To the editor:

This is in response to the letter to the editor poison-penned by Ms. Demarinis, along with an accompanying photograph of young, concerned citizens, appearing in this Sunday's edition of The Sun Chronicle.

As to whether or not Ms. Demarinis is "an old biddy", I leave that opinion to be formed by the other occupants of the hen house. To be fair and practice full disclosure, I attended elementary, junior and senior high schools in Waltham (graduate of the class of '62). To be perfectly honest, my and others' sartorial splendor had and has absolutely nothing to do with scholastic abilities/aptitudes and/or future employment skills.

I attended the inauguration of former governor Dukakis at the same State House, while gainfully employed by the Commonwealth, working in the city of Boston, In my "work duds". I was not attired in a T-shirt, faded jeans, and a pair of sandals or flip-flops. Nor, by the bye, was I wearing the three-piece zoot suit often found on political, corporate, and even plain old garden-variety criminals and miscreants. I have personally seen many young, potential future voters/leaders/taxpayers going from school to the Boston Common and/or the State House, and the, too were not "dressed to the nines".

Perhaps we should take a long, hard look at the past history, and dictatorially force adults and youth to emulate other wearers of various uniforms "for their own good". Some excellent examples, warts and all, are the Brownshirts, the Red Guard, and even the Nazi youth brigade and adult party members. Sound sick and bizarre? It should. Should there be any type of reasonable, sensible limited dress codes, with full and proper input from the affected youth themselves? Most certainly. But Ms. Demarinis, and one or tow others of similar narrow, backwards outlok and mind set need to accept and realize that temporary outward appearances are so much less important in the big picture, than what lies deep within one's heart and soul. Far too often, the best kept nice and neat false front can hide the most twisted and evil mind. Remember, outward facile facades can be, and usually are, very deceiving.

David Daugman, Attleboro