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Original poster

DH has drafted an e-mail to the headteacher about something he saw at school pick-up

31 replies

purpleturtletoise · 05/10/2011 16:29

Apparently when we went to collect the children from school there was an adult in the playground wearing an English Defence League sweatshirt. I didn't notice, but DH did.

DH is very offended and has drafted an e-mail to the head.

I am not sure about it as a course of action. If it's all right for us to ask that EDL clothing be banned from the playground, what's to stop somebody else from asking that the hijab be banned?

I do not like what the EDL stands for, and I don't really want my children exposed to it either, but do you think we should be raising it with the headteacher?

OP posts:
Original poster
purpleturtletoise · 05/10/2011 16:37

little bump back onto active convos

OP posts:
Wormshuffler · 05/10/2011 16:42

I dont think it is a school issue to be honest.

LovingChristmas · 05/10/2011 16:42

Sorry and not an EDL fan but unless a slogan on a T shirt was offensive then I think people have the right to wear what they want. You will come across all people in life who have different beliefs and it is their choice.

Sorry, I'm not being agressive I just think that the headteacher has got no right to ban someone for supporting something, I don't like animal cruelty/sports, or what it stands for, so if in the playground I saw someone in a fur coat, do I have the right to expect the headteacher to ban fur coats as well (just on my "personal" beliefs).

LC

StellaAndFries · 05/10/2011 16:43

I can't see that a parents choice of dress will be able to be controlled by the school.

booyhoo · 05/10/2011 16:44

not sure what the school can do really.

planetpotty · 05/10/2011 16:46

I wouldn't expect the school to be able to act on it but think you were right to highlight that you were offended and then they can keep an eye out for anything worse.

Catslikehats · 05/10/2011 16:51

I don't see what the school can do and frankly I think it is unfair of your husband to expect the HT to get involved and say something when he is not prepared to do so himself.

If he objects strongly then he should complain direct to the wearer and let them know their item of clothing is inappropriate and why. There is a fair argument for saying the reason so much crap goes unchallenged is because people don't challenge it.

That being said what would I do: seethe inwardly, rant on MN and ignore (sorry)

Original poster
purpleturtletoise · 05/10/2011 16:55

E-mail hasn't been sent, because DH asked me to check it, and I raised questions about it along the lines others have posted.

OP posts:
Original poster
purpleturtletoise · 05/10/2011 16:59

QueenofDenial - I did tell him that he should have spoken to the person directly.

Provoked an interesting conversation about the difference between telling somebody not to do something, and persuading them/educating them to a point where they might choose not to do it.

OP posts:
Slambang · 05/10/2011 17:06

I'm with your dh.

The school could send out a generic letter to all parents asking them to refrain from wearing clothes on the school grounds that carry political or offensive messages.

I wouldn't recommend trying to reason with someone wearing a EDL slogan. He is clearly not reasonable and will probably enjoy spouting his views if anybody challenges him.

Original poster
purpleturtletoise · 05/10/2011 17:16

But, Slambang, that idea of 'offensive' is rather subjective, isn't it?

OP posts:
LovingChristmas · 05/10/2011 17:30

Sorry Slambang, I disagree with that comment, I have strong personal views about certain things and would clearly be reasonable in listening to people rather than spouting my views, however if someone approached me telling me they didn't agree with something I was wearing, I would quite frankly tell them it's none of their business! (unless of course it was horrifically offensive - in which case I wouldn't be wearing it).
Where do you draw the line?
Someone wearing a slipknot T shirt - I find their lyrics offensive, so therefore you can't wear that etc??

DizzyKipper · 07/10/2011 15:19

Oh dear, that sort of thing could lead onto all kinds of clothing being banned because it might cause offence. What if it wasn't EDL but one of the main political parties, such as a Conservative t-shirt? Should people be prohibited from advertising any kind of political view because some one or other may disagree with it or find it offensive? Personally I don't think children should be shielded from any and all exposure to the things we don't like - far better to talk to them about it if and when they start asking questions, although I'd bet the children wouldn't even notice in this case and it's really just all about the parents.

GypsyMoth · 07/10/2011 15:33

Absolutely nothing anyone can do to regulate this

Nothing can be done, but your DH will be ( maybe) talk of the staffing, depending on how much the HT 'shares'

GypsyMoth · 07/10/2011 15:34

And don't see how wearing anything 'political' can be banned as many schools are used as polling stations!

Jux · 27/10/2011 16:52

It's not illegal and the school cannot possibly be expected to regulate what parents wear.

If any of your children or their friends notice and comment/ask about it, you can take the opportunity to educate them.

Otherwise, you are stuck and can do precisely nothing. Your dh will make a fool of himself if he sends that e-mail.

Grammaticus · 27/10/2011 16:55

As everyone else has said, it's not a school issue. Uniform yes. Parents' clothing no.

onagar · 27/10/2011 16:58

I think he is quite wrong. As others have said you can't ban what parents wear and if you did they would have to be willing to ban anything Tory too or religious.

IndieSkies · 27/10/2011 17:01

If his T Shirt proclaimed what his views probably are ("Blacks Out!") then yes, I think you could ask that he be not allowed to wear it in the playground. But you can't ask the school to ban legal political parties or legal political pressure groups. Someone would want CND T shirts banned, etc etc.

Tell your DH that the challenge to the liberal conscience is that free speech is a right for all, not just the oppressive bastards you would like it to apply to.

TobyLeWolef · 27/10/2011 17:07

Not only can the school do nothing about it, they should do nothing about it.

BluddyMoFo · 28/10/2011 11:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

abbierhodes · 28/10/2011 11:57

I agree bluddymofo! OP, I really admire your husband for wanting to do something about this, but sadly I think he can't, for the reasons outlined above. He must simply educate his own children about the damage people like this man cause.

meditrina · 28/10/2011 12:03

As EDF is not a banned organisation, I don't think there's anything that can be done, unless the slogan was an incitement to racial hatred - in which case it's a police, not a school, matter.

ragged · 28/10/2011 14:20

Matter of free speech, init?
"I may not agree with your view, but I will fight for your right to have it"

If the school is used as a polling station then maybe students & parents could be banned from wearing political slogans on the premises during an election, but I don't think school has rights otherwise.

perceptionreality · 28/10/2011 14:24

I would be horrified if I saw this at the school gate but the problem is that freedom of speech is what it comes down to, even for fascist thugs far right groups.