As noted earlier, the Chinese are big on uniforms. Many more occupations wear them than in the West, and they are very varied. In addition to marking a person's occupation, these uniforms help socialize wearers into the expectations of a collectivist society.
Americans continue to debate the appropriateness of uniforms in public school. The advocates argue that uniforms impose standards of appropriate dress and behavior. They maintain that uniforms reduce competition over clothing and make impossible the wearing of gang colors.
Now, I have always disliked school uniforms, and more so now that I've seen China. I think student attire should be neat, clean, decent, and appropriate to the occasion. There is room for occupational uniforms especially for those who protect public safety. But school children should not have their identity flattened in this way. They are just developing it.
Above: The staff of the Oxford English Academy in their recently adapted uniform.
Below: Dining hall chefs on break at Shan
dong University
1 comment:
There is not a single school int eh Czech Republic that makes students wear uniforms. I also think this is kind of strange but I see how that fits into the Chinese society.
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