this came up, the subway sandwich vendor in an actual school canteen, my two conversationalists decrying such a move as creating a situation of class distinctions. it's makes the poorer kids feel bad that they are unable to as freely spend the pocket money they don't have on what is more of a luxury item than the rest of the tuckshop fare or be left out of the social cliques that comfortably make no distinction between subway and fishball noodles. school, at least, should construct an environment which minimises this scenario as much as possible, since already they suffer the comparisons of pencil cases, bags, shoes and other such objects of status.
it surprised them that i suggested that the poorer kid might feel insulted by the impetus to 'protect' him from this big bad unfair world or to think him unable to afford such just because he cannot maintain the lifestyle, that the aspirational nature of the choice as a pleasure to be indulged in occasionally or discretionally is meaningful for such a child, or that he'd want to feel a sense of belonging to social circles which are already exclusive without preemptive ostracism.
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I think you if anyone else likes a puzzle enough to figure it out
I take it you are talking about the "higher" levels of the school system here?
From personal experience I must say that one needs to have a level of maturity to have the "no protection"view you have expressed-I was one at a school where Rolls Royces and BMWs were ever present in the carpark - but in the canteen we ate the same $1.20 char siew rice.
I was glad for it.
I do think that have/have-not division is on the rise.
We need some respite.
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