Some kid gets suspended for 'skinny jeans' in Texas (duh). Apparently, they were too 'distracting' (cause hipsters are rebels, duh). But seriously, I was reading Althusser earlier today and he writes about the role of Ideological State Apparatuses, which are basically the ways in which the dominant powers maintain power. The ruling class is able to sustain itself through economic exploitation of the lower classes without using force via these ideological state apparatuses (ISAs). He specifically cites the educational-apparatus as the main ISA in the modern era. He argues that schools serve to prepare/condition people for their future participation in the system of production (which ensures the 'rule' of the ruling class) by normalizing behavior that sustains the system of production. This is readily apparent in this particular school's dress code, part of which reads:
The Standard Dress Policy is a vital step toward furthering excellence and better preparing our students for college, careers, and life as adults.
Oh Texas, you never cease to amaze (depress) me. In the video, the mother is all upset that the school is letting 'dress' get in the way of her son's 'education.' But, if you view the issue in terms of normalization, the adherence to a dress code is actually part of her son's 'education' itself. Another portion of the dress code states "Top and bottom (e.g. shirt and pants) may not be the same color." This doesn't even make sense in terms of the rest of the dress code. They state that the goal is to avoid 'distracting' appearance in order to facilitate an educational environment. Is it really distracting to have the same color top and bottom? This just seems like an exercise in submission.
Interpellated.
