Uniformed approach

re: "Conflicting values" (BP, PostBag, June 23, 2023)

Dear editor,

In his discussion of the historical and current pros and cons of school uniforms, Sam Wright makes points that are both accurate and pertinent, and with all which I agree. I would, however,  make one correction. In my letter as published, I did not mention school uniforms, nor  express any opinion on either their merits or demerits. I went to private schools for all of my primary and secondary education, and we wore uniforms. As private institutions, I think my schools had the right to set such policy and expect it to be followed. Later at university, it was rather fun to don academic robes for special occasions, but my education there proceeded perfectly well in regular dress.

In my letter that Mr Wright cited, there was precisely one comment referring to uniforms. It was in the sentence: "Should respect for the rights of others be expected of school children but not of social leaders got up in pretty uniforms, or vice versa?" For some reason, PostBag's editor decided in their wisdom not to publish that sole comment on uniforms. As the sentence suggests, I agree with Mr Wright that values matter more than dress, both in and out of school. 

Therein lies the problem with uniforms in Thailand. They are associated with the ugly mindset of being superior, with being a member of a "better", even a sacred, group in society. In many cases that presumed superiority is an empty illusion, however prettily dressed up. The uniform that doctors and nurses wear does rightly reflect that the wearer is more competent in the field of medicine. In the case of politicians dressing up like army officers on a formal mess night, it is not clear that those uniforms reflect anything of value and perhaps contradict the fact that the wearers represent the great variety of the people who elected them. Uniforms for elected politicians should be abolished. 

As for schools, teachers should stop setting the unfortunate example of sometimes dressing up as though they were military personnel, complete with ribbons of rank and gilded epaulettes. That aping of military discipline sends entirely the wrong message to students. 

 Felix Qui 

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The above letter to the editor is the text as submitted by Felix Qui to the Bangkok Post.

The text as edited was published in PostBag on June 24, 2023, under the title "Uniformed approach" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2598541/stirring-the-pot