I try to avoid driving when schools close for the day. Schoolkids are generally energised and impatient so their road sense slips. I saw one young fella riding his bike across a major intersection absorbed in his cellphone, maybe chasing Pokemons.
He was wearing a uniform of khaki shorts and shirt and grey woollen stockings – this is sub-tropical Australia after all!
Here’s the stinger – he was wearing a tie!
Mind 
you, he was lucky – other schools require their pupils to wear grey flannel trousers, blazers and wide brim felt hats too. The girls wear below knee skirts and ties as well. Can you believe it?
Tying decorated strips of cloth around one’s neck is folly and a clear symbol of submission to the yoke of ridiculous convention.
I can understand uniform and tradition as part of the pomp and rituals on special occasions. But not as an everyday practice.
Why oh why are our children obliged to wear ties? They are such stupid, obsolete items of clothing! They are awkward, impractical, functionless, uncomfortable and unnecessary decorations.
I suppose I am farting against thunder; getting Education authorities to embrace reality and the future is not going to happen: their emphasis is on standards, measurement, uniformity and compliance.
Surely school is about enlightenment, creativity and freeing 
developing minds of our youth! What other impractical conventions are adhered to on such a mass scale?
sillysocksonfriday 