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IT turns out there is no uniformity of opinion in the
wisdom to do away with student uniforms in the public elementary and
secondary schools.
The Palace and the Department of
Education thought making uniforms optional was a bright idea. It
would save parents and guardians a lot of money.
Many parents said uniforms were
not that expensive. A child (boy or girl) needs only two sets for
the week. They are made of inexpensive, durable material that are
easy to wash and iron. They wear well.
Uniforms also simplify matters at
home. After shower a girl slips into one and off she rushes to
school.
Mothers foresee that without the
uniform, there would be daily hassles at home. Each morning, great
decisions would have to be made about which clothes to wear. Girls,
especially, are difficult to please. They wouldn’t want to be seen
wearing “baduy” dresses, something they wore recently or a dress
that seems to be popular on the campus.
A “civilian” attire requires
the correct pair of shoes or bags. Not to wear a uniform requires
one to be fashionable. There would be an explosion of modish
clothes, not unlike in Japan or the US. The young men are likely to
pick up the idea.
In short, the school uniform
serves as a good organizing principle. It democratizes the campus.
Everyone wears the same garb.
Students take pride in their
uniform particularly if their school has a distinguished history or
academic record. It separates them from other students and schools.
We believe the police would
prefer to keep the uniform because it is a great identifier. One
could tell who seems to be a victim of an ongoing crime, playing
hooky or playing “gimik” at the mall.
In the United States, the
movement to require high school students wear a uniform remains
strong. It happens that many middle-level students compete on the
campus with the priciest and latest athletic shoes, designer
footwear and brand handbags.
The US police said some students
have resorted to theft, homicide and selling sex to keep lifestyles
that shock teachers and parents.
The parents we talked to said
that part of the P2 billion Malacañang earmarked for scholarships
should have been allotted for uniforms or fabric for the attire.
In fact, Mayor Fred Lim announced
the other day that Manila was releasing P84 million for the school
uniforms of 300,000 public grade and secondary students. “We want
to ease the parents’ burden through free uniforms,” he said.
Now, we can probably expect half
of the students to wear uniforms and the rest wearing their day’s
best. This divides the campus into the “traditionalistas” and
the fashionistas.
The uniform is more than
regulation wear. It’s part of a school’s tradition—as
celebrative as the school song, flag, motto, color, symbol or sports
cheer.
I, myself and me
Public officials who are sick
with narcissism ought to moderate their ego and leave praise giving
to others. We have in mind Chairman Bayani Fernando of the
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority whose portraits compete
with the traffic signs and billboards in the greater Manila area.
Rep. Roilo Golez of Parañaque,
whose hobby is sketching, says the practice smacks of a personality
cult. Golez must have fun sketching doodles of BF.
Many are the Cabinet secretaries
and heads of government offices who also think their portrait goes
well with calendars, official reports and lifeless walls.
They should take a hint from
Taiwan where the Ministry of Interior has ruled that government
offices, facilities and schools are no longer required to display a
portrait of the president, in this case newly installed President Ma
Ying-jeon.
Henceforth, portraits of
President Ma will be displayed only in overseas diplomatic missions,
military bases and Taiwan’s international airports.
Even before his inauguration,
president-elect Ma ordered the interior ministry to enact the new
rule limiting displays of his portrait to a few offices and on
select occasions because of its symbolic meaning.
Hanging the photo as a display of
respect is no longer necessary because Taiwan has evolved into a
“sound democracy,” his office said.
Are we a democracy? We call our
presidents “His Excellency” at public functions and display his
photo in every office. Every other agency wants to launch a program
whose acronym carries the president’s initials.
Government officials also love to
attach their name to a public-works project, announcing that this
unsightly digging is a project of Senator or Congressman so-and-so,
as if the money came from his pocket.
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago
meanwhile says senators endorsing commercial products are engaging
in premature campaigning, which is illegal.
Would appearing at a public
concert as singer or performer constitute politicking? Do singers
enjoy undue privilege? Several Cabinet members who serenaded
President Arroyo at her birthday were promptly declared safe from a
cabinet revamp.
Now comes Immigration
Commissioner Marcelino Libanan holding public concerts. A former
congressman, he could have an eye for the Senate. Are his concerts,
CDs and ads in the field vision of Maid Miriam?
Libanan has sung and played the
guitar at the Philamlife Auditorium, the Manila Hotel and Davao
City. Next: the Senate session hall.
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