Sagging pants may lead to school uniforms

NAUGATUCK, Conn. (WTNH) -- One local city is thinking about making students wear school uniforms. Parents and students came out in full force at a meeting Thursday night, both for and against the new policy.

Alida Maldonado addresses the board in her yoga pants and sweatshirt, the same outfit she was wearing when a teacher tossed her out of class at Naugatuck High School for breaking the dress code.

"You sit in the office the whole day, you miss al your classes and you get a zero for that day," Alida said, "and they send down your work, but I don't know how to do the work because I wasn't in class to learn it."

"You are taking away from the whole reason they are there," said Cheryl Poirier, mother. "They need to learn, stop having the teachers being hall monitors an administrators be hall monitors, and let them go to class and learn."

Both mother and daughter would like school uniforms, but others say a few students, pants slung low, are punishing the entire school.

"Not a lot that I've seen but some are," said Briana Morganstern.

"Are you afraid those kids are going to hurt the ones that are dressed nicely," asked News 8's Bob Wilson.

"Well yeah," Briana said.

News 8 spoke with students at Naugatuck High School and they say wearing your pants down low so your boxers stick out is called 'sagging' and some of the students say that they will continue to do it regardless of the dress code.

"I don't like them, I want to wear what I wear," one student said, "if we get uniforms then I will still sag."

"Why," asked Wilson.

"I sag all my pants," the student said.

"I tell my son every day your underpants are made to stay under your clothes, not for anybody to see it," said Astrid Johnson.

In the end, Alida says school uniforms would help her to keep her focus where it should be, in the classroom not the dressing room.

"What are you feeling," asked Wilson

"Frustrated, aggravated, irritated, all of that," Alida said.

"Would a uniform help," Wilson asked.

"Yes, I would be able to sleep in later, help my mom financially, everything," Alida replied.