Mom says diversity quest clashes with uniforms<p> Wants daughter exempt in board's first case

The Memphis Commercial Appeal ^ | 9/14/2002 | Aimee Edmondson

[07055]

Before Tammy Millikin moved to Memphis she had one big question about her new city: "Where are the bad neighborhoods?"

Then she promptly moved to an area she was warned against.

"That's where the diverse neighborhoods are," said Millikin. "It's critical that I find a place where my children could grow up around people with different backgrounds."

It's that near-obsessive quest for diversity and racial harmony that has Millikin out front on the first wave of school uniform protests in Memphis City Schools.

Millikin was denied her request to opt out of the mandatory districtwide school uniform policy in August. She appealed the decision to the next level, to one of three zone directors who each oversee a third of the 175 schools. She was again denied.

Now her case is the first to be presented to the school board, which Millikin did via E-mail earlier this week.

Millikin, whose daughter, Beth, 6, attends Raleigh Bartlett Meadows Elementary, said her quest for diversity clashes with the conformity requirement put forth by the uniform policy.

"We would be participating in a practice that is wrong by the standards of our beliefs," Millikin said in her written appeal to the board.

The board, which has the final say-so on the matter, has the option of holding a hearing or ruling on Millikin's appeal based on the written record of the case.

The board doesn't have to take any action at all, and in refusing to hear the appeal, the zone director's denial would be final.

So far, principals have denied 10 cases across the district. Of those, one case besides Millikin's has been denied at the zone director level and several are pending.

School officials say they aren't keeping districtwide statistics on how many have opted out successfully. They do agree that the numbers are likely minuscule, if there are any.

Central office school officials also said they are unaware of any suspensions related to uniform violations.

In the wake of Millikin's appeal, school board members have asked the state attorney general to review their uniform policy and have asked their attorney, Percy Harvey, to review Milliken's request.

The board policy allows for religious exemptions and calls on parents to explain how their beliefs clash with wearing a school uniform.

But the heart of the matter is the opt-out provision which advises parents who object because of "strongly held beliefs" to submit their reasons in writing to the principal.

The school board's policy doesn't give much guidance on what beliefs would qualify. It simply states: "A strongly held belief is a philosophy or set of moral principals that guides a person's decision about his/her life or lifestyle."

Several courts have upheld mandatory school uniform policies and even looked at questionnaires school districts give to parents requesting exemption.

Harvey recommended the school board use the questionnaire created by Forney (Texas) Independent School District, which was endorsed by the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The form is used to judge the sincerity of the parent and determine whether members of the family have worn other uniforms, including baseball, football, cheerleading or scouting uniforms.

That court last October also upheld Forney's uniform mandate, which is similar to Memphis's policy, agreeing that the policy does not violate students' First Amendment rights. It also agreed that the uniform does not infringe on parents' rights to control the "rearing and education of their children." Raleigh Bartlett Meadows principal Daphyne Cooper said she's had near 100 percent compliance among her 689 students since school started.

Millikin is the only parent to request an exemption at the school.

Several school board members said they don't plan to budge on the uniform policy.

"Our intent is that it is indeed mandatory," said Patrice Jordan Robinson.

- Aimee Edmondson: 529-2773

[billorites]

Huh, no mention of how Mr. Milliken feels about all this.

Guess he couldn't be reached for comment.

[07055]

There's lots of diversity in some Memphis neighborhoods.

Her child can be exposed to gang bangers, driveby shooters, murderers, drug dealers, burglers, rapists, armed robbers....

But, hey, isn't diversity our greatest strength?

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Before Tammy Millikin moved to Memphis she had one big question about her new city: "Where are the bad neighborhoods?" Then she promptly moved to an area she was warned against.

Was this woman simply too ignorant to use the telephone to inquire of such a (uniform) policy in her quest for the most crime-ridden diverse neighborhoods in which to raise her children? Or was she simply looking to find a new hobby with which to fill her days?

[TomGuy]

Milliken needs to team up with Newdow. That way they both can make a career of making idiots of themselves. They both seem to have too much time on their hands.

[cubreporter]

Real responsible parenting looking for the REALLY BAD neighborhoods so your kids can experience diversity up close and personal. Wow.

As for me growing up, thanks Mom and Dad for always striving to give and do the best for us. Not the most expensive mind you but...the best they could provide. That's what parents are supposed to do...see to it that their children have the best there is and teach them right from wrong with respect and kindness towards others. THAT'S how you do what is best for them...NOT purposly taking them into the very bad neighborhoods especially after you have been warned not to do so.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"said her quest for diversity clashes with the conformity requirement put forth by the uniform policy."

A trip to any high school will prove that there is no diversity in dress all kids dress in the same poor taste with the girls in halter tops and the boys with their pants down around their knees and their boxers showing.

I have often heard that the left looks upon diversity as a religious issue and this is an excellent example. If you believe in diversity then that belief alone means that you expect an outcome like harmony -- guaranteed outcome of diversity.

So E Pluribus Unum means what. Karl Marx now holds more moral authority than the founding fathers!!

[Happygal]

She purposely moves her six year old child to the WORST neighbourhood so she can experience diversity? Or so she can turn her child into a junkie from an early age?

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"thanks Mom and Dad for always striving to give and do the best for us."

This is the job of parents!

In the best of circumstances kids can sink to the lowest level possible it is the parents job to keep kids straight and help them to "Be All That They Can Be" not bums.

[Lancey Howard]

It is a good thing that simpletons like Milliken move to "diverse" neighborhoods. This way, they cannot pollute the voting rolls of productive, working, taxpaying neighborhoods. You know that Milliken and her ilk will vote Democrat along with the parasites and the minority "victim" class.

[cubreporter]

Absolutely. That's why we always do the best we can...after that it's up to the kids but you know in your heart as their parents you loved them enough to set rules, give them chores and teach them to be responsible adults. We used to tell our kids they had the basics of what was right and wrong and if they decided to go the wrong route there would be a voice inside their head telling them what they wree about to do was wrong. It was up to them at that point to "choose" which path to take.

[Lancey Howard]

She purposely moves her six year old child to the WORST neighbourhood so she can experience diversity? Or so she can turn her child into a junkie from an early age?

Maybe she thinks it will be easier to turn tricks for coke in the slums. I think there may be more to this than meets the eye. Sure, Tammy Millikin may simply be stupid, but it is certainly possible that she herself is a junkie who wants to get closer to a source.

[GailA]

NO neighborhood in Memphis is entirely safe. I detest having to go into Memphis except for the fringe areas unless I'm forced to.

The crime is creeping out to Millington more each day.

Dennis is job hunting and we are NOT really looking in Memhis. It's high crime, high taxes, bad schools, bad universities..not much to recommend it except the RIBS at Corky's.

[Tacis]

Oh great, next she'll shave the kid's head so as not to look like all the other little girls.

Something about this just doesn't smell right. Is this woman and her daughter black and is she moving into a modest black neighborhood and sending the kid to a black neighborhood school? Her claim for "diversity" sounds so shallow and the words used in the story, so contrived. Are we talking about a black candidate for the school board/city counsel building a record for her black constituents to demonstrate how she can fight the system?

[07055]

Millikin, whose daughter, Beth, 6, attends Raleigh Bartlett Meadows Elementary, said her quest for diversity clashes with the conformity requirement put forth by the uniform policy.

Real diversity has nothing to do with the clothes you wear or the color of your skin.

The only diversity that matters is diversity of IDEAS.

Of course, the Democratic party prohibits the discussion in schools of any ideas other than those endorsed by the NEA.

[willieroe]

From a September 4 Commercial Appeal article on Tammy Milliken:

The school uniform grace period is history for Memphis students caught out of compliance.

Starting this week, students face a series of sanctions, including suspension after several offenses, if they don't wear a white shirt with collar and sleeves, or a white golf-style shirt, and either khaki, navy or black bottoms.

The mandatory policy kicked in officially Tuesday, the same day Tammy Milliken allowed her 6-year-old to wear a Disney-inspired Pocahontas T-shirt to Raleigh-Bartlett Meadows Elementary.

School officials estimate 98 or 99 percent compliance across the 118,000-student district.

But a handful of parents like Milliken are asking to opt out of the policy based on religious or other "strongly held beliefs."

Milliken says she has lost sleep over the uniform policy and her strongly held belief that conformity is a bad thing and diversity is everything.

"The idea of requiring my children to wear a uniform, which is mandatory conformity, is exactly the opposite of the way I live my life," said Milliken, whose written request was denied by the principal.

She's appealing to Vivian Dillihunt, one of three zone directors who oversees a third of the city's 175 schools. She expects a decision later this week. [snip]

[Jakarta ex-pat]

One thing about the left.

They will go well before you and I.

[willieroe]

Tammy could do a lot worse than to send her kid to Raleigh Bartlett Meadows Elementary - the school is NOT on any Tennessee state probation lists, and from what information I can find, elementary test scores seem to actually be above average.

[07055]

"The idea of requiring my children to wear a uniform, which is mandatory conformity, is exactly the opposite of the way I live my life," said Milliken, whose written request was denied by the principal.

With a mother as stupid as this one, the girl better get used to uniforms.

If she's lucky, she'll get to wear one at McDonalds.

[willieroe]

I just double-checked a map of the surrounding area of this school. There are quite a few undesirable places to live in Memphis, but the area surrounding Raleigh Bartlett Meadows Elementary is not one of them.

[wardaddy]

Yea Gail.....I always go for the half and half rib slab myself.

I'm hungry.

BTW, is this mother an idiot or what?

[07055]

I just double-checked a map of the surrounding area of this school. There are quite a few undesirable places to live in Memphis, but the area surrounding Raleigh Bartlett Meadows Elementary is not one of them.

Figures. Typical liberal hypocrite.

[NYCVirago]

Where's Child Protective Services when you really need them? This mother should get an award as Loon of the Year!

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

"The idea of requiring my children to wear a uniform, which is mandatory conformity, is exactly the opposite of the way I live my life," said Milliken, whose written request was denied by the principal.

In a percentage of public schools which opt for uniforms, it's not necessarily about 'conforming', but often about limiting distractions based on attire and/or family finances, first impressions and personal 'taste' for lack of a better word.

If, [for example] in any given school setting, there are two children with an equally outstanding academic ability, and if [for example] one of these children choose to set a tasteful look for themselves by way of attire, where perhaps the other does not, these children can in fact have a chance to exhibit their academic talents in a fair and equal mannar without the mannar of dress becoming an issue.

[NYCVirago]

Starting this week, students face a series of sanctions, including suspension after several offenses, if they don't wear a white shirt with collar and sleeves, or a white golf-style shirt, and either khaki, navy or black bottoms.

Sounds like this uniform policy is a lot more flexible than those at, say, Catholic schools. And it doesn't even have plaid as a color!

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Whoops...overuse of the word 'mannr' in a sentence...

Doh'

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

mannAr...geesh

[Paul Atreides]

It's interesting to note that she considers the "bad" neighborhoods to be associated with non-whites. If a Republican had made such a statement, his political career would be over in a heartbeat.

[Paul Atreides]

"We would be participating in a practice that is wrong by the standards of our beliefs," Millikin said in her written appeal to the board.

This woman has fat, lazy slob written all over her. Why anyone is giving her the time of day is a mystery.

[Paul Atreides]

You would think the twit would love the uniform policy, since none of the other kids can show up in expensive clothes and harm some other kid's delicate self-esteem. I'm willing to bet that the woman looks like a slovenly freak and she wants her little darling to follow in her footsteps and shove her "individuality" in everyone's faces.

[Jonathon Spectre]

Diversity means everybody looks different but thinks alike!

[Dante3]

Obviously this crazy woman want to be on TV. How else would this loser get any publicity? She went to a bad part of town for diversity? I'm sure she will get to meet a greater diversity of criminals than in a good part.

[Paul Atreides]

Huh, no mention of how Mr. Milliken feels about all this.

Guess he couldn't be reached for comment.

He just sits around the kitchen, in his drawers...

[goodieD]

Before I moved to this town, I called the police and asked which neighborhoods to stay away from because of crime.. I was told they couldn't give me any specific information about that... Which would explain why our town has one of the worst crime rates in the nation.

[dighton]

Huh, no mention of how Mr. Milliken feels about all this. Guess he couldn't be reached for comment.

If there is such a person, his script consists of "Yes, dear ... yes, dear ... yes, dear."

[Orual]

If there is such a person, his script consists of "Yes, dear ... yes, dear ... yes, dear."

Or in the spirit of diversity, "Si, cara...Ja, lieb...Oui, cher."

[general_re]

Lackawanna, NY is near me, and it's very diverse. She'll love it.