Gym uniforms policy still causes controversy among students

The continued use of BSHS gym uniforms is still a major point of contention throughout the student body, most concerns having to do with the fit of the uniform and the cost for financially struggling students.  The uniform has currently been in effect for 2 years, but is still constantly complained about, but the public opinion of the uniform is mixed.  Junior Morganne Kerr said, “They make everyone’s dress wear look better, and less sloppy.” But Junior Lauren  Seiple has a different opinion. She has little love for the uniform and claims that “they’re uncomfortable.” 

The gym uniform rule has been in effect for 2 years, but still not relatively liked by the student body.  Despite the lack of enthusiasm for uniforms, the gym faculty see more benefits with the use of them. In an exclusive interview with Ronna Lee Stover, a physical education and health teacher here at Big Spring, she reveals that there is in fact a, “method to their madness.”

Stover finds advantages through the sameness gym uniforms provide. Gym uniforms eliminate branding wars and keep modesty.  The standard gym uniform for Big Spring consists of a gold T-shirt and maroon shorts that fall right above the knee, and this usually leads to a bigger problem among girls more than boys.  Girls shorts are known among gym teachers to cause problems and “not leave a lot of secrets left,” according to Stover, but the almost knee length baggy shorts are not a popular asset among female students. Most refer to them as basketball shorts, when that is surprisingly not the case. Stover said, “The girls’ shorts are in fact ‘a female short,’ [and] it is not technically a basketball short.” The female shorts are equipped with a 7” inseam, while the boys’ shorts are a 9”.  Also, Big Spring’s gym uniforms have options of sweatshirts and sweatpants for those who get cold easily.  

Despite what most students think, Stover can only see the benefits to the uniform. Stover found advantages among pricing, social statuses, and it has even made her job easier. Pricing for the standard gym uniform is $18, $9 for a shirt, and $9 for shorts. According to Stover, we as a student body are getting a great deal. Surrounding schools are known to charge $25 for a standard cotton T-shirt and polyester short, so $18 for a sportswear type material is excellent. “We aren’t making any money on this,” Stover said, and even with these low prices, BSHS still offers financial aid to students in need through a special fund set aside for occasions like these.

Finally, gym uniforms have claimed to make the job of a physical education teacher just a little bit easier. Instead of going through the hassle of checking each students attire and making sure it is appropriate, all she has to check for is the familiar maroon and gold. “It’s cut my attendance time in half,” Stover says.

Stover blames the unrest among students due to the relative newness of the uniforms. Getting gym uniforms at Big Spring High School, and at the Middle School, was a 5 year process, and the fact that they have only been in effect for 2 years causes turmoil among upperclassmen. Stover hopes that as gym uniforms move down in the schools, they will eventually become the norm among students and not be as big of an issue.