Returning to the now and again theme of the civic message communicated by certain types of public school policies, we find another article on the matter of requiring school uniforms.
But to Dan Thompson, a Welches parent and school board member, the idea of kids wearing uniforms and clothes that look the same represents a step toward equity and diminishing class barriers and competition. …
“I think uniforms help to level the playing field between students and actually allow kids’ personalities to come out,” Thompson said.
Thompson also says that uniforms will “increase a sense of community” and “boost school pride”.
Of course, the problem is that enforced uniformity is not real equity, it’s merely, well, uniformity. Arguably, equity and equality is about individuality not being discriminated against simply because it means difference.
Enforced uniformity in reality only masks class barriers rather than addressing or discussing them.
Enforced uniformity only increases a sense of community if the conception of community you’re trying to foster is one where differences and distinctions are a troublesome force meant to be suppressed.
At least some of the parents get it, with one mother being quoted in the article as offering this: “This is a time when they explore their identity, and to them, putting on a uniform is pretty much closing a door. That’s understandable.”
But the award for most awesome quote in the article goes to the one which the reporter chose to save for placement at its end.
“I like the idea of having equality so people don’t spend so much time thinking about what to wear,” said Casey Emmerling, 15. “But I really think we could just work on not being shallow and vain without wearing the same thing . . . I’m always pro-expressing yourself.”
If the administrators of public schools care anything for the teaching of civics, equating uniformity with equality, masking class barriers, and defining community as the absence of difference or distinction are not the messages they should be communicating to the children of a democracy.
Maybe not in Portland, but in some cities kids are literally killing each other over clothes and shoes. In those settings, uniforms are worth the slight homogenization.