Letter re banning school skirts

[spottedinthewilds]

Has anyone here written a letter to their school regarding banning of school skirts?

Our school have not yet banned school skirts that appear to be disguising this ban by offering different school uniform options. Most of which do not have a skirt option.

I have quite strong feelings against this as I feel that as a school educating young people they should be concentrating on educating their pupils about misogyny and the reasons why they feel school skirt should be banned.

Without wishing to dive into a trans debate, I feel that the trans issue is already eroding women's rights and feel that this is just another step in the wrong direction.

I agree that I am not the best person to word this letter well and wondered whether anyone here has written a similar letter to their school regarding this issue.

If so, would you be kind enough to share all or part of it with me so that I can put together something that I feel makes my point?

Many girls wear a hip length jacket to school ( if they wear a coat at all). If you can’t see the skirt below the jacket, then I think it’s too short. They may as well wear gym shorts.

Trousers are more practical, warmer in winter and easier to wash and dry than the pleated tartan skirts that seem to be the uniform in some schools. If you can’t walk without locking your knees together and tugging your skirt down, it’s too short.

If schools must have a uniform it should be supremely comfortable and modelled on sports clothing to encourage kids to be active and to be able to run around.

If they are so worried about girls showing their pants why don't they make the uniform skirt a skort instead?

Most uniforms allow some degree of choice. Cardigan or jumper. T-shirt or polo shirt. Long or short sleeves. Trousers or shorts.

Having a choice of skirt or trousers doesn't make it somehow not a uniform.

I'd also argue that where it does happen, 'no choice' is a drawback of uniforms, not the point of them. I'm against them in general but the point is usually said to be something about being recognisable, looking smart, or avoiding bullying or competitions with expensive clothing at school.

Isn't the key choice though. You didn't like being forced to wear skirts. Some girls won't like being forced to wear trousers.

How short is short though? So short that their backside/underwear/genitals are on display? Because that's a fairly common occurrence round here and no it's not ok in a school environment (or in public).

Imo school uniform should be unisex, so if girls can wear skirts then boys should have the option too.

Why are they outdated? Skirts are just a type of clothing.

This is a really good idea actually. A school skort or trousers. The skort would prevent the flashing and I don't think it could be rolled up either.

Exactly! It's just another brand of misogyny.

I’m not saying any element of choice stops it being a uniform. But the fact is, a limited amount of choice within what are still quite rigid guidelines is still a long way from a free choice. Therefore arguing that one option being removed is somehow unacceptable doesn’t really make sense. If you send your child to a school with a uniform, you are actively opting in to them wearing a restricted range of clothing. The fact that there may be an element of choice, as in your jumper or cardigan example, doesn’t there should be a choice. If the school removes the cardigan option, they’re just changing the uniform.

The short skirt thing is a nightmare for male teachers. They cannot comment on it because they immediately get ‘Are you looking a my legs?’ back. When teenagers have to sit on the floor ( drama studio, in a breakout session) it’s impossible for the girls not to be flashing their knickers. It’s a source of embarrassment all round.

Personally I’m a drop uniform teacher, but if it has to exist then trousers for both sexes all year round please. If we’re insisting on certain colours, styles etc, then there’s no logic in saying girls have to have a choice of skirt.

I’m not saying that it isn’t a school uniform. I’m saying school uniform in itself isn’t a choice.

This is happening in the school that I work in.
The reason is because the majority of girls roll their skirt so high everyone can see their knickers/bums.
It's really gross, especially when they wear a thong!

Skirts are not being "considered rubbish"

This isn't mysogeny

It's common sense in the face of people abusing the uniform

I am guessing OPs child was only of those wearing a skirt that did not look much different to a belt.

yep, one of our local schools girls wear them instead of shorts. Just covers their pants and all is out

In the 1970's our school had a rule that school skirts had to be knee length or longer. From memory, they also had a rule about the acceptable length of shorts, but I don't know what that was as I didn't wear those.

I don't care what pupils wear to school as long as it is practical.

Nobody is saying that either @BrightonFrock The question is whether girls should be allowed to retain the choice to wear the school uniform skirt or be forced to wear the school uniform trousers. I'm of the opinion that they should be allowed the choice to pick the school uniform skirt.

Because research shows if children wear practical clothing they engage in more physical play and sports! Honestly not everything is about sex of the child it's about encouraging them to bloody move more!

Have to have having the option to are not the same thing.

If it was up to me I'd offer the choice of trousers/shorts/skirt regardless of sex/gender. I'd have hated having to wear trousers, much prefer skirts most of the time.

No skirts I think - so much hassle over maintaining the rules. Rolling them up is a tale as old as time. I've been on public transport before sat down with a girls arse out who's standing up right in front of me. So bloody awkward and must be so hard to point out as a male member of staff without accusations being flung round.

Black trousers or leggings much better, the 6th form by ours do a relaxed uniform of black trousers/leggings, white shirt and any form of black jumper/cardi.

The result is enough options for people to choose styles that suit them, It still looks smart and it's cost effective being just basic colours.

Most rules come into existence because a small minority of people have created a problem.Unfortunately the rules then have to apply to everyone.

It really isn't misogyny. It's about decency. I don't think any of us would like it if boys had their arses hanging out at school. When they do, they are told to cover up immediately!

No one would want the boys wearing microshorts to school.

So why are people ok about girls wearing micro skirts to school 🤷‍♀️

There is also the issue of upskirting.
Girls can express themselves how they like outside of school but inside school the focus needs to be on the academics and not skirts op!

It absolutely doesn't give any right to do anything. It looks awful though. I think it definitely lowers the tone of schools. Why can't girls wear trousers if they like?