 6:00-7:00 The mission of the Cheatham County Community Enhancement Coalition is to educate and promote community involvement in reducing alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse and other health issues in Cheatham County. For more information and to how become involved in this coalition: 615-246-8075 cheathamcoalition@gmail.com In conclusion, school uniforms ensure that all students have a level playing field in terms of social classes and education. Bullying and gang activity would be more prevalent if students were allowed to dress as they wish. Students, parents and teachers have an easy time undertaking their responsibilities in cases where the students have a standard uniform. Contrary to this allegation, uniforms help to suppress and eliminate violence and gang behavior. If students are allowed to dress in home wear, some would more than likely come to school wearing clothes with special identification gang-related colors leading to the formation of cliques. This is a factor that makes it harder for teachers to enforce discipline within the school. In fact, the essence of schooling is to acquire, among other things, education. Uniforms also encourage pride in a student, as each student identifies with the others and the school, hence each of them feels proud to be associated with their institution. That way, students feel more closely connected to their classmates. A common argument raised against the use of school uniforms is that it denies students a chance to fully express themselves. While this is to some extent true, self-expression does not only involve clothes. The student can express him or herself through, for instance, doing hair in their style of choice, wearing bracelets, and putting on shoes of their choice and complementing this with the school uniform. Just because the student is not allowed to dress in the latest, trendy jeans does not imply that they have been denied their rights. Furthermore, students can wear the clothes of their choice outside the school. From this perspective, uniforms give all students a homogeneous look, putting them on a level playing ground, thus eliminating the likelihood of discrimination. Other kids can’t say anything when everyone looks the same.
the current school systems. Parents, Teachers, and students have varied feelings about the need for school uniforms. While some point to the need for uniforms for discipline purposes, others contend that the requirement that students should wear uniforms takes away students’ freedom of self-expression. Schools which require that students use uniforms look more formal. The campus generally tends to have a professional look. In addition, school uniforms dissolve the concept of social classes. Allowing students to wear clothes of their choice provides a leeway for students to categorize and possibly label each other based on whether they come from wealthy or poor families. Such discrimination at school could lead to a rise in discipline cases, reduction in some students’ self-esteem, and poor performance in school. A sense of community emerges, and this leads to a reduction in crime and gang affiliated behaviors. In fact, the sense of belonging that emerges from wearing of school uniforms helps to boost the students’ self- confidence. Also, bullying is a major issue in schools. Some students face physical, verbal, and social harassment from their schoolmates. Without school uniforms, it becomes easy for “bullies” to target the students who look different and who are not wearing the “right” clothes. The other concerns about school uniforms touch on the teachers’ inability to identify students with violent tendencies and deal with them.
Who are coalition members? Community coalition members are parents, teachers, law enforcement, businesses, religious leaders, health providers and other community activists who are mobilizing at the local level to make their communities safer, healthier and drug-free. Coalitions are partnerships of the many sectors of a community which gather together collaboratively to solve the community’s problems and guide the community’s future. When they are driven by citizen identified issues, citizens become involved in all steps of the problem solving process.
The
Phyllis & Sloane Hunter
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aaron@usstn.com c: (615)982-2998 w: (615)227-2275 f: (615)746-5211 ProjectManager AARONWOLFE
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