3. Speak not when others speak, sit not when others stand, and walk not when others stop.

   18. Mock not nor jest at anything of importance; break no jests that are sharp or biting;

   35. Reprehend not the imperfections of others, for that belongs to parents, men of the cloth, and superiors.

                           (from George Washington’s Rules of Civility)

     I was referring recently to William Bennett’s The Book of Virtues when I came across George Washington’s 54 Rules for Civility. The rules are surprisingly apropos for 2010 though written in 1646. As I read through them, I was reminded of the student body here at Furman.

     Last school year, the school board implemented mandatory uniforms for Furman Middle School. Prior to the uniform school year, I would say that a vast number of the students did not adhere to numbers 3, 18, and 35. In fact, the constant mocking of children by those who were dressed better or in a certain way, and my desire to stop that, led me to request the mandatory uniform policy from the school board. Have things changed now into our second year with uniforms?

     Yes, yes, yes. At the end of last school year I looked at the number of discipline referrals that had been written compared to the previous two years immediately prior to implementation of the mandatory uniform policy. Teachers wrote 1026 FEWER discipline referrals for the school years 2007-2008 (637 less) and 2008-2009 (389 less). The mocking and picking has virtually stopped, the display of neighborhood colors has stopped completely, and the students are collectively better behaved. Is behavior the only benefit of uniforms?

     Academic achievement has soared. Furman Middle School missed making AYP by only one category. We met 20 of 21 categories, a school high. We are already working aggressively on the one we did not meet. Our PASS test results were so good that we missed making the Average grade by only .03 of a point, another Furman high. We are breaking out of the valley and moving right along on the “Trail of Cheers.”

One additional benefit of the mandatory uniform policy is the collective sense in the student body that they belong to something. This is THEIR school and they are proud of it. It has not always been so.