Hard on the heels of the announcement of the apology (see below), another momentous occasion.
It is being announced to philosophy groups in the School this week that the dress code that has been in existence since the early 1970s will now be abandoned. Dress will now be an "internal discipline".
A small point perhaps, but like the apology symbolic of so much else. Just as the long dresses defined a certain kind of School, characterised by obedience, the freedom to dress as we see fit will allow a different kind of School to come into being. Obedience will become not the main feature but the springboard.
There may be some who will see this liberalisation as the beginning of the end, but this is a mistake. If exterior discipline does not lead to interior discipline, it was of little value anyway. It's up to the School members to validate the new policy.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Wonderful, and again wonderful
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11 comments:
Any mention about what we call each other? Is it going to be 'Donald' soon?
As to 'internal discipline' and a dress code - sounds like the corsets have been well and truly loosened. This is highly significant - much more so than at first appears.
I think the question is worth gently escalating up the chain of command, eg to the author of the announcement.
Another thing that has gone now is men/women sitting apart in mixed meetings. Even so, 95% of my 'youthful' companions continued to sit segregated in every meeting - afraid, they said, of being told to move back. It's going to take a while.
On our week it was definitely understood that the phrase "internal discipline" meant that it was up to the individual's discrimination, not that it was going to be a secret discipline only for people in Senior School.
Hemlines went up (presumably some people were forewarned), in the same way as we have already started to see male tutors not wearing ties.
Old habits and practices die hard. So do attachments.
I asked my tutor about Rebecca's experience. He said that he could not describe the idea of banning a particular item of clothing as 'inner discipline'.
So it would seem that there is a conversation to be had about what the new situation might be.
What is the purpose of this announcement on dress? Did Mr Lambie spell it out?
I wouldn't want to quibble - but we are interested in language here. Obedience is rarely regarded as a 'springboard'. It's an interesting question what it is?
I suppose one could see obedience as a foundation, or as a springboard. The point I am trying to make is that it is not the be-all and end-all, but a starting point.
Long skirts have certainly been linked with obedience for the ladies - not just to the rule of long skirts but also to manner and conduct.
If dress is now a matter of 'inner discipline' where does that leave obedience?
Again - although I do not have the piece of paper with Mr Lambie's announcement of dress to refer to - I recall that no reason was given as to why the rule had changed. Can anyone help here?
It's hard to speculate, but if the outer discipline of "wear a long dress" means 'subservience', then the inner discipline of (shall we say) "dress appropriately and with wisdom" might mean 'service to others'.
That's how I would like to see it, at least.
I was told that dress code for women as because they have the power to influence those around them - i.e. it is inconceivable that men might have the power to resist a pretty ankle but women will be unmoved by a cute bum and nice legs set off by well fitting shorts...
On a more serious note, anyone who's ever had to dig a hole in the rain while wearing a long dress will be fully aware of how much extra effort it takes to do the job compared to when you're appropriately dressed. Personally I believe women should dress appropriately for the situation and that means trousers most of the time. They preserve your decency when you're up a ladder, allow you to use tools correctly, and cause less accidents because they don't get caught on your heels when you're walking down the stairs. So wearing trousers is doing a service for others because you will work more effectively and take less time off!
Free the stride
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