No matter, when I see a teenager in the street, I can name the group he or she belongs to since most of the new movements have a look to them. Taking a look at their trousers, hairstyles or sometimes even their makeup tells me what music band they listen to and how they perceive the world. There is no reason to wonder about their ideas about the future; most of them are pessimists.When it comes to more conventional youth movements -- mostly the ideological ones -- they are able to think about a bright future and to dream about establishing such a future. But when it comes to expressing themselves in outfits, they are no less enthusiastic than their peers.
However, these youngsters are sort of in a struggle between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide since the school system in Turkey forces them to wear the uniforms of the “republic,” or to put it more correctly, a regime in which the civilian and military bureaucracies have many privileges and cast a shadow over democracy.
Turkey's education system asks teenagers and even younger students to live with a dual identity: Outside of school they have one life and outfit, but in school they are expected to be the same. They are simply asked to leave outside all their identities, ideas, beliefs and views -- or better yet, to not have any to begin with.
But this comes as no surprise. The state expects its citizens to utilize as little color as possible, just as is the case inside the classroom. So if the aim of education is to prepare the children for the future, it is better to teach them to live as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide from early on.
But Turkey is undergoing rapid social change; the process of democratization is speeding up even though the process itself includes some shortcomings. So in such an atmosphere it was very natural for the Ministry of Education to plan eliminating compulsory school uniforms for public primary and secondary schools.
Such a move is definitely very positive, though some other tricky ways of making children less independent and putting on uniforms over their minds and ideas still exist, including the pledge of allegiance, an oath every student has to reaffirm every morning for eight years and includes sentences such as, “I offer my existence to the Turkish nation as a gift.” Another way to put on a uniform over the minds of students is to give them textbooks filled with statements that are nationalist, sexist and intolerant of diversity, though there are efforts to get rid of them.
Amid of all these troubles, thinking about removing compulsory uniforms for students is still definitely a good idea -- at least this is what I though until I saw reports drawn up by a workshop set up by the Ministry of Education on the subject.
The reports suggested that compulsory school uniforms should be removed but that student dress should be restricted by codes because freedom might lead students to prefer clothes which reflect their religious beliefs, ethnic background or ideological preferences.
In addition to that, the reports underline that the “dress style is a project of the republic” and “creates and develops students' feelings of belonging.”
In short, despite efforts to make a change in all aspects of social and political life, despite pressure coming from people for it, we are not brave enough to give students the freedom to wear what they want. Just like a state that is scared of any diversity and color among its citizens, grownups are afraid of allowing diversity to be visible among the youngsters.
Regardless, this country's teenagers are able to find ways to underline their differences and ridicule the uniforms that have been imposed on their bodies and minds, as they have been imposed on the citizens of this country. So there is only one way for the state: Either it will let its students and citizens show their colors, or it will be something that is not respected.
