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Watch VideoEast High School in Pueblo will require school uniforms
Story By: David Ortiviz
Source: KOAA
A public high school in Pueblo has made a bold decision about what students can wear to school. Starting in the fall of 2008, the entire student body at East High will be required to wear school uniforms.
When you're a teenage in high school, self expression is big deal. "I know as a girl one of your favorite things to do is go shopping and express yourself through clothes and next year I'm not going to be able to do that," said Monica Sanchez, a junior at East High.
Under the school's new uniform policy, students will only be able to wear a certain colored polo shirts, pants and shorts to school.
Principal Alan Nelms says the point is to improve student achievement. "Number one thing you see is improved discipline in your classrooms and in your school," said Nelms.
Some of these students didn't like the idea at first, but they've come around. "Everybody's going to be equal and nobody's going to be wearing their name brand stuff," said Katie West,
"If you're really an individual you don't have to use clothes to express yourself," said Larissa Hernandez, a junior at East High School.
However, Sammy Martinez, the student body president says many students don't think the policy's fair. Martinez says students at all high schools in pueblo should have to wear uniforms. "I feel students wouldn't say well all right I'll go to a different school because they don't have uniforms," said Martinez.
There are long range plans for every school in the district to follow suit. It just so happens those plans became a reality sooner for students at East High School.
More than 1,000 students attend East High. Nelms says students are allowed to attend other schools in the district if they choose. But Nelms says he hopes most students will embrace the new policy.
