The Uniform = Uniformity Is it something of a contradiction that at a school where we prize individuality and the development of a robust sense of self, we insist that students dress alike? The interpretation of the dresscode has evolved here at Archer. For instance, there once was a rule forbidding nail polish; clearly, we’ve moved on. But still we strive for an appropriate, simple look in our uniform, which, frankly, serves many purposes. Uniforms function differently in different settings. On sports teams and in the military, for example, the purpose of the uniform is indeed to obscure individual differences and to elevate the group above the individual. The uniform signals that the group is a cohesive unit, joined to accomplish a singular mission. At Archer, the uniform signals a number of different things. First, it levels the playing-field and makes clear that girls at Archer are valued for what they accomplish and who they become — not for what they look like or can afford to buy. The ultimate goal is to create an inclusive and comfortable environment where the focus is, above all, on learning. People often make snap judgments about girls who attend an independent school and oftentimes people think that a girls’ school on the West Side is for rich kids and therefore our students must come from very affluent families.
Archer is explicitly dedicated to offering superb educational opportunities to girls from all walks of life, regardless of their income status. Our students come from 141 different feeder schools and 86 different zip codes across Los Angeles. The Archer uniform underscores this fact. Because our student body is so diverse, we want to create an environment where the obvious economic differences are not keenly felt. “Free dress” days at Archer are fascinating; it seems that there is almost a negative peer pressure against the flagrant display of “brands” and instead Archer girls use free dress days to get comfortable in sweats. Ultimately, Archer girls enter the classroom as equals. They are quietly and comfortably well-dressed, but the focus is not on popular notions of what it means to be attractive or sexy. The focus is on the girl inside the clothes, whose authentic individuality will always transcend the uniformity of the Archer uniform.
Photo from the Archer New Uniform Fashion Show available at MyArcher.org/ Photos1213.
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