Ultimately I think it depends on how much one values free self-expression v. hiding distinctions in socioeconomic status background (henceforth SES background) to prevent stereotype threat. I think the latter has value for kids in facilitating a growing sense of self not connected to class background and with less stress from managing stereotypes. On the other hand, the latter also restricts everybody’s ability to express themselves.
Considering though that either way, students of lower SES background have less means of and opportunities for self-expression through commodities, it may instead be better to find a compromise. The lesser ability to self express from students with lower SES background shouldn’t be corrected for by restricting self-expression for others, but this lesser ability should be compensated for by the school. The school could specify a minimal set of dress code standards, and enforce a requirement that clothing for school for each student be bought with the fairly distributed funds that have been allocated to each student by that school.
Btw, I both have attended schools that have a dress code that is followed by provision of uniforms, and schools that have no or minimal dress code and do not use uniforms, so I am intimately aware of both advantages and disadvantages of either kind of school for students.
Ultimately I think it depends on how much one values free self-expression v. hiding distinctions in socioeconomic status background (henceforth SES background) to prevent stereotype threat. I think the latter has value for kids in facilitating a growing sense of self not connected to class background and with less stress from managing stereotypes. On the other hand, the latter also restricts everybody’s ability to express themselves.
Considering though that either way, students of lower SES background have less means of and opportunities for self-expression through commodities, it may instead be better to find a compromise. The lesser ability to self express from students with lower SES background shouldn’t be corrected for by restricting self-expression for others, but this lesser ability should be compensated for by the school. The school could specify a minimal set of dress code standards, and enforce a requirement that clothing for school for each student be bought with the fairly distributed funds that have been allocated to each student by that school.
Btw, I both have attended schools that have a dress code that is followed by provision of uniforms, and schools that have no or minimal dress code and do not use uniforms, so I am intimately aware of both advantages and disadvantages of either kind of school for students.