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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Scouts, girls and Uniform

32 replies

Startail · 06/02/2013 13:44

DD is a scout, she loves the activities, but she finds the uniform, especially the trousers really unflattering and uncomfortable. They are not cut for slight children of either gender

Now the scout leader, femail, wants her either to wear her school shoes, not safe or buy some black trainers.

Ok her existing non school trainers are very bright, but I really don't see it matters for non public ordinary meetings.

I come from a brownie/guide background and expecting me to buy shoes DD will hate and refuse to wear feels a step too far.

OP posts:
madwomanintheattic · 06/02/2013 14:07

(I've got a 13yo girl. She has a decent pair of dark Keens that she wears to such events. If you want to take part in active scouting and guiding stuff, you wear the uniform. Simples)

madwomanintheattic · 06/02/2013 14:05

Why is she wearing dangerous shoes to school? Surely for school she also needs a functional pair of grippy shoes so that she doesn't have to teeter about like a laydee?

madwomanintheattic · 06/02/2013 14:04

So she wears her school shoes until she needs new dark trainers.

It's a uniform, and this is obviously a unit where they care about the children's appearance (this could be for a variety of variety, and may not just be aesthetic).

It's only an extra two hours a week in a pair of shoes she owns already - scouting is great for giving youth a voice, but it's also pretty good for discipline and toeing the line where necessary.

Or she leaves and joins a group which doesn't care, and the ethos may be different.

Original poster
Startail · 06/02/2013 14:02

She's an 11 year old girl! I can't tell her she's having dark coloured trainers and expect her to wear them. I won't even get her to try them on.
In any case her feet don't grow very fast, she doesn't need new shoes.

She refuses to wear her school trainers because they get detention if she forgets to take them back to school. They are bright white and pink too.

Her school shoes are fairly slippery and she races about like a lunatic. She is very competitive, she likes to beat the boys.

I just like the new scout leader to lighten up a bit and accept that if they accept girls (which I think they shouldn't have done), they are going to find some things are more contentious than they would wish.

That said,I've just remembered, DD has been known to pinch my brown trainers, so they may keep the peace for a week or two.

OP posts:
Original poster
Startail · 06/02/2013 13:50

Yes, scouts could argue the new guide uniform is a mess and I would, to an extent agree.

That there is no formal remembrance Sunday, special event outfit is a mistake.

However, even thirty years ago our guider let us wear jeans, (she knew we could do formal because we had navy school skirts and dark shoes), she didn't worry every week.

Those of us who cycled, liked our guider.

Specifying petty things like shoes after DCs have been stuck in school shoes and ties since 7.30 am just seems a bit much.

OP posts:
meditrina · 06/02/2013 13:50

Why are her school shoes not safe? Unless camping or climbing, I'm not sure what the extra hazards would be.

It won't be that long until a growing child needs new trainers. Perhaps you could just tell the leader you'll look for a dark coloured pair when you come to replace them.

Seeline · 06/02/2013 13:47

My Ds is a scout although no girls in his troop. THe boys all wear various trainers for meetings but wear school shoes (ie black, smart shoes) for church parades etc.
I agree the scout trousers (the same throughout Beavers, Cubs and Scouts) are a most peculiar fit. They are not cut for the more 'rounded' form of child either Grin