Posted on 07/25/2007 4:27:16 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault
In an early kickoff to the new school year, Cleveland schools Chief Executive Eugene Sanders hosted a news conference Tuesday that briefly morphed into a fashion show.
The district's new uniform policy and next month's opening of five single-gender schools - including the Ginn Academy for high school boys - took center stage. Sanders first rolled out the initiatives last January.
"What happens in our school district is critical to the success of this city and critical to the success of our entire community," Sanders told several hundred people, including school district employees and religious and business leaders.
Students will report for their first day Thursday, Aug. 23.
Those in kindergarten through eighth grade will have to wear solid blue or white tops with collars (no T-shirts) and solid skirts or pants in dark blue, navy, black, khaki or tan.
For high school students, tops may be any solid color but must have a collar, and skirts or pants may be any solid color. Belts are required for any slacks or skirts that have belt loops.
No headgear, apart from what is required for religious purposes, is allowed at any grade level.
"I understand that this is going to be a cultural shift for students and parents in our community," Sanders said. "Trust me, our students will find a way to be very fashionable."
Five students modeled acceptable clothing combinations for the crowd.
Toran Brown, a sophomore at John Adams High School, shyly showed off his ensemble - a long-sleeved dress shirt, striped tie and belted black pants. He later confessed that's not his style; he favors polo shirts and Dickie shorts.
Cuyahoga County commissioners are chipping in $1.5 million to help low-income families pay for clothes.
Perhaps the most anticipated of the Cleveland school district's new single-gender schools is Ginn Academy, designed for boys who need extra academic and support services.
"So many young men that I've dealt with over the years, somewhere down the line, had to stay with me," said well-known Glenville track and football coach Ted Ginn Sr. He is the father of former Glenville and Ohio State star receiver Ted Ginn Jr., recently picked in the first round by the Miami Dolphins.
"I wanted to have that [same] responsibility of raising our young people in the Cleveland system so that they could become premier men in the country," Ginn said.
About 80 students have applied so far for one of 100 freshman and 50 sophomore slots at Ginn Academy. The district will continue accepting applications through Monday.
Students chosen for the academy will have a longer school day -- and perhaps a longer school year -- than their peers, said Principal Sherree Ray.
Ginn vowed to be a constant presence at the academy, which will be temporarily housed on the second floor of the former Health Careers Center, 1740 East 32nd St.
The academy could evolve into a boarding school by fall 2008.
"These kids need to be able to see you every day," said Ginn, who will serve as the school's director. He said he will be keeping a close eye on the young men.
"There will be ties and jackets every day," he said of the school's dress code, which will be stricter than the district's. "No polo shirts."
Sanders also announced that the district this fall is requiring all students to be registered for its universal meals program, which since 1999 has allowed the district to receive partial reimbursement from the federal and state government for all meals served. Applications will be mailed to homes next month.
In Cleveland they’re so desperate, they’ll try anything.
The Cleveland School system is ranked 2nd, I think, to D.C. for the most disreputable school system in the U.S. However, it’s deeply swarming with a powerful and lazy union and a racist (ultra-racist) administration (consisting of the typical bureaucratic sludges just below the top).
I hope this gentleman wins the battles, but I can see fierce resistance looming with the administration and the unions.
Pray for him.
Without even reading this, I think that the boys will look silly in skirts.
Meadow Muffin
WOW. I wish this guy a lot of luck. He’s got some good ideas.
Considering some of the “fashions” being marketed out there for kids, especially young girls, along with the availabliity of nearly any kind of vulgar tee shirt that is guaranteed to be a flash point in a public school, it makes sense to try this, and see if it works.
If they can instill some discipline in the K-8 kids, maybe they won’t be such a handful in high school.
I wish him luck.
I like the single-sex schools. Having taught in Cleveland years ago, I think trying that out would be a good idea.
yeah, anything except flunking those that do not master the subject material. I have a couple of friends that teach in Cleveland. It is nearly impossible to flunk a student. THAT is the problem.
I fortunately never went to the Cleveland system, since my parents moved out of the city before I was school age.
Missed this line - looks like the suburban taxpayers carry Cleveland again, as usual. I'm very happy to be in another county.
They're either going to pay for them with welfare or with the school uniforms. I'd rather buy school uniforms. Maybe some of them will catch on that Sanders is serious and actually learn something.
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