In my country... beauty pageants are very popular... and it seems like people cannot get enough of them... there pageants in every town with different categories... and even schools joined in the trend...
Do you think it is appropriate for schools to spend quality time organizing, hosting, and encouraging students to join beauty pageants?... How can this help in the development and education of students when only a few can join and the rest are just a part of the audience...
Have you ever experience this before in your own school?...
[question posted by aseretdd]
responses and comments:
No I've ever expereinced this in my own school or that of my younger brothers and sister's. I think this is horrible. School is where kids go to learn and the only thing they'll learn from beauty pageants in school is how to feel depressed about the way they look. because face it, no one looks like those little doll-like kids all tousled and primped and preened and made up like plastic figurines. Where's the sense in this? This should be illegal. Beauty pageants should be illegal full stop. It's disgusting. I've seen documentaries on beauty pageants for kids and the kids are just so brainwashed by their stupid mothers and they clearly don't want to be there half the time with their mother pulling at their hair and shoving eyeliner in their eyes. Gees. [coffeeshot]
No problem with that... you are most welcome... [aseretdd]
In Australia, at least in my State, we dont conduct beauty pageants at all. I have never seen one. It would never, never occur in our schools. There is just no way our schools would allow such a worthless exercise from happening here. [jennybianca]
Good for your state... for me a national pageant is okay since that is the time to choose a country's representative for pageants like Miss Universe or Miss World... but to have one in school is so absurd... i would never let my child take part in such an activity... thanks for the response... [aseretdd]
Let's just say we have activities in our local schools which are equally inappropriate in my view. I don't think artificial standards of physical beauty should be promoted in schools. Hard work and skills should be promoted, not something like beauty, which is subjective. Doesn't strike me as a good way to build self-esteem...false pride, maybe. But that is my own view and probably runs contrary to what many here think. [drannhh]
Beauty is just skin deep... and to promote it in such a grand way with students wearing skimpy clothes and heavy make up is not a way to promote or build self confidence... there are other venues for that where all can participate in... i just don't understand why some people are so addicted to beauty pageants... [aseretdd]
we still have beauty pageant in school now but it's not the pageant we see on tv, i mean as grand as that. I'm studying in a Catholic school run by nuns. So skimpy dresses are not allowed, swimsuits never happened in so many years in my university hehehe.. so it's all long gowns, a little showing off skins and some brain. That's all the pageant in my school is. I consider beauty pageant as a extra curricular activity, just a fun time of students. [MGjhaud]
But the thing is... what have you as a student achieve so far from those beauty pageants?... other than the fun time... yes these bring us hype and something to talk about... but after that... what else?... i am not condoning your school for having this kind of activity... and i like the way they formatted it to suit the Catholic school needs... but then... learning for all should be the main consideration for every activity... thanks for the response... [aseretdd]
Hi, That is not much in our place in India, but we have another competition beautiful smile in some schools. I hope let the children be relaxed rather making them to these competition, may be a class or course on beauty consciousness and its benefits can be taken according to interest of children. This competition may hurt those innocents who are not at the level to compete, should we give a root for that. [SHAMRACK]
I think i like that Beautiful Smile contest... since everyone can join and there is no need to spend anything on a dress... just clean teeth and wide smile... thanks for sharing this... [aseretdd]
I do not agree with it at all. school should never indulge money, time, energy into beauty peagents. Its not taht much in our country but the trend is cathing up . i think its make the children to be more concious about their looks. they are less interested in studies. [subha12]
I don't see anything wrong with kids being consious about how they look... but if the purpose is to look better than others and to like compete with others... then that is definitely a wrong thing... one must look good to feel good and to be confident... i definitely won't let my child partake in such competitions in school... [aseretdd]
Well, I know I wouldn't approve. Everyone is influenced by things around them....and you don't want schools joining in the bandwagon. Schools should be schools. I'm not again beauty pageants...but not all parents approve of their kids being in one (at whatever age) and when a school does it, it is giving the message that they don't see anything wrong in it without respecting the sentiments of the parents. School is a place where kids are to be educated...academically and about values and culture. Unless beauty pageants are part of your culture, I wouldn't think schools are the right place to be encouraging students to take part. I don't know if this counts....but during the first two years of the inception of the school my son attends, they would have these money raising drives...which included cultural activities...like stage shows with famous fil personalities and the like. I (as well as most other parents) didn't really like the idea....especially when we saw the kids walking around in skimpy clothes to go with the mood. Thankfully, that has stopped. [SViswan]
I can't imagine to think what else that mother would let her daughter do... her reason is so unacceptable... i have a daughter and eventhough she is only 22 months old... i always buy her clothes that are suitable for her age... and discard the skimpy outfits given as gifts... to enhance one's beauty is good... but to flaunt it is another thing... [aseretdd]
Theres is an annual pageant held in our school before. And I dont want to join coz I dont fit into the pageant. So all I do is to cheer. [ayou82]
Hi mrslisae... i wish you put your comment as a response... but nevertheless... Kids can be very mean at times... and your expereince was quite heartbreaking... goodthing it you used it to become a stronger person... thanks for the response... [aseretdd]
While I'm not completely opposed to beauty pageants, as I have heard a number of positives mentioned by participants and their parents, it is so completely un-academic. I don't think the schools should be putting their recources into activities that don't actually promote learning. Schools are for education, not to provide every extracurricular activity a person might want to get involved in. My understanding of beauty pageants is that it is very expensive to compete in them. Between the dresses, makeup, lessons in performing ect. Obviously a lot of people can't afford to get involved in something that expensive, so I really think it ought to be kept outside of the school. [DelicateFlower]
I also don't oppose beauty pageants... and i love wathing them on tv... but having then in schools with students as the contestants is another thing... i agree with you... a pageant is a very expensive event... for the school and contestant alike... aside for that... i don't see any learning that all student will achieve... thanks for the response... [aseretdd]
I like talent showes in schools but I do not think beauty pagents have any place in out school systerms. Schools tend to cater to the pretty, and smart so what about the geeks and the nerds or someone who is not beautiful do for these things. [teapotmommommerced]
Talent shows are so different from a beauty pageant... and yes, the latter only cater to a few and leave the rest feeling ugly and unimportant... there are so many activities that a school can to that will utilize the talents and abilities of all students... so i say... do away with beauth pageants... thanks for the response... [aseretdd]
I don't think beauty contest should be given too much importance. There are other important things that we can show our talents. Beauty contest are only for the beautiful and not all women can join. Schools should go to more of the useful contest like quiz bee, debates, slogan contest or science projects. Wherein everyone can join and show their true talents. Beauty is useless if you don't have the brains with it. [p3halliwel2005]
You said it straight to the point..."Beauty is useless if you don't have the brains with it"... i like that... and yes i agree... instead of the school putting their energy and money on beauty pageants... why not concentrate more on activities... that will showcase the talents and abilities of all students... like the ones the you mentioned... it will certainly give the school a good reputation... thanks for the response... [aseretdd]