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Printer-Friendly ModeClassroom attire reflects changing social standards
submitted by Kyle O'Rourke
March 20, 2006 —
This is in response to Paul White's commentary, "Wearing pajamas to class shows lazy tendencies of students." I'm not going to deny part of Mr. White's main focus. There are many lazy, stupid students. Sleeping in class, skipping a large number of sessions, thinking that breaking a 3.0 GPA is something to be proud of, etc. Does coming to class in the same clothes you slept in mean that you're one of those lazy students? Probably. However, I take issue with one of Mr. White's other points.
The social standard he refers to is constantly changing. In general, it's loosening. Is this because we're all lazier? Or, is it because we're slowly coming to the realization that it just doesn't matter? Taking a few extra minutes to dress appropriately, to push ourselves to the "level of decorum" deemed necessary by... what? Standards based on past standards based on past standards... and for what? I'm no history major, but I'd venture to guess that the origins of such practices trace back at least as far as feudal society, with nobles and lords identified by more impressive and attractive clothing, in contrast to the peasants.
But really, what do the norms prove? Appearance is how we should be judged? Not intelligence, ambition, common sense, compassion? Does combing our hair and wearing proper attire automatically mean we're worth something? Does failing to do those things mean we're not? According to societal standards, usually. In reality? No. In fact, such standards can allow the lazy wastes-of-space to pass themselves off as something they're not.
Is blind adherence to such social customs something we should aspire to, as Mr. White implies? Will society improve if everyone starts taking those extra nine minutes to prepare? No, I don't think it will. The lazy will still be lazy, and the worthwhile will still be worthwhile.
Of course, it's not realistic to say that we should just give it all up and wear whatever we want and look however we want. There are still enough sticklers for tradition in power (as well as those who rely on appearance to feign worth), and not enough of the sheep would be willing to go against them. I'm certainly not selfless enough to start showing up to interviews wearing a Simpsons t-shirt and cargo pants, gambling that my 3.98 GPA and intelligent responses will be enough to beat out the sharply dressed jock who barely graduated with a C average and makes a lewd comment about the secretary's breasts on the way out. However, my point still stands... aspiring to such social norms will not improve society. It may even hinder improvement. In the grand scheme of things, tradition rarely trumps common sense.
Kyle O'Rourke Alum