Public education and equality

Once again in the name of making sure no one feels left out, the public education system in this country has shown how far they will go to make themselves look stupid. In Newton, Massachusetts, school officials have sent a letter to middle school parents asking them to not let their children wear "celebratory clothing" to school. Celebratory clothing is clothing worn over the weekend at a get together where some students were not invited.

After all, as stated in the letter, "As educators we are concerned about the unintentional messages that are conveyed when groups of students wear the same celebratory clothing from weekend events. In order to reinforce practices that promote inclusion and community, we respectfully ask that.." The letter then goes on to list what students should not do.

Couldn't it be argued that this policy in fact is now sending its own "unintentional messages" to the students? For example it doesn't pay to achieve excellence because the school will not single anyone out because they don't want to make the less talented students feel neglected. It may also send a message that if one student doesn't like something, for whatever reason, it is okay to complain to school officials and they will change the rules specifically for one student.

Slowly we are becoming more and more of a nanny-state, everybody gets a cupcake society in this country. We constantly try to make everyone the same and when one person or group feels left out, we change the rules for the minority. This is not promoting equality, if anything it does the opposite as the people who insist on being treated equally are now be treated special to be made to fit in.

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