We’ve heard so much fuss about the rules on Thai university student uniforms. To wear or not to wear (the uniform). Too outrageous or right on (Aum Neko’s campaign against mandatory student uniform rule). Really, I’ve gotten quite sick of hearing about this trivial issue, so I want to settle it once and for all. I’m even doing something uncharacteristic of me and being brief—sort of. Here are my Top 10 Reasons Why Thai University Students Should Wear Uniforms.
1. Almost all Thai university students love student uniforms. If you think I’m pulling this out of thin air, here’s the evidence. A Suan Dusit poll conducted just last week (14-17 September 2013) showed that 94.4% of 1,293 university students in greater Bangkok think student uniforms are “necessary” to maintain the order and their identity; 70.96% think they should wear the uniform everyday they attend classes.
If that doesn’t convince you of Thai university students’ love of uniforms, I don’t know what would. A poll asking soldiers about their uniforms would be hard pressed to produce such an impressive percentage. In a general election, 94.4% would be the mother of a landslide that even the late Saddam Hussein would envy. And given it’s the students who wear the uniforms, there isn’t really any need for more reasons beyond No. 1. There is no doubt that the 94.4% of 1,293 university students in greater Bangkok speak for all university students in Thailand. But for the benefit of skeptics, I’ll go through Reasons No. 2 – No.10 just to show the abundance of compelling reasons. Beat the dead horse, I will.
2. Uniforms promote social equality among students. I’m sure most Thai university students never think about different social classes among their peers. Inequality never crosses your mind even if one of your classmates drives a BMW to campus or is dropped off by the family chauffer in a Benz S-class series, and you take a non-aircon bus. It doesn’t matter that your girlfriend wears Prada and a Gucci watch and you are adorned with a Jansport backpack. We are truly equal in our uniforms. And when you see students from other supposedly lesser universities, you never look down on them for not having enough brains to get into your university. You cannot help feeling the camaraderie from sharing the status that comes with the uniforms.
3. Uniforms teach students about discipline, duty, tradition, respect and honor. That may sound like a lot to expect from simple white and black outfits, but you’d be surprised by the depth and breadth of their meaning. Learning to dress the same teaches discipline (think a complex version of getting in line). A sense of duty is inculcated in appreciating that although on some days you may not feel like wearing the same outfit as others, it’s your duty to do so (like putting on a work outfit and shoes instead of just sweatpants and flip-flops to go to work). Tradition is handed down by people born before you, and if wearing student uniforms didn’t kill them, it probably won’t kill you.
Honor is a high form of respect and universities are institutions of higher education. Notice the word “higher” before education? Wearing a uniform is a way for students to show higher respect for their higher institution (like how people used to dress up to get on the plane—to show respect to the lofty vehicle—pity people don’t show that kind of respect any more). Also, not everyone gets to go to university and wear the student uniform, so show some pride! (OK, add pride to the list. Come to think of it, modesty and courtesy, too.)
4. Not wearing uniforms doesn’t make Thai students any smarter. Truer words have never been spoken. We can count with one hand and are still left with four fingers Thai universities that have made the list of the top 400 universities in the world. Thai university ranking won’t skyrocket or nose dive just because Thai students are no longer wearing the uniforms. Uniforms have nothing to do with learning, so why not wear them at least for Reasons 1-3? Too bad there is no ranking of the world’s top university uniforms, or Thailand would… Oh wait!
We’ve heard so much fuss about the rules on Thai university student uniforms. To wear or not to wear (the uniform). Too outrageous or right on (Aum Neko’s campaign against mandatory student uniform rule). Really, I’ve gotten quite sick of hearing about this trivial issue, so I want to settle it once and for all. I’m even doing something uncharacteristic of me and being brief—sort of. Here are my Top 10 Reasons Why Thai University Students Should Wear Uniforms.
1. Almost all Thai university students love student uniforms. If you think I’m pulling this out of thin air, here’s the evidence. A Suan Dusit poll conducted just last week (14-17 September 2013) showed that 94.4% of 1,293 university students in greater Bangkok think student uniforms are “necessary” to maintain the order and their identity; 70.96% think they should wear the uniform everyday they attend classes.
If that doesn’t convince you of Thai university students’ love of uniforms, I don’t know what would. A poll asking soldiers about their uniforms would be hard pressed to produce such an impressive percentage. In a general election, 94.4% would be the mother of a landslide that even the late Saddam Hussein would envy. And given it’s the students who wear the uniforms, there isn’t really any need for more reasons beyond No. 1. There is no doubt that the 94.4% of 1,293 university students in greater Bangkok speak for all university students in Thailand. But for the benefit of skeptics, I’ll go through Reasons No. 2 – No.10 just to show the abundance of compelling reasons. Beat the dead horse, I will.
2. Uniforms promote social equality among students. I’m sure most Thai university students never think about different social classes among their peers. Inequality never crosses your mind even if one of your classmates drives a BMW to campus or is dropped off by the family chauffer in a Benz S-class series, and you take a non-aircon bus. It doesn’t matter that your girlfriend wears Prada and a Gucci watch and you are adorned with a Jansport backpack. We are truly equal in our uniforms. And when you see students from other supposedly lesser universities, you never look down on them for not having enough brains to get into your university. You cannot help feeling the camaraderie from sharing the status that comes with the uniforms.
3. Uniforms teach students about discipline, duty, tradition, respect and honor. That may sound like a lot to expect from simple white and black outfits, but you’d be surprised by the depth and breadth of their meaning. Learning to dress the same teaches discipline (think a complex version of getting in line). A sense of duty is inculcated in appreciating that although on some days you may not feel like wearing the same outfit as others, it’s your duty to do so (like putting on a work outfit and shoes instead of just sweatpants and flip-flops to go to work). Tradition is handed down by people born before you, and if wearing student uniforms didn’t kill them, it probably won’t kill you.
Honor is a high form of respect and universities are institutions of higher education. Notice the word “higher” before education? Wearing a uniform is a way for students to show higher respect for their higher institution (like how people used to dress up to get on the plane—to show respect to the lofty vehicle—pity people don’t show that kind of respect any more). Also, not everyone gets to go to university and wear the student uniform, so show some pride! (OK, add pride to the list. Come to think of it, modesty and courtesy, too.)
4. Not wearing uniforms doesn’t make Thai students any smarter. Truer words have never been spoken. We can count with one hand and are still left with four fingers Thai universities that have made the list of the top 400 universities in the world. Thai university ranking won’t skyrocket or nose dive just because Thai students are no longer wearing the uniforms. Uniforms have nothing to do with learning, so why not wear them at least for Reasons 1-3? Too bad there is no ranking of the world’s top university uniforms, or Thailand would… Oh wait!
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