Black and White and Gray All Over by Rachel Wise

Author:Rachel Wise
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Spotlight

Chapter 7

PEACE TALKS THAW DIPLOMATIC FREEZE

The principal, as it turned out. That’s who was against uniforms.

I was practically shaking as I waited my turn outside Mr. Pfeiffer’s office. Michael and I had had a couple of run-ins with him doing interviews, and I wasn’t his favorite student, that’s for sure. Kids coming and going to see the vice principal (in charge of discipline) gave me oddly pitying looks on the sofa, assuming I’d done something so bad I had to see the head honcho. It was embarrassing.

When Mr. Pfeiffer came to the door to call me in, I managed a weak smile and a firm handshake (hoping he wouldn’t notice my hands were like ice cubes, which is what happens when I’m nervous).

“Ms. Martone, always a pleasure,” he said, though I didn’t really believe him. Mr. Pfeiffer is a pretty good guy and actually a really good principal, but there was no love lost between us.

“So we’re here today about school uniforms?” he said. He’s always pretty prepared, so I wasn’t surprised that he was ready for me.

“Yes, sir. Mr. Trigg assigned the topic just as an exploration. I’ve been asking around and looking to hear from people who are for or against it, and what their reasons are.” I pulled out my notebook and pen and sat ready to jot down Mr. Pfeiffer’s list of pros and quotes about why the PTA always gave him a hard time about adopting uniforms, but that wasn’t how it turned out at all.

“Well, Ms. Martone, you might be surprised to know I’m one of the only principals around who is not for uniforms in our school.”

My jaw must’ve dropped because he laughed.

“I know.” He continued. “Surprising. But let me tell you why. Certainly I can see all the pros, and I know all the arguments well. I do think uniforms are an equalizer of sorts. However, I would argue that it is still obvious—sometimes more painfully so—what the cliques are and who the rich and poor are, even with uniforms. Uniforms are easily tweaked—skirts shortened, sleeves rolled, pants worn low, accessories added to within a millimeter of the guidelines—and I think that kids, especially tweens and teens—are able to make uniforms their own in a very distinct way. It almost becomes a challenge for them. How far can I go and still be in dress code? I am not interested in policing clothing any more than we already do.”

My pen flew over the pages of my notebook, filling the lines with his surprising words.

“I don’t think that uniforms are more economical for families, as the rich family that buys the designer shoes will still buy the designer shoes, and the poor family that has little to spend will still stretch to afford the uniforms; only now they’ll need those in addition to weekend clothes.

“But here’s the crux of it for me: If we do not teach our kids from a young age how to deal with the differences in life—economic, stylistic, self-expressionistic—then

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