Dude, grade school is a freaky ass place where just as you're trying to figure out who you are, seperate from your family and parents, you're being alternately slammed and praised for your precociousness, which pretty much goes hand in hand with the whole "CONFORM, but be well above average!" thing- all very confusing. And I went to a pretty progressive school.

I appreciate manners, and I think they're a lovely way to set boundaries and be respectful of people you don't know. If manners ruled the world, I think, it would be a much nicer place. But I also think respecting someone is just something you do, not something you can make people do.

Did the legislation happen because they felt teachers were being too casual? Because that makes a little sense. (STILL messed up, mind you)

I think that, around that same time, there was a statewide school dress code imposed. I don't know the boys rules, but for girls, it was no tank tops, no midriff tops, and shorts can fall no more than 4 inches above the knee. I think it was mostly an effort to make the schools look superficially better ("See! Our kids are polite and not slutty!") without really doing anything to actually address why the schools were doing so badly.

No. They just thought kids were all little hoodlums who could stand to have a little respect for authority shoved down their throats. Because, disrespect of educators and the educational system in general has nothing to do with people underfunding public education and bashing it all to shit, or dismissing anything intellectual as "worldly" "out of touch" or something to be mocked. It's all the bratty children's fault.

I don't know the boys rules, but for girls, it was no tank tops, no midriff tops, and shorts can fall no more than 4 inches above the knee.

I'd love the boys rules to be simply, "Put it away!"

Sounds like the school uniform movement here.

"Let's find a band-aid! Screw funding or listening to what the actualy educators might think the problems might be!"

It was annoying as hell. Personally I thought uniforms were a good idea, but they're not the be all and end all of good education for pete's sake.

It was annoying as hell. Personally I thought uniforms were a good idea, but they're not the be all and end all of good education for pete's sake.

My dad's school uniform included a straw boater.

This post brought to you by the "My cat's breath smells like cat food!" school of conversation.

My dad's school uniform included a straw boater.

And HE didn't end up gay!

And HE didn't end up gay!

He didn't! He played in the First XV, even.

He played in the First XV, even.

I have no idea what that is!