Appearances Are Destructive

Appearances Are Destructive

Summary:

In the new semester of public schools, the school violence is always debated again and again, and metal detectors and security guards can help to reduce these problems. But author, Mark Mathabane finds there is quite a another big issue to discuss in campus, after his two sisters were sent from South Africa to American public school, with more modern and advanced instruction. It’s dress codes used to protect students and promote learning. However, Mark’s sisters intend to transfer to different school, because they are frequently taunted by their classmates then and this situation never happen in their former school in South Africa. In South Africa students have to wear uniforms instead of putting jewelry or using brand objects. He finds it’s not only happen in this school, but also in other schools. Many students take more attention on the brand on their body rather than the quality or knowledge they own. Also the teachers are frustrated how to teach students the different meanings on study and appearance. Today students would think it’s the way to represent their status and to earn respect from others. Their parents, as meanwhile, base on the parental love would give them money for buying expensive objects to compete with their classmates, and if their parents don’t do so, they will be considered uncaring and cruel. Then the worse things like doing illegal trades to make money for consuming would happen on these children.

After these cases, Mark points out dress codes wouldn’t reduce our freedom of expression supported by civil libertarians, and jobs could show the evidence, such as bus driver, sport teams and so on. Or the students under the dress codes perform better due to there is a proper learning environment. In the end, he suggests it’s time for Americans to figure out the dress codes doesn’t that really infringe on freedom of expression and is better to protect students and promote learning.

Reflection:

Today, the rule of dress codes is not as harsh as before. In Taiwan, the students should wear the uniform in school for a long time. But in recent years, some schools relax the limit of the dress codes or even broke this rule because of the voice from civil libertaians. The teachers can easily find that students are not as obedient as before, and they can’t control them very well. Students only focus on whose appearance is the best and everyone would want to be more attractive. By wearing expensive clothes to earn other’s respects, or putting shinning earring and jewelry, combing their hair and using anything as possible as it were famous brands. The more ridiculous thing is that they can own such objects are all because of the parental love. They get these all from their father or mother not by themselves. Why wouldn’t they go to find a job to earn money to buy what they want, and instead of crying for mother for money without any pay. Distinctly, the value in our society is getting worse. We shouldn’t judge a person by his or her appearance, like the classmates of the author’s sisters. What is the more important thing we suppose to care about is the knowledge or the connotation inside the body. I surely believe that that can represent our status and quality. The manner what you talk and stand also speaks out who you are. So why not starting from your sprit rather than buying brand if you want to promote your individual status. Most of all, the insider beauty is far more important than outside.