A short time ago we had a large group of children in the Cathedral for an education day.
The Dean welcomed them all wearing full fig of long black cassock and brightly coloured cummerbund
and they all enjoyed his sense of humour as he welcomed them to the Cathedral, the Archdeacon, similarly attired wandered around having just done a daily Service. Then one of the Canons came to tell the children what was going to happen
during their day with us but he was dressed in a plain grey suit. After the meeting and greetings we split the children into groups and off we all went to different areas to take part in the activities and to enjoy ourselves.
I was just getting to know my group when a very worried little blonde girl put up her hand and said
'Miss, I really don't think that man was Canon Robert'
I assured her I knew Robert and that was definitley him and asked why she should think he wasn't who he said he was and she said 'Well he wasn't wearing a uniform so he could be anybody couldn't he?'
This seemed to amuse all the other children and I knew I would have to rescue her so I told her she was a very good girl and never to be ashamed or embarrassed to ask people to prove who they are as we have all been told to. She was happy with that and looked at the other kids with a look of distain but it got me thinking - do we trust people in uniform more than those who do not wear it and should we? I thought of a friend who went into a psychiatric hospital and the state his confused and worried mind was confounded by the fact that none of the nursing staff wore uniform and really could only be recognised by the size of the bunch of keys they carried around. He came home in the same state as he was before being admitted and I am sure that the simple fact that he did not know who to turn to for help led to his delayed recovery.
All the children in the UK wear a uniform of sorts and I am so glad because my grandaughter who lives with me would NEVER get to the school bus if she had to select an outfit for the day, every day.
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