THE MOST TIMELY
EVENT OF THIS SEASON
Akiva Board OKs
School Uniforms
AMY J. MEHLER
Staff Writer
N
o matter what the ar-
biters of children's
back-to-school fash-
ion concoct next fall,
students at Akiva Hebrew
Day School will likely be
wearing new polyester
uniforms.
The board of directors at
Akiva voted 13-9 on Nov. 5
to require uniforms next fall.
The cost is expected to be
$35-50 per uniform.
Dr. Harvey Lefkowitz, a
board member and parent,
presented the results of an
independent parent survey
to an open board meeting.
The survey, conducted in Oc-
t ob er by seven Akiva
parents, found 80 percent of
101 parents questioned sup-
ported uniforms. The survey,
conducted over the phone
and in writing, found all 17
teachers polled in favor of
uniforms.
There are 300 families
registered at Akiva and
about 40 full- and part-time
teachers.
Dr. Lefkowitz said the
survey was unofficial and
parent instigated. "It was
only meant to be an in-
dicator," he said. "The board
was never intended to base
its decision on the presenta-
tion."
The presentation included
a half-hour speech on the
benefits of uniforms and in-
troduced a manufacturer's
representative who
displayed samples.
Susan Weiss, who has
three girls at Akiva, hopes
no one left thinking there is
anything halachic about
wearing a uniform. "You
don't need to wear a uniform
to conform to the laws of
tzniut (modesty)."
Most Akiva students
would agree. A poll taken
the day of the board meeting
found 56 junior and senior
high school students against
uniforms and 13 in favor.
"Clothing is our way of ex-
pressing our individuality,"
said Shayna Skarf, 15, in
ninth grade. "It goes with
your personality. Now the
school is taking that away."
Sara Feldman, 12, in
seventh grade, threatened to
boycott the board's decision.
"I don't care if they suspend
me," she said vehemently.
Dr. David Beneson, a
parent and board member,
felt uniforms could help
children redirect their
energy from thoughts of
clothes of thoughts of school-
work.
Jamie Pearlberg, 17, stu-
dent council president, said
Akiva already has an
excellent learning at-
mosphere. "Uniforms aren't
going to make any differ-
ence," he said.
Goldie Silverstein,
elementary school principal
at the Sally Alexander Beth
Jacob School for Girls,
thought uniforms would con-
tribute to a positive
academic atmosphere. Beth
Jacob instituted uniforms
two years ago.
"Since requiring uniforms,
our school has become more
unified," she said. "We've
established different values
for our students. Not every-
thing is about clothes."
Rabbi Zev Shimansky,
headmaster at Akiva, said
the issue of uniforms was not
about eliminating competi-
tion, but about enforcing
tzniut.
"The administration and
faculty has been unhappy for
a long time with the way
students are dressing," he
said. "The issue of tzniut has
become more and more
prevalent because lately
more and more students are
not adhering to the school's
dress code."
According to Akiva's
Parent Manual, girls are re-
quired to wear blouses with
sleeves, and skirts below
their knees. Boys must wear
kipot, tzitzit, slacks and col-
lared shirts. Sweatshirts and
sweaters displaying writing
are prohibited.
Donna Feldman, a mother
of six, doesn't see why
parents should be penalized
because of a few families.
"Uniforms are an extra ex-
pense," she said. "There are
a lot more important things
the school could be concen-
trating on."
Rabbi Shimansky said the
problem is more widespread
than just a few families. In
the last few weeks, he and
teachers have singled out
students and had them call
home for appropriate
clothes. "We haven't actu-
ally sent anyone home be-
cause most parents came to
school with a change of
clothes."
For the next three months,
Rabbi Shimansky said stu-
dent council representatives
may monitor students. "If I
see 100 percent compliance,
perhaps there could be a
reconsideration." 0
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