Tatsiana Seviarynets: School Uniform Introduced To Replenish Someone's Wallet

The best thing we can do - just ignore the absurd orders of the authorities.

Tatsiana Seviarynets, a former teacher with many years' experience and a Vitsebsk coordinator of the organizing committee for the Belarusian Christian Democracyparty, said this to Charter97.org commenting on the news that the schools obliged parents to purchase a compulsory school uniform for the new school year:

– I grew up at a time of a compulsory school uniform. If there was no uniform, then we wore skirts and shirts or a dress. I think there should be some dress code at schools, but it should not be obligatory at a time when parents have no money to feed their children. Today, judging by all indicators, the authorities and the people are each on its own. The regime has invented something and the Belarusians must obey. I would respond to this pressure in one way: I would tell off these orders and those who come up with them. No one will ask you out of the school.

I stress it once again – there should be a dress code in schools, but parents should decide on their own what they can afford. That's it.

All other changes, for example, starting lessons from 9 am, are not some necessary "reforms", but farfetched, invented just to do something and "show off" for the authorities. This is all nonsense, which messes up poor schools, put pressure on parents and once again makes people laugh bitterly over the authorities, which itself provokes in every way to be laughed at. It is obvious that people do not take seriously all these recent orders and "reforms."

– If there is an opportunity to sabotage the ridiculous directives, why is the government so persistent imposing the school uniform?

– You know what, I would not be surprised if it becomes known that a person very close to the power heads this sphere and has sewn uniforms of unknown quality. Previously it was said that they would show the uniform and we will have an opportunity to choose. I do not know whether there is now such an opportunity for parents to choose the form that they like.

One thing is clear: the introduction of the uniform will replenish the wallet of someone from power. This is the same thing as tiling of city pavements, then the tile will not be good for anything after a year or two of usage - money laundering, robbery of the population and another coercion. I treat all this very negatively. Everything that is imposed under pressure causes only bitter laughter.