Asking permission to remove school blazer - why?

[MyMushroomsInATimeSlip]

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?

In our school they don't let you take it off whether you ask or not

It's rules like this that lost the school my respect

@SunShinesBrightly

Just to add, I find it odd that those that want to take their blazers off in class ask tbh. They always do. I answer ‘of course you can’. I also tell them to drink water. I wish I had air con.

Our school has it in the rules that you only remove your blazer if a teacher has given permission to do so (or it's a lesson like PE presumably) . Glad to see most just give blanket permission at the start of the lesson.

17:13maddy68

To instill manners

Your off your rocker. Tell you something you are the type that wouldn't say that to the parents faces if they questioned you. Wearing a clothing item has fuck all to do with manners. Your shit old fashioned, buttoned up bullying views hopefully will be long gone soon.

Manners is holding the door open, saying please and thank you. Not asking to remove clothing because they are hot. Nutter.

It’s awful. As a teacher I hate this rule!

Teachers have to enforce these rules or be sacked. Most teachers hate these rules. See dreadful rates of teacher retention esp in academies where it's strictly enforced and teachers have to do as told.

Someone at the top with no connection to reality makes the rules, assuming common sense will allow exceptions Then the rules are rigidly enforced and I really believe after 30 years in that world, that SMT dont realise the reality of their doctrines.

I once heard a SMT saying if they really needed to go they'd walk out, about a child needing the toilet. In a school where no child was ever allowed to the toilet and the toilets were locked! Made me cry about the unfairness of it all.

If there are any SMTeachers on here they should listen.
Unless they know? And are just unspeakably cruel?

It’s ridiculous. I remember at secondary we were only allowed to take our jumpers off after Easter half term until the summer holidays. Once September arrived we had to wear jumpers on the classroom regardless of temperature. I honestly don’t know how it was allowed and hope it’s not still the case.

The issue isn't really making kids wear blazers, which are part of the uniform. It's the uniform policy as a whole. If schools expect parents to buy the damn things, they need to be seen to be enforcing them. As I said before, if pupils could take them off whenever they wanted they'd never wear them. Getting rid of blazers from school uniform gets rid of this problem.

I'd like to hear more about manners.
I've said "Would you prefer that I wear a mask?" but never asked permission to remove or wear layers.
Manners is saying good morning, thank you, holding the door open etc

God I remember this from when I went secondary years ago.. In French class, you had to ask in French also. Its so draconian.

You have to challenge this crap. It gets exhausting but eventually I hope things will change. Don't even get me started on the toilet thing. Honestly we treat animals with respect and give them access to toilet at all times. Why we don't do this for children, I do not know. If you call or email the school you can get a toilet pass for your child. Not ideal but better than nothing.

I am always amazed by these threads. None of the schools where I live in Scotland have these bonkers rules.

This was like it at my school in the seventies, you had to ask but much humour was gaining by someone mumbling the request of '"Can I jack it off Sir?" and they usually said yes which would prompt another boy to say "Jack it off Sir?" and so on. Oh how we laughed!

It's just a a lot of fuss from parents in a lot of cases

how very dare the parents object and "fuss"! Perhaps the person/s responsible for this petty posturing rule are more guilty of "fussing" ?

Is stupid, I had a school blazer in the 80s but don't remember having to ask permission to remove it

12BananaPB

I'd like to hear more about manners.
I've said "Would you prefer that I wear a mask?" but never asked permission to remove or wear layers.
Manners is saying good morning, thank you, holding the door open etc

This isn't about covid or masks so please dont sneak it in to every day threads. People want to chat normally without covid popping up constantly.

tla whole load of teachers were patrolling the kids today. It was 29 degrees, telling the kids to put on their blazers, even the new year 7s. all the teachers were wearing comfy summer clothes. wtf.

too much power imo.

This is completely ridiculous! School is for education, how are you supposed to learn if you are sweating to death.

It is crazy. I felt so hot this afternoon in my stuffy classroom and I was wearing a short sleeved linen top. The thought of sitting in that room wearing a long sleeved shirt, polyester blazer and tie is horrible.
Blazers off, fill up your water bottle as you come in (I have a sink with drinking water) and we’ll begin...

@Cherryana

There is research to suggest that schools where uniform is stricter get better results. Sort of in a ‘bit hot on the small stuff’ and it won’t escalate to bigger stuff.

BUT in this case I think it’s taking the concept a step too far. And for what it’s worth - best school I ever worked in there was no uniform and the pupils called by our first names.

But most schools exist with a culture rooted in a rigid hierarchy (Sir)!!!

There's probably far more research showing that children are happier and thrive better in environments where they're not pinned down by pointless petty rules.

"19:15Fucket

Someone told me in my teacher training meeting that strict rules are used when the kids have really challenging behaviour. Therefore the children with behaviour issues are to busy fighting over the rules about blazers, hair styles and what colour pen to use instead of challenging more understandable rules like, not being late to lesson or destroying school property. Because a challenging, strong-willed child will always want to battle against the grown-ups in charge.

So maybe there is an element of that."

Utter rubbish. All schools enforce this crap, and personally I think that has the opposite effect. The kids just get worn down with tyranny and rebel even harder.

@Peteycat

12BananaPB

I'd like to hear more about manners.
I've said "Would you prefer that I wear a mask?" but never asked permission to remove or wear layers.
Manners is saying good morning, thank you, holding the door open etc

This isn't about covid or masks so please dont sneak it in to every day threads. People want to chat normally without covid popping up constantly.

I'm not trying to sneak anything in so you can fuck off with your accusations.

Hardly any of the classrooms at my sons secondary school had air con. Lots of huge glass windows,.It felt like a greenhouse, my son used to come home in a sweat soaked shirt, grumpy and hot, complaining he had a headache.
This is not an attack on teachers,. l admire them, but l don't agree with not being able to remove blazers on a hot day.

Peteycat Exactly.
I find that challenging children respond to kindness. Are you tired? Are you too hot? (Take your blazer off) Are you feeling annoyed? Here’s a pen you can borrow, If you haven’t got a pencil come and get one.

They’re more likely not to play up if you show you care about them.

@sunshinesbrightly, I wish more people were like you! They just need support and care not silly rules.

From many years experience I am pretty sure that this bizarre ruling comes not from the class teacher but from Senior Management!

My rule was, "If it's warm enough for me to remove my jacket then you may remove your blazer." But then I was a rebel in my last few years of teaching!