Kid Talk -- Should School Style Be Uniform? -- Free Choice Vs. Dress Code

In January we asked My Words readers to tell us how they felt about uniforms for school children. We received 118 letters.

Of that number, 70 said school uniforms are a good idea, 34 said school uniforms are a bad idea and 14 said they were good and bad.

Reasons given for favoring uniforms included that students would not have to worry about what to wear each morning, there would be fewer fights and less prejudice because all kids would be dressed equally, and it would be easy to find a student who gets separated from the class on a field trip.

Those against school uniforms said uniforms are uncomfortable, children have a right to choose what to wear and the malls could go out of business if kids didn't buy clothes there.

Here are a few excerpts from letters we received:

"I think uniforms are a bad idea because they are too stiff. I always wear the same thing in the morning and I'm sick of it. I feel better and I think better in my own clothes." Susan Johnson, 9 Villa Academy, Seattle

"I firmly believe that public schools are run under the U.S. Constitution, which gives kids the right for free choice of clothing, that is appropriate for the situation." Luke Duvall, 14 Our Lady of Fatima School

"I think school uniforms are a good idea because they would look good and they would match. You wouldn't have to think of what to wear in the morning. I think the girls' uniforms should be pink and the boys uniforms should be red." Amin Montgomery, 8 Mark Twain Elementary, Kirkland

"I think that school uniforms are a good idea, because people would not steal clothes. And people who are too poor to buy stylish clothes would not be made fun of by other kids." Daniel Nye, 10 Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way

"I like uniforms. I also don't like them. I like them because I do not have to worry about what I am going to wear or people being judgmental. They save my parents money. My uniforms are kind of boring. But, all in all, I would say that I like them." Amy Dreiling, 12 St. Louise School, Bellevue

----------------------------------------------------------------- Did you hear the one? Q. Why didn't the moon want dessert? A. Because it was full!

Write to Wordy: How do you feel about curfews as a way to keep kids off the streets at night? Tell us in an essay using 100 words or fewer. Mail essays to My Words, c/o The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 1138, Seattle, WA 98111. The deadline is March 10. Please include your name, age and telephone number.

Word Scramble: Unscramble the words below that have to do with spring.

1. OWLREFS . 2. RBISD . 3. AETRE . 4. SHICCK . 5. ABEALBSL .

1. Flowers; 2. Birds; 3. Easter; 4. Chicks; 5. Baseball .