Wealth Shaming in Schools (It’s Gone Too Far) | SAFETY DOC PODCAST 85 [Podcast]

PODCAST-With the coldest months of winter fast approaching, a school in the U.K. has banned luxury coats in order to help “poverty proof” its educational environment. Per Guy Davies (ABC News, 11-19-2018), the head teacher at Woodchurch High School in Wirral, England, moved to ban coats made by expensive brands after consulting with both parents and pupils.

DIRECT LINK to MP3 of this Episode: https://tinyurl.com/SDP85-AUDIO

POVERTY SHAMING

This decision was made in hopes of preventing ‘poverty shaming’ and to reduce the stress on low-income families to spend beyond their means in order to keep up with higher earners.

BANNED COATS

Canada Goose, Montcler and Pyrenex coats were going to be banned after the Christmas break.

CANADA GOOSE – NOT WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK

Dr. Perrodin researched Canada Goose expecting to find a flashy clothing style that was geared to teens – but what he found was something much different…Canada Goose started in the 1950s as a small company focused on snowmobile suits and high-quality outdoors clothing – specializing in the use of down insulation. In the 1980s, inspired by one of the coldest places on earth, the Expedition Parka was developed to meet the unique needs of scientists at Antarctica’s McMurdo Station. It becomes standard issue and gains the nickname “Big Red.” In 2004, Canada Goose, which has long been the (un)official jacket of film crews everywhere it’s cold, made its on-screen debut in two key films: The Day After Tomorrow and National Treasure.

IS THIS WEALTH SHAMING?

Dr. Perrodin acknowledges that many coats displayed on the Canada Goose website sold for a thousand dollars. While this is expensive, he points out that this type of coat is also very specialized for bitter temperatures and also presents with a subtle, classy appearance. He believes it’s the type of coat that should last a decade or longer if properly maintained.

DR. PERRODIN’S PROBLEMS WITH THE BAN

1. Banning these brands is a sloppy, virtue-signaling attempt at dealing with poverty.
2. Although the article clearly cites reputable research indicating that poverty is increasing amongst youth in Britain, nothing is offered for a solution of the root cause for poverty – such as how to spark economic growth or increase efficiency in machines or services.
3. This type of luxury brand banning can spread unchecked and might jump into such unanticipated areas as orthodontics. In a few years will it be a common expectation that a child “affluent enough” to receive braces must only present with a closed-lip smile as to not shame peers with crooked teeth? This seems silly and dystopian, but is it really that far-fetched?
4. Will banning or “discouraging” be extended to parents? For example, if a parent picks their child up from school in a new BMW, will they be required to park a block away as to not “shame” the other adults and children using less-expensive means of transportation?
5. Is this a step towards eventual wealth re-distribution. For example, will schools with more resources be required to give some of their dollars to “poorer” schools and will adults have their savings accounts shaved by some socialism-focused Robinhood law?

INTELLIGENCE AND ABILITY SHAMING ON THE HORIZON?

Dr. Perrodin acknowledges that today it’s wealth shaming and cautions that perhaps tomorrow it will be intelligence shaming. You know what they say in Japan, “The nail that sticks out shall be hammered down.” He closes with the example of the expectations of the person that seated adjacent to the escape hatch on an airplane – will we one day live in a world of ‘hatch-shaming’?

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Link to article mentioned in this article:  https://abcnews.go.com/International/british-school-bans-pricey-canada-goose-coats-hopes/story?id=59290750 

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