AIBU to think schools should not allow students to wear black trainers all day, every day?

Has Oona visited us from the 1940s?

Its all very Enid Blyton

What utter nonsense!

Plimsolls have no substance to them, no cushioning or arch support. My trainers have some ankle support which really helps me as I have a metal plate and screws in my lower leg/ankle.

If you have professional qualifications in orthotics, podiatry or the like, I am concerned about your seriously outdated knowledge. Otherwise, the 1950s would like their views back

Well it's all very well making those sort of statements, but why? How does what you have on your feet affect teaching and learning?

Not least because lots of offices now allow trainers anyway!

Why do you think every professional and amateur athlete in the world wears trainers, rather than plimsolls?

I'll give you a clue: it's because plimsolls are really, really bad for your feet. They don't have any support or shock absorption in them.

It would be fucking negligent to make kids do sports like netball, athletics, basketball, tennis or rounders in plimsolls.

Any sports coach, physio or podiatrist would tell you that plimsolls aren't suitable for sports. Maybe for a 7-year-old jumping about in a school hall, but absolutely not once they start doing actual sports and proper running.

Hockey, football and rugby need boots with studs, obviously, but for other sports, trainers are wholly appropriate.

Are you a footwear expert? Because that is a statement that requires substantiation. Unless of course you're just wittering on about appearances again.

Plimsolls should be worn for PE. Or football/hockey boots or other specialised footwear. But definitely not TRAINERS as they are the worst.

Why not? Please provide reasoning that isn't just about appearances, and explain why young people in most of Europe manage without uniform.

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This site sometimes

What about for PE?

I posted earlier and am leaving teaching mainly due to stupid entitled parents. How the hell does the fact that I’m wearing black trainers and am comfortable affect you?

In more than 3 decades of teaching, I have seen so much change, much of it forced onto me like Gove’s ridiculous curriculum changes. Having a relaxation about footwear for staff is something that has helped keep an experienced teacher there a bit longer. Surely what and how I teach are far more important that wearing clean trainers on my feet!

Trainers should not be allowed in schools.

Wouldn’t go down well in our family. We are a a Dr Marten book family. Eldest wears hers all the time unless she’s at a hobby that needs a trainer. Youngest has a selection of trainers, boots, converse etc but wears DMs for school.

Trainers sound more practical, I tend to wear them for work. They don't have the office look, but schools maybe (hopefully) are moving away from just going for an ethos.

Trainers are much better for feet than “school shoes” especially when they’re still growing.
I’m glad my DDs are allowed to wear black trainers

I don't really know! I do think a uniform is easier but it only needs to be a very straight-forward dress code. There is zero need for blazers or ties or telling the kids when they can and can't take their jumpers on and off.

I asked a friend who's a teacher in Germany about this and she said that they do have to talk to the kids about appropriateness on occasion but generally they just wear jeans and a top.

Dunno. And the boys had to wear ties and the girls didn't, much to his chagrin!

Schools waste far too much time on stupid uniform rules.

Uniform yes but make it simple and easy. Polo shirts, trousers, trainers. Done.

I would say trainers are better for them, i work in nhs and had foot trouble from wearing some Clarkes shoes, physio recommended wearing trainers and I live in them now they are the best thing for feet. The school I mentor at kids wear sweatshirt and trakky bottoms and trainers think its a great idea all the issues parents have with children not wanting to wear certain types of a uniform tie blazer etc every child is equal and comfortable

Or why it's necessary to have 5 year old primary school children in a formal uniform, but when they go to university (much closer to getting a job) they get to slob around in hoodies and joggers for three years.

It doesn't make a jot of sense

But you didn't say that your said they were allowed to slob about and talked about polo shirts and job interviews

The thread was moaning saying schools should not allow it, my point is that it’s your choice as a parent.
i am a fan of uniforms, when mine went to a school
wirh no uniform I found it meant more clothes needed and more washing because they tended to wear something different every day.

How are they slobbing about. Who said anything about polo shirts? My son wears black trousers, shirt, blazer and tie with smart, clean black trainers. What is wrong with that? He's going to school not a job interview.

Up to a point, yes. The trend in the majority of workplaces is towards less formal, in recognition that what someone wears is not a reflection of their capabilities. So often it's smart casual.

However, all over the world, young people go through school systems without uniforms and yet manage to emerge able to dress appropriately for work.

I am still waiting for an explanation as to why British young people are unable to manage this and instead need 13 years in uniform in order to wear suitable work clothes. Are British people less intelligent? I don't think that is true, but what other explanation is there? Maybe you have yhe answer.

Yep everyone just carry on, let them just slob about! if I were an employer and I had people turn up at interview with black trainers on and a polo shirt I would not be impressed. What you look like and the effort you put into your appearance does matter for many jobs!

Why is it a drop in standards. My son's leather black Nike trainers last longer and look smarter than black school shoes after they have been battered by him playing footy in them.

Dropping standards - what absolute nonsense! Children are just as capable of learning and behaving well in trainers and joggers as they are in ties and leather shoes. I would argue moreso if they are more comfortable. It is also easier to see the importance of following rules which make sense if not subjected to idiotic ones which absolutely do not.