Dress code of conduct

By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CHAMPION -- Walking into the cafeteria at Trumbull Career and Technical Center, visitors are greeted by a sea of color.
Students in each program wear shirts identifying their area of study: royal blue for fabric service, black for animal management and dark blue for public safety.
The students and instructors design the logo and pick the color, which may change every two years.
"This is the fifth year for our program shirts and now it's such a natural part of our environment that we don't even think about it," said Diane Jamieson, special education supervisor.
TCTC offers more than 38 technical and specialized study areas for high school juniors and seniors.
The idea came out of a parents committee from concerns about safety. Uniforms initially were proposed, but that idea evolved into the shirts.
Easier identification
With more than 20 doors in and out of the building and half of the student body turning over each year, it was difficult to know if someone wasn't supposed to be in the building.
The shirts allow intruders to be spotted more readily, officials said.
The wardrobe change also reduced detentions, many of which stemmed from dress code violations, said Gary Hoffman, director. Next to truancy, dress code violations caused the most discipline problems at TCTC before the shirts were adopted.
Though the first year brought a few unorganized, student protests, Jamieson said there have been no parent complaints.
"We actually got thank-you notes from parents," Hoffman added.
Students have accepted it now, Jamieson said, acknowledging that some kids wait until they're inside the building to put on their shirt and whip it off as soon as they walk out the door.
"This is actually a school of choice," said Larry Crawford, academic supervisor. "The students know about the shirts and what's expected of them when they decide to come here."
Extra shirts are available to rent for $1 if a student leaves his or hers at home one day. Not wearing a shirt could mean detention.
The district buys the shirts, and they're printed in-house by the fabric services department to save costs. Students pay $30 for three of the polo-style shirts.
Making changes
If the shirt and logo changes from a student's junior to senior year, he or she may continue to wear shirts from the previous year.
Rachael Chernisky, 17, a senior from Southington in the animal management program, sported a bright blue shirt with a dog bone on the back one morning.
"This is actually last year's shirt," said Rachael, adding that she served on the committee that designed this year's program shirt.
Melinda Hume, 16, a junior from Brookfield, shows the new design: a black shirt with white and gray lettering and dogs and cats huddled together.
Another advantage is the removal of a class system governed by who wears the nicest clothes, Jamieson said.
Students are permitted to wear jeans, pants and skirts, allowing them some individuality.
Requiring a standard of dress and conduct also helps prepare students for employment, Jamieson said.
"Most employers have some sort of dress standard," she said.
denise_dick@vindy.com