A public elementary school in Japan is facing criticism over its plan to adopt uniforms designed by Italian luxury label Giorgio Armani.

According to local media reports, the school in Tokyo wants to introduce uniforms that cost more than 80,000 yen (US$730) for a full set. A minimum set — a navy blue jacket and matching trousers or skirt, a long-sleeve shirt and a hat — would be more than twice the price of the current uniforms.

The Armani uniform, to be launched in April, is recommended but not compulsory. Although school uniforms are not strictly compulsory in public schools in Japan, most students choose to wear them.

School uniforms are already more expensive than the average business suits. They tend to be expensive because they come with special school emblems, buttons and other designs.

The school is located in the upscale Ginza district.

The Taimei Elementary School sent a letter to parents last November in which the principal explained that the school was changing its uniform to better reflect its status as a “landmark” in Ginza, according to the Huffington Post Japan.

The move triggered five cases of complaints from parents.

“I was surprised and wondered why such luxury uniforms have been picked for a public elementary school,” an unnamed mother told the Huffington Post.

Online, people were equally critical of the news.

“I heard that school uniforms were originally invented so kids from different income families wouldn’t face discrimination,” one person pointed out on Twitter.

“Children are not aware of famous brands. Are you saying a child wearing Armani will be better developed than a child who doesn’t wear it?” another user asked.

At a meeting of the House of Representatives’ Budget Committee earlier this month, the issue was brought up by a lawmaker who said the school had to consider the cost to parents.

Even Finance Minister Taro Aso, a descendant of a former aristocrat known for his dandy fashion, called the costs “pricey.”

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【强制的】qiángzhì de compulsory obligatory, required

【歧视】qíshì discrimination unfair treatment of a person, racial group, minority, etc.

日本一所公立小学因打算采用意大利奢侈品牌乔治•阿玛尼设计的校服而饱受指责。

据当地媒体报道，这所位于东京的学校希望采用全套售价超过8万日元（约730美元）的校服。

最简单的套装，包括深蓝色外套配裤或者裙、长袖衬衣和帽子，价格也比现在的校服的两倍还贵。

阿玛尼校服将于4月推出，学校推荐购买但并不强求。虽然日本公立学校在校服问题上并没有严格强制规定，但大多数学生还是选择穿校服。

校服比普通的西服套装还贵，因为有学校的徽章、特别的纽扣和其它设计元素。

这所学校位于高端商区银座。据《赫芬顿邮报》日本版报道，去年11月，泰明小学给学生家长们寄了一封信，校长在信中解释称，为了更好地体现学校作为银座“地标”的地位，校方准备更换校服。

此举遭到来自家长的5起投诉。

一位不愿透露姓名的母亲告诉《赫芬顿邮报》：“我很诧异，也很好奇，为什么一所公立小学要挑选如此奢侈的校服。”

网友同样不赞同这则新闻中的做法。

一位网友在推特上写道：“我听说，最初发明校服，就是为了让来自不同收入的家庭的孩子免受歧视。”

另一位网友称：“孩子们不认识名牌。你是说一个穿阿玛尼的孩子比不穿它的孩子会发展的更好吗？”

本月早些时候，一名议员在日本众院预算委员会会议上提到了这个问题，他表示，学校必须考虑家长要承担的费用。

甚至有位祖先是著名的贵族花花公子的财政部长麻生太郎都认为该校服“很贵”。

(Chinadaily.com.cn)