to think that the principal is being unreasonable

[qazxc]

the principal at our local secondary seems to me to have gone power mad about uniforms. I agree that on school grounds the children should wear appropriate attire. But he was in the local paper saying that "I've had to go down to the local garage to confiscate hoodies". that pupils wearing hoodies outside school "give the school a bad image" and that they should wear the official school coat (which is quite pricey). that (shock horror) "pupils remove the hoodies or non school coat before they walk in the gate". Is it just me or has he gone mad? how far away from the school would it be acceptable to not wear the full uniform? should children constantly be in uniform lest a middle age man strip them? i know quite a few people that are fed up of having to go to the school and reclaim items of clothing (and get a half hour "talk"). should he be told to wind his neck in?

I went to a 'local comp' and we were expected to wak to and from school in appropriate clothing. We didnt have an official school coat, but the uniform rules stated a black or blue sensible allwaether coat (no denim or leather). If you were seen, out and about, with half uniform and half unsuitable attire, you were pulled up on it, and your parents contacted too.

They were very strict on uniform. To what I would imagine the standards of a private school would be. Parents and students knew it was comply or die choose another school to go to.

Surely it's the behaviour which gives the school a bad name? That being the case I would be wanting the kids to be in mufti the second they were out of the gate lest anyone spotted where they were from!

That kind of strictness about uniform is ridiculous.

Reminds me of the school I went to (and detested) in Chichester. I had low body temperature, and yet I was not allowed to wear a coat, an extra jumper, gloves or a scarf once I got off the bus. Not even after my mum gave in a Doctor's letter. And the Head went down the garage? What an idiot! Ok, fine, don't allow hoodies once you get into school, Imo, it should be once the school bells rung as it's bloody freezing walking down the bus paths etc without your hoody/coat on. And the reason people wear half and half is because often a hoody is one of the warmer things to wear, it's just a replacement coat. Fair enough, really.

I don't get why uniforms so important anyway. I like a bit of teen spirit.

YABU they're representing the school when their out and about

Looking smart helps with that

As for him expecting a say beyond the school gates....why? Why does he expect to be able to dictate this way? Why are parents allowing him so much sway?

YABU

Hoodies are vile

Almost as vile as chewing gum

high

here as they walk out gates theres a teacher aying tuck your shirt in etc .But once they are no longer outside the gates shirts are untucked tie of .

In summer they have to ask permisson to take blazers of and can not wal round school grounds in them

In winter plain black no fashion jackets ony and as go through gates it must be taken of

juniors we got shock here as from y3 they are expected to wear shirt and tie .But do have summer uniform luckily

.Yet ironic dd when goes to high will not need to wear a tie

i like uniform makes my life easier .But do wish they keep it simeple

Polo shirts /sweatshirts and trousers style .Ironic thing is more would stick to it .Oh and if anyone said anything to my dc once they were away from gate then there have to talk to me the next day and justify it

YANBU.

I'm very meh about uniform and the ridiculous attempt that some state schools make to control the wearing of it out of school. I was privately educated, we had a ghastly uniform that included boaters, a different (and vile) Sunday outfit consisting of sick coloured tweed and white gloves. But we just got on with it because private schools are always obsessed with uniform.

However, I'd much prefer state schools to concentrate on important things - which is not the wearing of a hoodie outside school - since the more fuss you make, the more rebellion they'll get from pupils. I say this from experience of my own dcs's state secondary school which constantly changed uniform in order to reinvent the school image while rarely tackling the big issues.

I don't have an issue with people who'd prefer their child to look as if they attended Eton. They can pay the school fees if that's what they want.

But I'd much prefer the state sector to ditch uniforms altogether and follow the European model of pupils wearing their own clothes. It seems to work fine over there.

panda - but we are not quite like continental europeans, e.g. drinking habits.

When you get groups of kids in a shop messing around while wearing part school uniform it's not the parents the shop owner calls is it.

I agree humancatapult - kids and teens should be in loose comfortable clothes, like polo shirts, sweatshirts and trousers. Everyone is the same, so no issues over haves-and-have-nots, and they are cheap to buy and easy to wash.

There is no actual proper reason to truss kids and teens up in blazers, shirts and ties, other than to satisfy the pomposity and simple headed thinking of adults that are won over by a nice smart tie.
The reputation of a school's pupils should be based on conduct, rather than the fact that they look ever so smart.

hoodies as vile as chewing gum-Vicky ha ha. I will think of you this afternoon at the stables wearing my Hoodie and chewing my gum. Needs to be a differentiation of sportswear, casual and school. My dc have a strict uniform code but as I say on a Saturday morning if doing outdoor pursuits is it anyones business what they wearing ?? Would a sweat top with out a hood then be OK Oh I love the media !! Go hug a hoody !!

True. But the lamentable drinking habits that some people in the UK demonstrate have little to do with school uniform, surely?

Well said pictish.

pictish !! I agree never judge a book by its cover eh ??

I wear a hoodie and on school grounds to .When does it start becoming acceptable to wear one

I dont like having to send dd in y4 trussed up in tie and shirt .But all the local schools seem to be adopting it for junior age so 7 and up .And its full tie not clip on

Well I would have to agree with that. Are we talking about pupils wearing their own clothes and mooching about and principal being over bearing or wearing uniform and misbehaving.

pictish

I agree age 7 in tie and shirt but you do not really have a choice here

I mean there some primary schools that insist on the collar and tie combo!
What the hell 5 year old needs to be in a shirt and tie?
What a bizarre concept!

What's even more bizarre is that it's widely regarded as acceptable, because it looks 'smart'.

They. Are. Kids.

yes Pictish and they are state schools here its 7 and they must have their top button done up to .Oh and summer uniform can ony be worn in summer term .so if Warm in Septemer there could be some battles when dd wears her summer school dress .Am hoping common sense is used

What gets me catapult is that there really is no tangible reason for it!
It's pomposity being indulged and nothing more.

I agree and would love to see it more relaxed at primary and senior level.But think lot of schools see what private are wearing and try to match it .

Hoodies aren't part of the uniform is the only problem, they aren't smart wear they are casual wear.

Nothing to do with lowering tones etc etc.

Bronze makes a good point, if there were a group of kids in uniforms causing trouble, the school would be rung as that's the only way to 'identify' them. You can't avoid the fact the kids wearing uniforms of said school represent it. Not saying I agree with what the uniforms look like though! We were forced to wear blazers and jumpers even in summer