The Iconoclast and the School Pageant
Last Friday, I went to see a Christmas pageant at my kids' school. It was less a pageant and more the kids singing some Christmas carols. They were divided into grades 1&2, 3&4, and 5&6 with two groups of each.My kids go to a private school and wear a uniform. I hate the uniform. Sofia likes it, so does my dad. They both feel that it gives the kids more order and discipline. Makes them more uniform and less prone class and fashion discrimination. I simply view it as a symbol of conformity and it really makes my skin crawl. Children need to learn tolerance and respect for others not because they all dress the same and behave the same way, but because it is the right thing to do, despite their differences.
I like the education they are getting. Tania has remarked that she prefers this school to the public because she gets more work. It also seems to provide adequate challenge for Jason as well. But I still can't stand the uniforms.
Anyway, back to the pageant. As I watched the children come up to the stage and arrange themselves into their proper places, then to sing and act out in one uniform assembly, I could feel the bile boiling within me.
I don't mind if adults choose to give up their identity and individuality - that is their choice. But I hate seeing children being coerced into conformity. I am sure the kids enjoyed it, but I wish they could have been more individual.
Children must be lead and guided, not molded and formed.
I felt like running around screaming at people, slapping them; turning over and smashing things.
As usual, I had a big discussion with my dad and Sofia over this.
Image nabbed from here.
Comments
My kids also went to a private school, but one on a farm. There was no such thing as competition or conformity and there was certainly not a uniform. They were totally ungraded until the 6th grade. They learned to love learning for learning's sake. It was the first integrated school in the state of Virginia in 1946 when it was founded.
The important thing is whether you children are happy.
Yes, they do enjoy the school.
breal: I agree that is can be less of a distraction, but we should be aiming to teach children diversity, not uniformity. After all, were does this stop?
I think it is the wrong solution to the problem. It is simply covering up rather than addressing the issue.
Sofia had to wear a uniform in school. I did not. Granted, I have horrible memories of high school and Sofia does not (actually, most people have warm memories of high school, me and my friends have none. As my friend's wife said, "You guys all need therapy").
Uniforms or not, kids will always find differences amongst each other and need to learn how to manage those differences. I don't have children but highly doubt (as you indicate in your post, Richard) that anything substantial is being taught about the importance of differences in shcool. I know here in the States, that would be very unAmerican (despite freedom of speech, blah, blah, blah)... the celebrating of differences.
I think you would have liked Norway in this matter. No private school (well at least very, very few and special) and no school uniformed. So whatever background or regardless your parents status, you get the same educational opportunity.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Btw: Thanks for the Xmas Card!
I did desire to belong, however this was not conditional on being the same. I wanted to be me. Period.
My mother did try to buy me clothes "like the other kids" wore, but I resisted. I did not want to be associated with anything. Even today, I buy clothes without visible or at least prominent labels. And if there are labels, I either hide them or remove them.
I also have a dislike for tattoos and piercings because I think they are a way of being branded as the property of something or someone. Kind of like prisoner 12345657. Mind you, I did like temporary tattoos when I was younger.
breal: you are right, people always have a way of distinguishing themselves, whether it is in accessories, the car they get dropped off in, whether they have only one uniform of a uniform for each day. The way they wear the hair or sweater or skirt, etc. As far as I know, accessories (aside from earrings or hairclips) are not permitted. But you can always have a fancier schoolbag or something.
renny: in theory, everyone has the same educational opportunity. We send them to a private school because the level of education is a bit higher and (most importantly) the public school system didn't accept Jason because his birthday is 2 days after the cutoff mark. The private school had no such qualm (as long as he passed a psychological assessment for maturity).
We need to work more on unifying and celebrating our differences (as long as not harmful) rather than trying to render everyone the same.
I still think the right lesson to teach is that of tolerance, justice and fairness - just general goodness towards others. Unfortunately, the real world doesn't work that way.