I think the word you're looking for is "conformity" not complacency, and you're wrong. If the parents took initiative enough to make their kid dress half decent, you'd have none of this.
I had to wear uniforms in school and it didn't affect me in a negative way. At the very least I can look back at my school photos and not think I looked like a friggin idiot because I was following the latest fads.
You think schools are babysitting, and you're fine with that, but making the kid dress nice is an outrage? I would say home-school your kid, but nevermind