Building Community with Khaki and Plaid

When walking onto a Great Hearts campus, one of the first things you might notice are the school uniforms worn by scholars.  It is an impressive sight to gaze at the choppy sea of khaki and plaid across the halls.  Since day one at Great Hearts, many have asked the question:  Why are uniforms required?

“At Great Hearts we endeavor to build a ‘community of learners’ dedicated to the highest standards of academics and deportment. As such, a distinctive uniform is a unifying factor within our school community,” explained Great Hearts Academies Co-Founder, Dr. Daniel Scoggin. “It is also a visible signature of our school to the larger community, an indicator of our unity and of our pride of purpose. This is one of the most important functions of a uniform: it identifies its wearer as part of a distinctive group with a distinctive purpose. It is a reminder to its wearer of that purpose and of one’s responsibility to that group.”

Just like sports jerseys are a reminder of team members’ responsibility and loyalty to their team, uniforms at Great Hearts reflect a noble commitment.  The difference is that virtually no one questions the validity or necessity of team uniforms, understanding that they help identify the team and bring a sense of belonging to the team members.

Great Hearts Arizona Athletics Director Jon Rickey was asked about the parallel between sports uniforms and academy uniforms.  “There’s identifying colors, names, typeface and images on both kinds of uniforms,” he said.  “We talk as coaches that you are a member of the team whose name is on your jersey.  It is a symbol of common purpose, implies an obligation to contribute your best to the efforts of your team.”  That aspiration is mirrored in school uniforms, he said.  “Scholars are representing their schools and learn the importance of doing their best in the classroom and anytime they’re with classmates to demonstrate loyalty and respect.”

As Dr. Scoggin puts it, “Our school is … committed to the development of individual personality and character in meaningful ways —not through the external ‘expressions’ of dress and appearance, which can easily be purchased or affected, and which can quickly divide students through the power of snap judgments and prejudices.”

“We value most the unique nature of each student that is reflected in the words, actions, and friendships on campus.  It seems countercultural to assert this in our age, but the Academy holds that the school uniform is an essential condition for cultivating genuine individuality in the school community. It is not this or that particular element of the uniform that matters more than any of the others.  It is the intent and spirt of the uniform as a whole that matters.”

While uniforms can be controversial to those looking in from outside, they rarely hold much contention with scholars – even new ones.  A first-time student was asked about the uniforms after week one of school.  She answered, “It helps us focus all our attention on our schoolwork and growing relationships with other students and teachers.  We don’t have to deal with the daily pressure of what other people think of our outfits.”

Uniforms are an essential part of who we are and what we do at Great Hearts.  They also signify to the larger community our common purpose and identity as schools in pursuit of the True, the Good, and the Beautiful.  Most acutely, they free students to pursue their intellectual and moral development as individuals, without the distractions of fad and fashion. Truthful distinction is formed in the heart and mind, rather than appearance.

Do you have a story or know of a story that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts?  Please contact jmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.