A Lexington County lawmaker thinks children who attend schools that have a pattern of poor academic performance should be required to wear uniforms.

Five colleagues on the House education subcommittee hesitated Tuesday to endorse the proposal by Rep. Ted Pitts, R-Lexington, to link schools’ annual report card ratings to mandatory apparel rules.

But they did not rule out giving the bill a favorable report. If approved in subcommittee, the bill would then be considered by the full education committee before it could reach the House floor.

Pitts told the panel he came up with the idea last summer while on National Guard exercises in Texas. He said he visited a major department store with a prominent display advertising clothing that met local school uniform policies. He said he quizzed shoppers about the rules.

“By and large, (they said) their kids are more focused on school and less on fashion statements.”

Pitts’ proposal, which has three co-sponsors, calls for the uniform dress requirement to kick in if a school receives an annual — or “absolute” — rating of below average or unsatisfactory two years in a row.

About 144 of the state’s 1,132 public schools fell into that category after reviewing ratings for 2003 and 2004, Sandy Smith, the House education committee’s research director, told lawmakers.

Rep. Bob Walker, R-Spartanburg, said he needed more time to look for research findings that might bolster Pitts’ proposal.

“I have a problem with us mandating certain things,” said Walker, chairman of the subcommittee that is responsible for screening legislation that could affect public schools.

Walker also said there already are guidelines in place to help low-performing schools improve their ratings.

Rep. Ken Clark, R-Lexington, expressed reservations as well, saying such a law dictating what children can wear could be viewed as punishment.

“This, in no way, shape or form, is meant to be punitive,” Pitts assured Clark, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate.

Educators said earlier Tuesday that such decisions should come from the local level and not from the State House.

“We are concerned about schools that are below average or unsatisfactory. But something like (school) uniforms should be left up to the parents and the individual schools,” Florence 4 superintendent Chuck Gadsden said.

Ray Rogers, superintendent of Dillon 2, agreed.

“I understand that uniforms have made a difference in a lot of areas. But I don’t know that would necessarily hold true in every situation,” Rogers said.

Some Columbia-area public schools have optional dress codes that strongly encourage students to choose attire from a recommended list.

Lonnie B. Nelson Elementary in Richland 2 is in the first year of following a “uniform standard of dress” that Principal Martha Roberts said had widespread support among parents who answered a survey a year ago.

“So far, it has gone nicely,” Roberts said. The only complaint, so far, was about the choice of white shirts that seem to get dirty quickly when children are on the playground.

“Some parents do ‘opt out’ due to personal reasons,” Roberts said. “We certainly support their choice.”

“The (uniform) idea has some merit, especially in the elementary school area,” Rep. Donald C. Smith, R-Aiken, said.

Rep. Michael Anthony, D-Union, said, “I’m open to this,” but he added he had concerns the Legislature might be usurping local school board authority.

The S.C. School Boards Association was among educator groups that raised a red flag.

“It might be a stigmatizing element to put something in place,” chief lobbyist Scott Price, said.

Reach Robinson at (803) 771-8482 or brobinson@thestate.com.