Why Are Schools Doing This?

[renegadefm]

Just had my partners daughter ring her in tears because her daughter, partners granddaughter was susspended from wearing the wrong type of trousers. This I should add is secondary school. 

This is just messing with the child's mental health. Besides the trousers she had on we're trousers of the right colour, and not leggings as the school was suggesting they are. 

 

This isn't the first time I have heard of issues like this at secondary schools around here. One particular indecent was where the child was given detention for wearing the wrong brand of trainers, apparently it should have been shoes. 

 

It beggers believe why are schools doing this to our children. No wonder they are growing up bitter and twisted or are suffering mental health issues. 

 

Surely they are there to learn and get an education, it shouldn't matter what they wear. 

 

 

[New Judge]

If I transgressed my school’s uniform policy I was told about and told to get it put right. It was my parents’ responsibility to ensure I had the right kit and mine to make sure I wore it. My school had neither the time nor the inclination to mess about contacting my parents. The responsibility to comply was mine.

“It beggers believe why are schools doing this to our children.”

There are many and various reasons for school uniform rules – most of them explained on here. That’s why the school is doing it.

“No wonder they are growing up bitter and twisted or are suffering mental health issues.”

They are bitter and twisted because they have been led to believe, often by their parents, that they can always have their own way. Any so-called “mental health issues” that follow arise from the disappointment they suffer when it finally sinks in that they cannot.

The earlier they learn that lesson, the less likely they are to suffer either of those conditions. I never laboured under that misapprehension myself and so I suffered no "mental health problems" from occasionally being disciplined for non-compliance. It was called "growing up".
 

[dave50]

Play the mental health card as usual. 

[douglas9401]

I suppose if the schools are churning out streams of Einsteins and Curies then fair enough but if uniform is their peak achievement then things may need reassessing.

[renegadefm]

New Judge, 

 

I think you haven't read all my posts. 

I did explain that the trousers were bought from a back to school range that ASDA was selling during the summer holidays. 

So they were bought quite innocently, and faithfully for her daughter. 

But it seems the trousers don't fit in with their standards. They are saying the trousers should have been bought from a certain shop that designs clothes for schools, but their prices are more than double the price of the ASDA trousers. 

When your a parent on a tight budget, this can in some cases mean a big deal, especially if you got more than one child. 

 

And it causes unnecessary misery when its not the childs fault, so the school is obviously going the wrong way about addressing this in my opinion. To suspend a child from school for wearing what they deem unsuitable trousers, when in reality they are just black trousers seems ridiculous. 

Since when did schools dictate to parents where they purchase their clothes from? It wasn't like this when I went to school in the early to mid 80's.

 

While I do understand the need abide by a certain uniform, it seems outrageous to me to be picky on where a pair of trousers are bought from. 

There are probably far bigger things for parents to worry about than that, like making sure the child gets to school safely, and return home safely. 

The more I think about this it just seems so ridiculous its unreal. 

[naomi24]

The woman was aware of the requirements when the child joined the school.  The rules apply to everyone - even her and her child.

[puzzled54]

I was at school in the 60's and our uniform had to come from a particular shop. Shoes had to be regulation too. 

[naomi24]

The uniforms for senior schools here have to be bought from a specific source.  It's not unusual.  I think this lady just doesn't want to obey the rules - and she's not doing her child any favours.

[renegadefm]

naomi24, 

Its the childs first term at this school, she only just finished primary school, so the parent in this case wasn't aware of the rules around trousers. 

 

Ok then put it this way, why then are ASDA and other shops sell back to school clothes if they only bring misery when the school rejects them? 

[renegadefm]

naomi24, 

Plus as a parent, its not about dodging rules, its the cost. 

If you can buy trousers for a fraction of the cost the schools are suggesting we buy them from, surely if times are hard you going to purchase the cheaper ones. 

[DDIL]

The parent would have received a list of THIS school's requirements.

Asda sells clothes that might meet OTHER schools requirements.

[DDIL]

Did the parent approach the school and tell the school of the financial predicament she found herself in?

There may have been a grant or a solution available.

[naomi24]

I don't believe the mother wasn't aware of the rules.  I'm guessing the child has the right jumper and perhaps the regulation school tie?  The mother must have been given information about uniform requirements.

 

Your Asda argument is ridiculous.  Get the child the trousers she needs.  Treat her.  End of misery.

[bednobs]

whats their policy on skirts? i ask because at our school, if u want a skirt, it hs to be the specific skirt but trousers just hae to black.  i wonder if its the same but in reverse at the school in question?  do you read your answers?  the school will have a second hand shop

[Boto]

It would be interesting to hear the school's side.  Had they phoned, sent a letter?  After all it's not the beginning of term now and presumably the girl had been wearing the same trousers from the start.

Mental health  - the fashionable excuse for everything.

[Hymie]

I’ve explained why schools insist that their uniform is purchased from a particular shop – they are receiving a kickback for this arrangement.

 

If I was involved in such a scheme with my employer, I would be dismissed immediately for gross misconduct.