At Evangel Classical School, our uniform policy and implementation seek harmony versus uniformity. We love to sing at ECS, and we likewise love all our individual students with their quirks and strengths. We have strong singers who need to learn to harmonize so everyone makes beautiful music together; likewise, we have students gifted in mathematics or geared towards social brilliance, but our students are part of one school – as they learn and are equipped, they are in it together, encouraging and edifying and even teaching one another. Our harmonizing of gifts and talents are liturgized in our uniform policy, which has grown out of the following principles:
Our goal is to honor God in everything we do, acknowledging the lordship of Jesus Christ in all we do.
Close-Knit Unity: We may not be seeking the same uniformity of the military, but we are in a fight, and there are a lot of arrows being whittled around here. Good education equips students to be winsome, deep-souled worshippers of the triune God. This is squire-academy for valiant fighters-in-training. We are part of the same squad – this is the training ground for future battle, and as such, we come dressed for the occasion. It is to remind the students that this is their people – this is their fight, and they are all in it. Little or big, fast or slow, older or younger, a uniform presents a physical, instant recognition of inclusion and solidarity.
Practicality and Logistics: at a pragmatic level, uniforms save money, lessen social pressure and impact on dress, and help students focus on the task at hand and their vocation as a student. It also assists faculty during field trips and recess in quickly identifying students. Accordingly, students are expected to be in uniform during school hours unless specified otherwise by the administration or teachers.
The administration is responsible for the interpretation of the policy, and the enforcement of the policy is the responsibility of parents, administration, faculty, and staff.
Uniforms carry the force of tradition and weight of history – from the slums of Haiti, where students without enough food still get dressed in crisp uniforms on school days, to the robes and jester-hats of medieval professors, we stand with them. Uniforms are, in the end, just exterior. But like a squire who finally proves himself worthy of knighthood, as our graduates lay aside navy cardigans and white button-up shirts, our hope is that they will do so with a sense of fondness – a thankfulness for the training they received in those uniforms, training which now well equips them to don new uniforms in new adventures.
Also, read Why Uniforms? by Mrs. Bowers.
And, here are some Uniform Un-standard Deviations, a fun look at common questions/problems.