AIBU to think that parents should buy the correct uniform and stop moaning

[Loveluck7]

I am getting increasingly irritated by people on FB moaning that their child's human rights have been violated because they were put into isolation for having the wrong uniform.

I understand that some rules can seem ridiculous but unfortunately some bad parents who have let their child wear spray on trousers and tiny skirts, have necessitated schools stipulating the exact items they need to wear.

Isolation does seem a harsh punishment when it is the parent's fault but how else can schools enforce the rules when some parent's think rules do not apply to them? The child cannot attend class without trousers and parent's would be angry if the child was sent home.

You also often find that it is these parent's who also complain when a school is no good at discipline, yet will not follow the rules themselves.

[bonfireheart]

Spray on trousers?

[Knottyash5]

Isolation punishes the child. And how does it help with their education? It should be for something serious the child has done. Not wearing the right sort of shoes is hardly an isolation offence. Hitting another child might be. The school weakens its arsenal of sanctions when it uses inappropriately serious ones for minor infringements of the rules.

In any event, why should a child be punished for the parent's wrongdoing (if at all it is wrongdoing, they may have just made a mistake, or the school suddenly decides to enforce rules it never had before).

And workplaces have much more lenient dress codes these days, school uniforms are so outdated and old-fashioned. I am not against school uniform but I think rigid, often sexist, and expensive requirements are a nonsense.

[ReinettePompadour]

YANBU. I've said the very same thing today. One 6th form student was wearing ripped jeans and a white see through top with a black bra today . The dress code is 'smart business attire'.

The school have decided skirts should have the school badge on the bottom to keep the length longer than their arse cheeks. Dozens turned up wearing a skirt barely longer than my belt but of course its not the childs fault they prefer short skirts according to their parents.

[FallingOrbit]

I'd opt for the American way my self. Let them wear whatever they want. It's not like their learning capacity increases if they're wearing an uniform they probably hate and a tie chocking them half to death.

I realise the uniform makes them easier to identify etc etc but I still think it sucks. And they're usually gawdy, school the next town over has a uniform the colour of pond scum, seriously. It looks shit and all the kids there hate it from what I can gather.

[FittonTower]

I never had a uniform and it was awesome. No one got sent home for wearing the wrong shoes and if you were 6ft at 14 (like me) you weren't forced to wear badly fitting clothes.
But, if there is a uniform then it needs to be worn. I don't really see the problem with customising uniforms a bit tho - expressing individuality is an important part of growing up.

[DressedCrab]

Ban uniforms. Problem solved.

[feathermucker]

My issue is not the code per se, but that you are supposed to have a particular brand of trousers from the school supplier.

These trousers are £16 a pair which is a fair whack. He has the correct blazer and everything else adheres to the code, but I've gone with £5 Asda trousers that are pretty damn close colour wise.....hoping for the best.

The cost of buying specifically from the school supplier can be quite prohibitive.

[KinkyFruits]

I'm American and it's true most schools don't have uniforms, but they do have a dress code, which addresses things like skirt length, spaghetti straps, t-shirts with offensive sayings, etc. Administering the dress code is an issue at pretty much all high schools, and kids do get sent home or suspended for violations. I find it much easier to just have a uniform.

[KinkyFruits]

Really mean no offence by this, but aren't £5 trousers going to fall apart in a couple of months? £16 doesn't seem expensive for something the child will wear so frequently.

Is it a fact that the £16 trousers will wear better/longer? That's sometimes true but certainly not always. I buy the trousers fell M&S, where they are two for £11, so £5.50 each, and they last through two active boys. I would not take it well if I had to spend three times as much for no good reason.

[TheFlandersPigeonMurderer]

The thing is though, there are many instances in adult life where rules cannot be broken.
As a manager it's my responsibility to send staff home if they turn up in incorrect uniform. Part company image, but also part health and safety. The outrage I've experienced because I will not allow staff to work in ballet pumps or non uniform trousers is monumental

[Butterymuffin]

I don't like it when schools stipulate a specific (usually expensive) supplier, but as long as you can buy a supermarket version of the item then yes, pupils should wear the uniform they're asked to. They can express themselves after school and on weekends.

[sonlypuppyfat]

When I was at school it was grey skirt, white jumper and green cardi and design, easy. I object to being ripped off and being made to go to special shops. I think people who think it's important to follow rules to the letter are sheep

[Distractotron]

I don't understand why the skirta have the logo on the bottom Reinette - all the girls at my school rolled them up from the top! This was 20 years ago though, maybe girls shorten their skirts differently these days

[Butterymuffin]

Absolutely Flanders (love your name).

[Passmethecrisps]

I don't really understand why the tightness of the trousers is an issue.

I am a fan of a uniform as it keeps the focus on the lesson and for what it's worth there is an attempt at equity.

Schools refusing to educate because of an item of uniform is a step too far in my opinion. In Scotland this would not be allowed yet for the most part outa schools still have the majority of children in uniform and run without anarchy.

[Butterymuffin]

sonly sheeple, surely 🐑

[ASauvingnonADay]

The purpose of isolation (and as we say to the kids), is not a punishment, but you cannot be in circulation in incorrect uniform. Otherwise, it sends out the message that the rule of flexible and it cascades.

Some schools are more flexible, but these are schools/communities where meeting basic expectations are the norm. Sadly, for some schools this takes a bit more time than others.

I hate this part of my job but it does have value.

[Passmethecrisps]

I don't understand the logistics of sending children home for incorrect uniform. What if their parents aren't home? What if they have to catch a bus? I read somewhere that kids were being sent home and would not be allowed back without the correct trousers but the teacher had reassured the parent that this would not count against attendance records - how does that work? Surely that is exclusion by the back door. Or in some cases, allowing truancy.

[ASauvingnonADay]

As a bit of an example, trainers become such a fashion show. Who has the newest/nicest/brightest and most importantly what did they cost... you let the odd child weee them because they left theirs at their nan's or because they got wet in the rain yesterday or because they've outgrown them and didn't think to mention this to their parents until they physically don't fit in their feet anymore. Then other kids see them wearing trainers (and waving around their note) and the next day a few more are wearing trainers for more obscure reasons, showing them off at breaktime (and in lesson!). Others go home, wondering how they can wear theirs or how to convince (or bully) their parents into buying the same style as the cool kid wore in school that day. And then they all look scruffy. And it's a competition (which depends on money, which a lot of our kids don't have). It's much more effective to say here is our uniform policy. This is what happens if you break it - totally transparent. Be really tight and what is a good enough excuse (ie. genuine medical condition), and support those who genuinely struggle to replace (I have bought SO many pairs of schools shoes, out of my own money, in the last year).

[Idontevencareanymore]

I agree op.
I like uniform. Our school is pretty lax about it, we can have the logo stuff or the non logo(head teacher actually told us where's best to buy the non logo)
the only thing they're really hot on is branded trainers.
They can wear trainers ut prefer to nave no logos on them due to previous "one upmanship"

On a personal level I like uniform as it takes away the hell of choosing what to wear, will my friends like it.....

[gabsdot]

My kids don't wear uniforms and it's much better IMO. I often get them uniform type clothes from Aldi or Lidl and they wear them.
There is so much time and energy wasted policing school uniforms. It's ridiculous

[ASauvingnonADay]

@Passmethecrisps I can't understand how any school could say don't return until you have the right inform (hence using isolation).
We might phone parents and ask if X can run home and change their shoes/trousers/whatever if parent can't come in and is happy for child to do so. They'd still get an AM/PM mark assuming they came back in.