Posts by John Doe

1/ All the puke about it levelling playing fiels etc. is poop. Kids can sort-out someone's socio-economic status even if they all wear the same clothes. Do people think kids are STUPID are something? I suppose you could require they attend school in white forensic suits and use standard equipment (pens etc.), ban all personal items, and use public transport to get them there... then it would be harder. But the most cited reason for school uniform is poop, it really is.

What?!?! You mean a uniform won't make Johny industrious, quit throwing spit-balls at the wall, ignore the girls, quit snobbing folks, be satisfied with less-expensive clothing, or have better self esteem? Whud a thunk it???

61

Back To School--School Uniforms, Good or Bad?

by horrible life in

jw
friends

we just got back from texas'.

they had their annual tax free weekend.

with hotel, gas, food, and shopping, we spent $1000.00 easy.

John Doe

Good then. Now, can you explain why the comparison between mandatory uniforms for the purpose of "putting everyone on a level playing field" and socialism is "laughable?" Afterall, if you're going to insult an idea, I think it's only courteous to at least make some attempt to back it up. Otherwise, you're just slinging mud. Oh, and by the way, Ayn Rand was part of a philosophy known as relativism.

Talesin, sadly I have to agree with you on much of your assertion, and regretfully school uniforms are a factor that makes them that way. I've had good instructors in my education, though, and I can assure you that much attention was given to the individual learning process. I fear much of that is being lost, but that in no way justifies further changes along that path.

61

Back To School--School Uniforms, Good or Bad?

by horrible life in

jw
friends

we just got back from texas'.

they had their annual tax free weekend.

with hotel, gas, food, and shopping, we spent $1000.00 easy.

John Doe

I respectfully dissagree. Education takes on many facets. Learning and expanding minds includes learning to function in society, which includes learning when flirting is appropriate and dealing with the opposite sex. How many societies have you seen that had separate men and women sections? In my experience, the kids who have healthy relationships with their parents do not follow thier peers in everything. Also note that I'm not against a dresscode--just against required uniforms. I'm against over-regulation in anything.

My idea is laughable? can you explain to me how in a reasonable way without using namecalling? I reccommend a book by Ayn Rand called Atlas Shrugged. It deals with socialism and is quite eye-opening. Until then, perhaps you could respond to my earlier question about your views on "each according to his need," or taking from wealthy and giving to poor to make everyone have equal resources. My ears are open.

61

Back To School--School Uniforms, Good or Bad?

by horrible life in

jw
friends

we just got back from texas'.

they had their annual tax free weekend.

with hotel, gas, food, and shopping, we spent $1000.00 easy.

John Doe

Of course we don't think that clothing is the mark of a person's character, but when we make decisions based on differences in clothing, we are tacitly supporting that evaluation. I think much of a kid's self-esteem comes from his or her parents--if they show them that they're worth something and compliment them on their legitimate accomplishments, clothes won't be so important. Have you ever heard that Dolly Parton song "Dress of Many Colors" (or something like that), while it's corny, it conveys what I'm saying fairly well.

One of the toughest lessons in life is to learn that we don't all have equal opportunities, abilities, or circumstances, but I don't think because some lessons are tough means we should shield our children from them. I can go along with the idea about creating a sense of belonging and identity, but I can't help feeling that mandatory dress would be a manufactured sense of belonging--making sheep to be led which ever way big brother wants. But, perhaps I'm being a bit paranoid.

61

Back To School--School Uniforms, Good or Bad?

by horrible life in

jw
friends

we just got back from texas'.

they had their annual tax free weekend.

with hotel, gas, food, and shopping, we spent $1000.00 easy.

John Doe

Everyone is equal. What do you think of taxing rich people or taking away what weathly people have so everyone has equal resources? What do you think about "each according to his need?" What do you think about self-esteen based on the clothes a kid wears? Are the reasons you give not validating a shallow standard?

I grew up poor. I bought many of my clothes at second hand stores, and I could get whole outfits for less than $2. I never wanted to wear what the rich kids wore. Why should I have been forced to wear such things? Are you not validating the feeling that cheap clothes make an inferior person by saying that wearing equal clothes with the rich kids should give poor kids better self-esteem? I would be insulted if I were still poor and you told me that.

61

Back To School--School Uniforms, Good or Bad?

by horrible life in

jw
friends

we just got back from texas'.

they had their annual tax free weekend.

with hotel, gas, food, and shopping, we spent $1000.00 easy.

John Doe

Horrible Life, perhaps I'm wrong, but what you appear to be saying is that you want all the responsibility for telling your kids what they can afford to wear placed on someone else. Shouldn't learning to live within our means or learning to spend money responsibly be a lesson taught early in life? Or, perhaps let them buy their clothes with money they earn instead of buying them yourself?

My dad used to tell a story about my older sister all the time. She was 5 or 6 years old, and wanted a Barbie Doll in the worst way. There was a generic brand doll for a fraction of the price, but she wouldn't have it. He told her to save her money, and she could buy the Barbie Doll. Well, after saving for a month, she had enough. He said he took her into the store, and she took a long look at the Barbie, then at her money, and walked away with the cheaper doll. It was a cute story.

61

Back To School--School Uniforms, Good or Bad?

by horrible life in

jw
friends

we just got back from texas'.

they had their annual tax free weekend.

with hotel, gas, food, and shopping, we spent $1000.00 easy.

John Doe

Levelling playing fields seems rather communistic to me--and I never had fashionable clothes in school. I would be against it. Snobbish people are going to be snobbish no matter the clothes, and thinking that forced conformity will cause greater academic discipline is an ill-fated enterprise, in my humble opinion.

68

Are there any "BLONDES" here with an I.Q. over 100 ????

by JH in

jw
friends

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this thread won't go far .

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John Doe

My apologies, Flying High. I'm trying to work on it, but I do get preachy sometimes. I suppose your posts struck a cord with me because I went through the first 20-something years of my life with the same opinion. My opinion changed significantly after I had some actual dealings with the group. I didn't mean to be patronizing.