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Original poster

Asking permission to remove school blazer - why?

297 replies

MyMushroomsInATimeSlip · 07/09/2021 17:03

DS had started secondary school this week and now has to ask permission to remove his blazer when he's hot.

Have great respect for teachers as it's not a job I could ever do and generally back up school rules. However I genuinely cannot understand the reason for this one. Can someone enlighten me?

OP posts:
Parker231 · 09/09/2021 07:18

Thank goodness DC went to a non uniform school and when it was warm wore shorts and T-shirt.

At a ridiculous school insisting that blazers should be wore indoors I would be telling DC’s to decide themselves what made them comfortable and would be contacting the head and governors - basically a stupid rule. Teachers are there to teach not decide whether someone should be allowed to take their blazer off.

Bunnycat101 · 09/09/2021 07:19

I remember this being a thing when I was at school. I thought it was ridiculous and still do now. My 5 year old has autonomy at school to decide whether she needs her cardi on or not. Granted she loses them fairly regularly but teenagers know if they are hot. They are then impractical if it’s cold/wet and you want a proper coat. Workplaces have become much more casual so lots of the claims about preparing students for the world of work at bollocks really especially as many will leave and spend the next 3-4 years wearing hoodies and jeans at university.

I’ve seen a few first day at school posters from friends at private school and can’t help but think 4yos in blazers is a ridiculous concept but that is another point.

GreenLakes · 09/09/2021 07:21

@Parker231

The head at the DCs’ school would be more than happy to point you towards an alternative school if you complained to him about such a trivial issue.

The hundreds of parents on the waiting list would happily take the place.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education
Parker231 · 09/09/2021 07:25

[quote GreenLakes]@Parker231

The head at the DCs’ school would be more than happy to point you towards an alternative school if you complained to him about such a trivial issue.

The hundreds of parents on the waiting list would happily take the place.[/quote]
As I posted thank goodness my DC’s went to a much more sensible school with no uniform so pupils were able to dress appropriately for the weather and their comfort. Much better for learning

DotBall · 09/09/2021 07:33

I’m a teacher. We had an email yesterday reminding all staff that pupils ARE allowed to remove blazers. I stood there thinking “It’s 27 deg. Who the fuck ISN’T allowing the kids to remove their blazers and jumpers?!”

Bringing covid into it, we’ve all got all doors and windows open for ventilation, so anything goes - coats, blazers, jumpers on or off, whatever they feel comfortable with. Common sense.

valerianroot · 09/09/2021 07:35

It's ridiculous - my DS has to wear jumper and blazer in this weather and although in theory he is allowed to take off his jumper, he doesn't dare ask as he saw another student get told off for taking his off.

Peteycat · 09/09/2021 07:40

"@Parker231

The head at the DCs’ school would be more than happy to point you towards an alternative school if you complained to him about such a trivial issue.

The hundreds of parents on the waiting list would happily take the place"

Yes, then when parents found out that their children were being treated appallingly by the staff, the schools reputation would swiftly go down hill. This is maybe a trivial issue to you. Are you the type that doesn't help children and expect them to just get on with things? You sound delightful.

Peteycat · 09/09/2021 07:41

Bad news travels faster than good news GreenLakes.

Threewheeler1 · 09/09/2021 08:11

So glad you started this thread op.
Mine are yrs 10 and 11 an recently had to sit through exams on boiling days in blazers.
The blazers are disgusting nylon and they both come home absolutely ponging every day because teachers often refuse to let them take blazers off in class. It pisses me off that we don't even allow young adults to regulate their own temperature.
In a workplace you can take your jacket off if you are hot so why not at school?
Their school is an unpopular struggling comp with tons of other issues but the head teacher has become obsessed with enforcing a really strict uniform policy.
Ds is 15 and had a female deputy headteacher follow him into the toilet on break time to tell him to put his blazer back on. He was taking a pee and washing his hands and had taken it off to cool down for 5 minutes. I nearly lost the plot on that one. It's getting ridiculous.

Blueskyrainshowers · 09/09/2021 09:06

[quote GreenLakes]@Parker231

The head at the DCs’ school would be more than happy to point you towards an alternative school if you complained to him about such a trivial issue.

The hundreds of parents on the waiting list would happily take the place.[/quote]
It's not trivial to kids that are overheating.
I went to school back in the dark ages, had a St Trinians type uniform. Very strict about skirt length etc- no customising of uniform. But if you needed to take your coat/jumper/blazer off you just did it with the minimum of fuss. It just wasn't an issue.

Poppitt58 · 09/09/2021 16:55

Today they did a fire drill in 28 degree heat involving all the year standing outside on the tennis courts , ds friend fainted

If a child disclosed to me that their parents restricted their access to a toilet, and forced them to wear a jacket in direct sunshine and 28 degree heat, to the point they allowed their body to collapse, because they were too worried about the consequences. I’d need to make a safeguarding referral. Why is it ok for schools to do this?

MythicalBiologicalFennel · 09/09/2021 17:16

I’d need to make a safeguarding referral. Why is it ok for schools to do this?

Good point. This is about children's welfare, hygiene and dignity.

Peteycat · 09/09/2021 17:33

Good point poppitt58. Honestly I think we really need to start speaking to the schools about this.

Daisy4569 · 09/09/2021 17:34

I have worked in schools where this is policy. I always started lessons by stating they were free to remove blazers/jumpers as they wished. Most people I know did the same. Making them ask the question to which the answer is always yes seems pointless!

Parker231 · 09/09/2021 18:17

Surely if schools are insisting on outdated impractical uniforms they should be teaching pupils to think for themselves as to when they should and shouldn’t be wearing a jumper, blazer, shorts, tights etc. No wonder so many children are leaving school without common sense.

Embroidery · 09/09/2021 18:43

I did actually think of this thread in class today and deliberately dedicated 5/10 mins of lesson to orchestrating it. "You can take your blazers off if you want", 90% did, I let them all get up to put them in their bags if they wanted, too. Or said they could sit on them. I also said they can take them off at any time but to let me know if they wanted to go to their bag.
Feeling rebelious.

Generalpost · 09/09/2021 18:47

@Embroidery

I did actually think of this thread in class today and deliberately dedicated 5/10 mins of lesson to orchestrating it. "You can take your blazers off if you want", 90% did, I let them all get up to put them in their bags if they wanted, too. Or said they could sit on them. I also said they can take them off at any time but to let me know if they wanted to go to their bag. Feeling rebelious.
You should like a lovely teacher. And made sure the children are comfortable. But some teachers ate not like that and do say no to taking of a blazer . I do not understand why. It just seems like a power thing and boarding om abusive.
Peteycat · 09/09/2021 20:45

"18:43Embroidery

I did actually think of this thread in class today and deliberately dedicated 5/10 mins of lesson to orchestrating it. "You can take your blazers off if you want", 90% did, I let them all get up to put them in their bags if they wanted, too. Or said they could sit on them. I also said they can take them off at any time but to let me know if they wanted to go to their bag.
Feeling rebelious"

You sound lovely. I'm glad there are teachers like you.

SusannaM · 10/09/2021 22:12

@GreenLakes

Glad I'm not your child then. Good behaviour has nothing to do with uniform (and even worse, stifling in said uniform). If it was there would be schools full of hooligans all over Europe.

Workyticket · 10/09/2021 22:20

Most rules have no reason behind them

I teach in a college. Age range 16 - sometimes 60+

I have to ask them to take their coats off, even in winter. They're not allowed drinks other than water in class - 15 minute break in their 3 hour lesson but there's no point them grabbing a coffee because they can't bring it back. No snacks allowed

Yet every meeting we go to us, managers etc bring a coffee. Quite often there's biscuits.

Meetings are usually held in classrooms which makes it even more ironic!

GreenLakes · 11/09/2021 13:24

@Generalpost

I think saying it’s abusive for a school to enforce its uniform policy is ridiculous.

Most schools are flexible in very warm weather. DS2 (year 10) was allowed to remove his blazer in some lessons yesterday where the room was exceptionally warm. Other teachers expected full uniform. Not a problem.

DD(also year 10)’s school are allowing students to leave off jumpers but still expect blazers to be worn so they look smart. Again not an issue.

Parker231 · 11/09/2021 13:32

A child who is old enough to go to school is old enough to make their own decisions as to whether they are warm enough to take their jumper or blazer off - everyone has different comfort levels.
No wonder children are leaving school unable to think for themselves.
School uniform serves no benefit.

Peteycat · 11/09/2021 13:33

"13:24GreenLakes

@Generalpost

I think saying it’s abusive for a school to enforce its uniform policy is ridiculous.

Most schools are flexible in very warm weather. DS2 (year 10) was allowed to remove his blazer in some lessons yesterday where the room was exceptionally warm. Other teachers expected full uniform. Not a problem.

DD(also year 10)’s school are allowing students to leave off jumpers but still expect blazers to be worn so they look smart. Again not an issue"

Yea your really the only poster on here saying that though. Most caring sensible adults have abandoned the strict, ridiculous rules of controlling children in every aspect of their lives. You are quite frankly awful. It is an issue. A big one, you are the ridiculous one for basically saying that children have no right to regulate their own body temperature. I hope you are not in any way shape or form working with children or vulnerable people.

Peteycat · 11/09/2021 13:34

"22:20Workyticket

Most rules have no reason behind them

I teach in a college. Age range 16 - sometimes 60+

I have to ask them to take their coats off, even in winter. They're not allowed drinks other than water in class - 15 minute break in their 3 hour lesson but there's no point them grabbing a coffee because they can't bring it back. No snacks allowed

Yet every meeting we go to us, managers etc bring a coffee. Quite often there's biscuits.

Meetings are usually held in classrooms which makes it even more ironic!"

Agree. No logic behind the rule, just some out of touch idiot with power issues.

JuliaBlackberry · 11/09/2021 13:37

I'm a teacher in a school where they have to ask. I always say yes as I think it's totally ridiculous. Not sure what it's about tbh.