Under the heat of an April afternoon, a student steps out of the locker room wearing maroon shorts and a bright yellow shirt. Immediately standing out, he walks against the crowd of students dressed in standard black and gray P.E. uniforms. Heads turn and kids whisper. The reason is obvious: he forgot his gym clothes.
At Day Creek Intermediate, a forgotten uniform used to mean losing participation points. Now, students who forget their P.E. clothes must wear brightly colored loaner uniforms while losing fewer points. School administrators say the policy is meant to increase participation, improve safety, and encourage responsibility. But for many students, the loaners have become a source of embarrassment.
“We are trying to fix the issue of kids not dressing out because a lot of the time what we wear to school and wear around campus is not the most appropriate attire to exercise in and run in; and we want to make sure the kids are safe. And if they have the opportunity to change, the loaner program will be able to fix [their grades],” said assistant principal Ms. Fernandez.
The policy was created after ongoing issues with students not dressing out for P.E. Administrators and P.E. coaches discussed possible solutions before deciding on the loaner system.
P.E. teacher Mrs. Mason explained the process. “If you forget your P.E. clothes, you are no longer allowed to stay in your regular street clothes. You need to come to one of the coaches either on the boys’ side or on the girls’ side and ask for loaners. You’re going to write your name down; then we will give you a shirt or shorts or both – whatever you need – and then you keep that until you bring back your own clothes. When you bring back your P.E. clothes, you’ll give us back the loaners, and we will sign you out,” she said.
While administrators see the policy as practical, many students view it differently. In a middle school environment where insecurity can already run high, the bright colors make students immediately stand out as someone who forgot their clothes.
“It’s just too bright, and everyone can see that you forgot to bring your clothes, and it’s just embarrassing. It would be better if they would change the color scheme,” said sixth grader David B.
Seventh grader Elliana C. agreed, saying, “The yellow and red clothes are just gonna embarrass you, and you’re not gonna feel welcomed at this school, like the school is gonna make you feel embarrassed, and you aren’t gonna wanna go here.”
For some students, the issue goes beyond clothing and self-esteem. The uniforms make them feel singled out in front of their peers.
“I think it brings a little added layer of embarrassment to help you guys remember to be responsible and bring your things, because no one wants to stand out, especially in junior high. It motivates you even more to be responsible,” said seventh grade teacher Mrs. Brumbaugh.
Teachers and administrators say the discomfort is intentional. By making the uniforms difficult to ignore, staff members hope students will become more consistent about bringing their own clothes.
“You shouldn’t like them. We don’t want to encourage you to keep wearing the loaners,” Mrs. Mason said.
Students have also raised concerns about hygiene. Sharing loaner uniforms feels unsanitary during physically active classes.
“It’s not really sanitary at all, and I think it’s dumb. Like what about germs, sicknesses, and coughs?” Elliana C. said.
Staff members say those concerns are being addressed through daily cleaning procedures, ensuring that students’ hygiene is insured.
“We will make sure they are washed daily,” said Mrs. Mason.
The policy also has consequences for students who refuse to wear the loaners.
“It will be a high-level referral. You would have to go up to admin,” said Mrs. Mason.
A high-level referral (HLR) sends a student to administrators, while a low-level referral (LLR) is handled with less severe disciplinary action.
However, some students believe the punishment feels excessive for forgetting clothes.
“I don’t think an HLR is a fair punishment, but an LLR is more suitable,” said Micah C.
The policy also highlights challenges some students face outside of school. For students who move between households, remembering to bring the correct clothes can create another obstacle.
“I could see some of the concerns, but I think it’s still beneficial in case you forget your clothes. For example, my parents are divorced, so I might leave my clothes at one house. [Loaners] would raise my grade,” said Isabella M.
According to the P.E. department, students who wear loaners lose only two participation points, compared to the previous policy in which students lost four points for not dressing out.
“It’s really tough for those students, right? It’s not an easy situation to navigate, but ultimately they have to learn how to be responsible and manage two households,” Mrs. Brumbaugh said.
Teachers say the loaners are ultimately about preparing students for responsibilities beyond middle school and dressing out.
“Students need to be more accountable, and it will help in the classrooms as well, because it’ll make sure that you’re getting your things done and that you’re doing your job, which is showing up prepared,” said Mrs. Brumbaugh.
Even with the threat of referrals and lost points, some students say they still would refuse to wear the loaners.
“I’m not gonna wear a bright yellow shirt that fifty other guys wore. I’m getting that HLR, I guess,” said David B.
For students like Elliana, the policy’s negatives still outweigh its benefits.
“There’s really no pros. It might motivate you to change out more, but it’s embarrassing, and it’s gross,” Elliana said.
Still, administrators continue to defend the program as a solution to an ongoing issue.
“I think that from a student’s perspective, the only negative thing is that they might not want to dress out. But I don’t think that there are any cons. We are trying to help kids get better grades,” said Ms. Fernandez.
As the policy becomes more common on campus, the debate continues. For some students, the loaners represent accountability and an opportunity to improve grades. For others, they represent embarrassment and unwanted attention. Whether the program ultimately improves participation remains a topic of debate among students and staff members.
