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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder why half of my sons class were to scared to go to school without a jumper on today?

79 replies

takingiteasy · 24/05/2012 14:35

Random but yup...

It's scorchio here, like 23 degrees. It has been for a couple of days. Tue/Wed my son (6) had a meltdown of sorts in the morning as I said he didn't need to wear a jumper. I've been looking to sending him out with a shirt/polo and a lightweight canvas coat just in case but those days he wore a jumper and came out of school hot, red and aggitated. But he's been insistant he needs to wear a jumper or a big coat. Today was awful, tears and everything. Adamant he's going to get into trouble. I assured him he wouldn't. Anyway it eventually came out that 'Betty' in the dinner hall told them they had to wear a jumper or a big thick coat or they'd be in trouble. Don't know who Betty is, don't know why she'd say this. Spoke to some mums this morning and they've been having the same issues - how bizzare?!

Spoke to teacher (hate being one of 'those' mums but he'd been so upset over it all) and she's none the wiser.

Who is this Betty and why is she insistant the kids should be melting?!

OP posts:

GetTheeToANunnery · 25/05/2012 08:36

I remember being at school on a boiling hot day, I tied my jumper round my waist cos I had nowhere else to put it. I got bollocked by the head and to wear it properly :( schools are weird sometimes

HSMM · 25/05/2012 08:55

At DD's secondary it's either:

Shirt AND jumper
or
Polo short with NO jumper

She has to decide each morning whether she is likely to need a jumper by the end of the day (including factoring in a bus journey, which may or may not have heating).

They are absolutely NOT allowed to remove their jumpers unless an announcement comes from the Head Teacher, at which point they ALL HAVE to remove their jumpers OR ELSE!

(and no she won't take a jacket for the bus journey, because they don't wear jackets/coats at secondary and she can't be bothered to carry it around)

HSMM · 25/05/2012 08:55

shirt not short

jubilucket · 25/05/2012 09:07

Spookily I've just had this conversation with ddtwins (13) - they've gone off wearing their jumpers and carrying blazers. Blazers are compulsory unless Head announces it's too warm and they can remove them, jumpers are not. I suggested they leave the jumpers at home. They said 'no way, we'll get into trouble for these' and lifted shirts to display lurid underwear. They've got plain white bras for the one with a bosom to hoick/vests for the one who's development hasn't progressed to that point, but no, it's got to be turquoise blue and lime green. Teenage fashion is mystifying me as much as it did my mother 30 years ago...

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 25/05/2012 09:11

My DS went off to school without a jumper

I am not THAT Betty but they will indeed have BettySwallocks if they leave their jumpers on today....maybe a Crusty Rack too

oopsi · 25/05/2012 09:34

At my DS secondary school it's blazer at all times around the school or in town while in uniform.They are allowed to take it off on the school field or with permissio from the teacher in class

Ingles2 · 25/05/2012 09:37

same with ds1 and his secondary...
He told me last night he was allowed to take his blazer off yesterday because the the temp had reached 30 deg. if it ever reaches the dizzy heights of 35, they'll be allowed to remove their tie!

jenfraggle · 25/05/2012 09:39

I'm surprised that so many of you have blazers as part of the uniform. Are you all sending your dc to private school?

lifechanger · 25/05/2012 09:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NotGeoffVader · 25/05/2012 10:12

Yes, Darts, your Dad is quite right - cast ne'er a clout till May be out does refer to Hawthorn (May) blossom, not the month of May.

Got a while before DD is of age to have school uniform but am shocked at how ridiculous some of these uniform rules are. We were allowed to wear short-sleeved shirts in the summer, no obligation to wear blazer or jumper on school premises but we did have to wear our blazer to and from school.
On the negative side, we had to do PE in skirts all year round (even in the winter when it was bloody freezing doing cross-country) and the girls were not allowed to wear trousers.

captainmummy · 25/05/2012 10:15

At our infant school i was always shocked by how many kids came out in jumpers at the end of the day. they were always red and sweaty and made me feel the same!

My dc now go to the local comp and they have always had blazers as part of the uniform.

BertieBotts · 25/05/2012 10:17

Mine was a state school. All of the state schools here have blazers as part of the uniform, except one - I think sweaters look tacky, TBH.

BertieBotts · 25/05/2012 10:18

Oh two actually, thinking about it. But one of them has navy blue sweaters which look a bit smarter.

DamselInDisgrace · 25/05/2012 10:19

I hate blazers. DS1's school doesn't have them (or ties) and I'm delighted. They've recently become an academy and I was so glad it didn't come with a convsion to young conservative style dress.

oopsi · 25/05/2012 10:19

I think blazers are the norm at secondary school aren't they? They are in this area

Shodan · 25/05/2012 10:21

We had an e-mail from ds1's school last night. They are graciously allowing the students to remove their (nasty man-made fabric) blazers during the hot weather, but only for Thursday and Friday.

The e-mail was timed at 15.30. Not much good for ds1, who was doing a GCSE paper in the morning, or indeed for anybody, since school finishes at 14.50.

Silly school.

solidgoldbrass · 25/05/2012 10:21

Another reason I love DS' school is that they are so unfussy about this sort of thing. Today I decided that DS could wear the new Primark shorts I bought him as they are plain black, instead of his normal teflon trousers: not a flicker of an eyelid from the school (rules are, white or blue polo shirt/shirt, grey or black trousers/shorts/skirts, royal blue jumper if wanted, with or without school logo).

jenfraggle · 25/05/2012 10:24

The only school I've ever come across with blazers as the uniform is the private one. All the state schools are sweatshirt. That is the case in the area I'm from and the area I moved to.

When I was at secondary school the uniform was a school sweatshirt, plain white t shirt, black or grey trousers or skirt and black shoes. It was up to us if we wore the sweatshirt when it was hot.

In primary, it was either the school sweatshirt and tie with white top underneath of some kind and skirt or a summer dress in the school colour, either gingham or stripy.

BertieBotts · 25/05/2012 10:27

Oh no, 4 out of 5 have blazers now. But the school which used to have tacky looking sweaters now has tacky looking blazers, and polo shirts. It's polo shirts I object to at secondary, TBH. Teenage sweatiness + polo shirts = ugh. Fine for an hour-long PE lesson, but no more.

Wow, I never realised I was such a uniform snob

I still think they should be allowed to remove them, though.

ripsishere · 25/05/2012 10:58

I was looking around the assembly this morning. I'd say at least 4/10 children had cardigans or sweatshirts on including my DD. Her summer uniform is gingham dress or the girls can wear the boys one of grey shorts and white logo'd polo shirt.

desertgirl · 25/05/2012 13:34

DS has insisted on wearing his jumper to school the last couple of days. It is in the high 30s here; and looks completely insane. He claims the classroom gets cold.... his teacher expressed concern that he may be ill; I think it has more to do with being 5.

Original poster

takingiteasy · 25/05/2012 13:45

Some of these rules are crazy! What kind of power trip are some heads on waiting to declare young people can remove their jumpers in the sweltering heat?

Thankfully there's nothing as odd or archaic at ds's school. Just a mad dinner lady! Teacher got back to me it seems to have stemmed from earlier in the year when some kids were coming in t shirts on cold days.

OP posts:

DamselInDisgrace · 25/05/2012 15:27

BertieBotts: I like polo shirts at all stages of schooling. Shirts and ties are just awful (on everyone, frankly). There's always antiperspirant for any sweatiness issues.

The mere thought of 'business casual' in sixth form makes me feel queasy.

rainydaysarebad · 25/05/2012 15:35

OP did you find out who "Betty" was? Sounds spooky.

BanoffeeSplitz · 25/05/2012 16:00

Sarcalogos, you are probably right about the white shirts being see through - DD always insists on wearing a (white) vest so that her (white) bra can't be seen through it, even on boiling hot days.

Her shirt isn't tight or low cut btw but you can just about see evidence of a bra underneath it if not covered by a thick white vest - apparently this is 'sketty'.
See also needing to wear cycle briefs under skirts (so that no-one can see your knickers even though the skirt is a decent length ) even if you are already wearing opaque tights...

All makes me sweat just thinking about it, wearing all those layers of underwear can't be healthy on a normal day let alone a boiling one.

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