Children bullied by their schoolmates for wearing 'wrong brand'

And so it's always been, sad to say. When I was in high school, there was a group that was big on the "right" clothes and right brand. I remember being in the girls' room one day at a sink, when one of them came over, then reached for the back of my blouse to flip it over to see the brand tag. Really.

School uniforms are not a bad idea. When you see families struggling, and kids "must" have $150 tennis shoes (that they'll outgrow), something's wrong. Peer pressure is always there, but our advertising culture has made it worse--and for adults, too. How many people are buying things to be "like" the people in ads, who portray that superficial young, beautiful, hip, insiders look? 

And then we can't pay for them, and debt goes up, and the cycle continues. Then the products get tossed aside to race after the newest "in" thing.

It's a sickness, an actual sickness.

And home schooling is looked down on.  Kids don't need that pressure.

I think it is a shame that Brands have become the yardstick of who we are, and kids are the more susceptible through the media and pressure from peers. I thinks that this a great story that affects a lot of kids...

B-Side313 has contributed a photo to this story.

I think it's a shame that kids would do this because of what you wear.

always the same.

you blame brands for bad behaviour. you blame soft drinks for obesity. and a few decades ago, doctors recommended smoking to relax.

i think it is the attitudes of the kids, and no matter what uniform, or brands, they will imitate it (even if it is counter revolutionary). dad smoked pot, and son will maybe smoke too. no, that's not fair, i know...

back in school, i was harrassed by older pupils, and no brands involved at all. the teachers did not help me, and said "you must have provoked it". man i tell you, i hate school.

you have wrong attitudes if you think, brands clothing and nike shoes are banned, everyone will become friends. if you like this, you can go for socialism- they have school uniforms sponsored by the state- they are all completely identical.

what you do with individual school uniforms (there will be slight variations, different foods, writing gear, additional textbooks) is halfways wannabe socialism.

japanese kids who use mobile phone for threatening SMS do not rely on brands clothing at all, you shouls rather think about the wide spread rock music, and the according attitudes.

brands clothing=bullying

soft drinks=obesity

human rights=socialism

school uniform=friendly kids

volunter work, low-end laptops=saving Africa

This record was produced exclusively for NIKE CLERKS, los angeles. series one, volume two, summer 2005. limited pressing of 150. picture disc shaped in the form of a 10" with a Limited Nike Blazer (designed by Pollyn member Adam Weissman) pushing out from the sides. The disc contains entirely new material produced by Adam (under the alias Sample208) The discs were given away with the purchase of the shoe at the Stussy store in Los Angeles. I own the record shown on the picture.

manolo23 has contributed a photo to this story.

these are one of my favourite Nike Dunks which i love to pieces and i understand this article and completely agree with it, because i now realize that i've been one of those people who bullied my classmates for wearing shoes that i don't consider cool or are just cheap. i judge people by the shoes they wear. i believe it's bad, but i can't change my opinion on that.

child abuse has contributed a photo to this story.

These are the photos from an exhibition of custom sneakers "Faces & Laces". Moscow, Russia.

Ariil has contributed a photo to this story.

These are my own shoes ..a Nike Air Force , and a KB24 zoom.

Espi05 has contributed a photo to this story.

Why aren't people pulling their children from these prison school systems?

It's not like their isn't anything else available....

http://www.sudval.org

http://www.johntaylorgatto.com

http://www.nationofwimps.com

"Today's education systems are based on preparing children for a world that no longer exists"

"Education fills the needs of parents, not of children"

Photo taken in the old Jewish 'Ghetto' of Rome, Italy

Mulia has contributed a photo to this story.

The pressure on young kids and teenagers is growing more and more every year, especially in my country (Italy) where fashion plays such an important and social role.

i love soccer and nike,
i didn't know about this article or situation, thank you for the heads up. kids these days shouldn't be pressured by it.

Den_84 has contributed a photo to this story.

This is what a brand new pair of Structure Triax 11's looks like after a 50K race in Texas. A bit dirty, but still the best shoe I have ever worn.

chas607 has contributed a photo to this story.

Kids are going to be kids but I can see this continuing b/c of the constant flow of media around us. I've always loved cool kicks. I think I pointed them out to my parents when I was young or else I would have been wearing Kangaroos. And yes, you get mocked at some point if you're wearing kangaroos. It's unfortunate but true.

37phoenix has contributed a photo to this story.

When I was in Grade 7, which was in 1998...Brands were VERY influential. You weren't popular, cool, and nobody liked you if you didn't wear Nike clothes. It was definitely a status symbol.

At the time I wanted to fit in, what child doesn't? I would go home crying because the other kids in my class would make fun of me and say that I was "too poor" to even own Nike clothes.

So my Dad took me shopping, to prove a point. The next day I came to school wearing everything Nike. My shirt, my hat, my tear-aways (remember those?!), my shoes, even my socks. And still, the kids made fun of me. I'm ashamed now for falling victim to that mind set, and it was something I eventually outgrew.

I hope that when my daughter is older, those kinds of fads aren't still happening. With the whole "emo" thing, it seems like its almost cool to be different. And I hope that she can express her personality and individuality without being tortured.

.....nvrm

Dan-1991-2008 has contributed a photo to this story.

as a pinoy, gotta have these..

ballacist has contributed a photo to this story.