Students Sent Home for Wearing "Islam is of the Devil" t-shirts to school

Would you need to use a conundrum?

The so called 'freedom' to wear ones private choice of clothing while participating in an institutional setting is merely a means whereby the more elite can demonstrate class status, and while the majority are sucked into opressive, objectified so-called 'fashion' demonstrations.  It is the source of great pressure on parents of limited means to supply children with expensive, developing world produced commodities, as well as the source of great unhappiness in young people who can't fit with current style 'choices'.  Morover, one should wear ones 'transgressive' apparel appropriately in ones neighbourhood.  Most of youth so-called 'style' is capitalist commodified, developing world exploitative bullshit, and rarely truly reflects our genuine histories and cultures.  Uniform is a freedom from such commodification, and at best, a positive identification with an institution which should be embraced and celebrated by those who participate.

PS: I should come clean - I hated fashion trends so much in high school, I eventually took to wearing a tie, vest, dress pants and shoes, leather trenchcoat and fedora. Perhaps I wanted to challenge the popular image of aboriginal youth. Needless to say, I had few friends.  Make of it as you will.

As parents from the UK and Jamaica have observed to me, a set of two to four uniforms is much cheaper than a year's worth of popular clothing, and seconds or public school discounts are almost always available.

What would you say to the argument that uniforms stifle creativity and individuality(and, in many school systems, are required for precisely that purpose)?  Is it possible to dress exactly like everyone else and still be yourself?

In asking this question, I mean no attack on your decision to dress as you did, Makwa.  I respect that choice.  But that's the opposite of having to wear a uniform.

I have never been one for the popular styles, and much of my clothing growing up was hand-me-downs from my brother.  In later high school, I discovered thrift stores, and started buying the bulk of my clothes (including my prom outfit) from there.  Like you Makwa, I arleady knew I didn't fit in, so I decided my clothing would be a statement (of rebellion if not celebration) rather than trying to fit in and failing.

My son's going into Grade 4, and we've already encountered the peer pressure for the "cool" clothes.  Currently, we have no problem simply saying "That's nice.  No, you can't have that."  We'll see if my perception changes as my son progresses through school.

In my experience, school uniforms are usually locally made, as they tend to be of specialized design. In fact, I recall one factory on Adelaide near Spadina.  I don`t know if it is still in operation, but it seemed pretty busy a few years ago.  The 'history' is generally developed within the institutional history, thus perhaps reflects the dominant political culture.  I can accept that, given the alternative submission to capitalist trends.  I happen to embrace the ideal of "alma mater", and scholarly culture and pursuit, and wish that more young people would take pride in their institutional academic achievement, particularly among FN and POC.  The 'freedom' to capitulate to capitalist branding and fake commodified rebellion doesn't interest me. Freedom is in the mind, not the low cut tee or jeans or the brand on your t-shirt. Modification can be incorporated for religious or cultural design, such as a head scarf which could reflect school colours.