People tend to make their first judgement on what others wear and not their personality. Does the uniform influence this tendency among teenagers? Some students argue that it does while others remain neutral in the matter. “I like to dress comfy; others like to dress fancy. I never cared before. I feel like other people do judge the uniform, but not in a way that could affect my self-esteem,” says Jamie Monleon ‘15.
Jamie said that the uniform does not affect her personal body image. She elaborates, “It is comforting that all the girls wear the same thing.” Aine Ford ‘18 said it boosts her self-esteem and personal body image: “Previously in school, I would be judged for what I wore, but a uniform takes out that factor because it’s the same for everyone. I feel more secure and confident to express my personality.” Aine added, “it’s not a struggle in the morning to decide what to wear…I can just wear the uniform and be myself.” Students agree that the uniform gives a sense of unity.
So then the question remains: why does Montrose require a uniform while some other Catholic schools do not? What is the administration’s reasoning behind the student body being dressed collectively? The Montrose uniform consists of a green, red and white pleated plaid kilt, a white or navy blue blouse with the school name monogrammed on the left side, blue, red, or white socks and black supportive shoes with two choices of red sweaters. Why not let the students choose their own color and style of skirt, blouse and shoes?
To answer these questions, I spoke with the Director of Student Life and Dean of Students, Mrs. Keeley. She explained the value of uniforms by saying “Uniforms represent the school and unite the student body, giving them a sense of belonging. Uniforms also help students focus on each student’s personality and eliminates the competition of other distractions.” Mrs. Keeley also explained, through a math class project, that there are over 1,000 uniform combinations using the different clothing items from the Montrose uniform. This revealed the numerous combinations that allow for quite a bit of diversity within the uniform guidelines.
The Montrose uniform has changed over the years. Mrs. Keeley stated that in the earlier years of the school there were two kilts, a kilt with thicker wool for the bitter cold and a thinner, lighter one for the spring and summer. There was also one white blouse and only one type of red sweater. In more recent years, after consultation with the school nurse, Mrs. Rose, the school changed the shoe policy because of girls getting bruised by falling in the halls. Mrs. Keeley explained that students were getting hurt because their shoes were either slipping or falling off their feet. The new shoe policy appears in the Student Handbook: “Black, low, simple shoes, loafers, buckle or tie-up shoes with the heel being an inch or less. Shoe styles should not stand out in any way. School-approved shoes must be worn properly and from 7:55AM until 3:05.”
Optional this year and required next year, the school is also adding a dress uniform; this will consist of a white button-down blouse, a drifter sweater, the kilt, navy blue socks and the regular school shoes.
It is clear that the school sees the benefit in having a school uniform, although for some students it takes a little while to adjust. Alex Monleon ‘17 said, “I hated the uniform at first, but now it’s all right; I don’t have to put much thought into picking out my clothes in the morning. My style is out there, and it is nice to have people focus on my personality rather than my clothing choice.” Some students expressed dislike for the uniform. As one student said, “The Montrose uniform is confined to strict colors and an unflattering style. A change I would make would also be warmer sweaters.”
In spring of 2014, student government representatives were invited to share student perspective on uniform changes before the annual Student Handbook update. This led to a new policy to allow quarter-zip Montrose sweatshirts on the last Friday of the month. Ongoing collaboration with students helps ensure that we participation in guiding uniform changes.
