Chelsea, Maine — Most 8-year-old boys do not dress to the nines. However James Ramage loves to decorate for third-grade success.
He began carrying a go well with to class just a few years in the past to his college within the small rural city of Chelsea, Maine, situated exterior Augusta. At first, the opposite college students did not know what to suppose.
“Each time I noticed him, I used to be similar to, ‘OK,'” one in every of Ramage’s classmates advised CBS Information.
“And I am like, ‘Why is he dressing up?'” mentioned one other.
Ramage knew he stood out. However he quickly determined he did not care what others had been carrying.
“I need not seem like them any extra,” Ramage mentioned. “I may be who I wish to be.”
In any college, a choice like that may go just a few alternative ways. You can be accepted for who you’re or ostracized for who you aren’t. Or, in very uncommon circumstances, you can develop into a trendsetter. Ramage fell within the latter class.
“Extra folks began to do it,” mentioned a classmate.
“And now folks completely like it,” added one other.
Now, as soon as per week, college students at Chelsea Elementary placed on their best for what is named “Dapper Wednesday.” It’s not a costume code, it was solely created by the scholars.
Trainer Dean Paquette was an early adopter and is now an avid advocate of dressing up.
“Being dressed up, youngsters are totally different,” Paquette mentioned. “I feel it is a shallowness factor. After which it carries with them right through the day.”
The children agree, telling CBS Information they love the way it feels.
“It seems like I am not a child anymore,” mentioned one, whereas one other declared that “it seems like I am like a president.”
The varsity has additionally began a “Dapper Closet,” for which it receives donations, to make sure everybody who needs to take part can.
When Ramage began all this, he had no thought the impression it could have. However he would not suppose each child ought to put on fits — simply no matter fits them.
“Simply put on what they wish to put on,” he mentioned.