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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that forciing children to wear thick blazers/jumpers...

146 replies

nomorequotes · 19/05/2014 19:04

...in hot weather is a breach of human rights?

Why do schools have the right to tell our children to be uncomfortable at school?

OP posts:
EverythingsDozy · 20/05/2014 14:04

In high school we were made to wear blazers. I do remember not wearing them outside but had to be wearing them walking into lessons and had to ask to take them off.
We had to ask in French in French lessons Hmm est ce je peux enlevez ma vest, sil vous plait Madame?

Callani · 20/05/2014 14:12

I can vividly remember being at school, sat in history class with all the lights off and the windows open (all of 2 inches) because it was so hot and sweat literally dripping down my neck from the heat. We weren't allowed to take our blazers off because it was before Easter break so even the teachers weren't allowed to give us permission. Funny, isn't it, that I can remember feeling that uncomfortable and haven't the foggiest what the lesson was about? I thought the rule was ridiculous then and I think it's even more ridiculous now.

AlpacaLypse · 20/05/2014 14:16

Blazers at dtds secondary are compulsory and may only be removed on very warm days if HT authorises it. Jumpers are not compulsory, but there is no way the girls will remove them as not having a jumper is deeply deeply uncool. In the same way as they absolutely will not wear a coat even in blizzard conditions and under no circumstances will back packs ever be worn over both shoulders or PE kit be carried in a proper kit bag. It has to travel in a carrier bag from whichever is the coolest shop they've ever bought clothes in.

They're nearing the end of year 10 now, only just over a year to go - yay!

Sallystyle · 20/05/2014 14:51

I am waiting for a text to say that they are now allowed to take off their blazers. Usually it has to get to about 26 before that text comes through.

Mine came home yesterday looking all hot and sweaty, they have to wear a thick tank top under their blazer as well.

I also hate how none of them wear coats in freezing cold weather because they have no where to put them when they get into school, although even if they did it is too uncool to wear them, apparently.

coldwater1 · 20/05/2014 15:12

My daughters school says they must wear the blazer at all times but can take the jumper off. I buy her short sleeves shirts for hot weather and she said she manages ok. Rules are rules and if it annoyed me so much i would not have sent her there but i'm fine with it.

moldingsunbeams · 20/05/2014 15:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LilacRoses · 20/05/2014 15:17

This sort of things makes me SO pissed off! It is absolutely pathetic. Thank god I work in a school with no uniform. Dd goes to one with a sensible policy at the moment but I hope her high school isn't one of these ridiculous places.

Fullpleatherjacket · 20/05/2014 15:20

YANBU.

I was Hmm when it transpired the children at my DC's school had to wait to be given permission from a teacher to take their blazers off.

Back in the day we were left to decide for ourselves. I can't imagine how or why that has changed in supposedly more enlightened times.

Nocomet · 20/05/2014 15:24

YANBU
I think DDs school tried to force jumper wearing on summer before the DDs stared there.

It was massively unpopular and they now have Summer polo shirts and no one worries if they have jumpers in school or not.

LemonSquares · 20/05/2014 15:50

YANBU

My secondary did this - had to have them on outside, between lessons, could take them off during lessons with permission - and yes in French class we had to ask in French and if we had them off in class and another adult walked in we were supposed to stand and put our blazer back on. We were supposed to wear them on way home but no one on our bus did though there were occasional check-ups by one twat of a deputy head.

Worry when DS with eczema gets to secondary - several secondary’s round here are very prescriptive on type of trouser having to get 100% cotton can be hard enough without a certain style/make as well as overheating concerns caused by blazers and lack of common sense.

gleegeek · 20/05/2014 15:51

Dd's current school (juniors) has no policy apart from a polo shirt with the school logo has to be worn at all times. Hooray! The secondary she will go to in September has the ridiculous keeping jumpers on unless given permission to remove them rule.

Dd suffers from panic attacks, particularly when she gets hot, so I'm looking forward to some interesting conversations when this arisesHmm She definitely has some sensory issues (can't bear labels on clothes, uncomfortable layers, sequins through tshirts etc) but I think I'll probably see how dd gets on before I tell them all her issues....

5madthings · 20/05/2014 15:59

My boys high school just called me back 're this, they can talk them off in lessons if they ask and they don't have to wear them in the way home, after hAlf term they don't have to wear them! Yay!

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 20/05/2014 16:15

My old school had a rule we had to have blazers on at all times. In the summer, it was torture, since our uniforms were mainly black and for some unknown reason, the radiators were on sometimes.

FreudiansSlipper · 20/05/2014 16:18

at ds school (which is very strict about the uniform) they only have to wear it in the playground when lining up to go into class

i have not heard of children having to wear their blazer/jumper in school when it is hot or at playtime

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 20/05/2014 16:21

Eventually, the school did relent on the rule, because the students wouldnt stop claiming, we could remove them in class if was asked, but had to wear them outside of class.

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 20/05/2014 16:21

claiming=complaining.

ouryve · 20/05/2014 16:35

It's hardly conducive to kids being alert and ready to learn.

Both of mine would end up with heat rashes, if they were forced to dress like that. And DS1 would probably end up having a meltdown.

I'm all for a neat but practical uniform, but it needs to be comfortable.

halfdrunktea · 20/05/2014 17:57

Yanbu - surely they could just wear a shirt without a blazer? They'll learn better if they're not hot and sweaty.
We didn't have blazers at my school but when it was hot the boys could take their ties off (girls didn't wear them anyway).

Nocomet · 20/05/2014 22:01

DDs have the ridiculous ask to remove your jumper rule, in winter uniform, but not after Easter

PedantMarina · 20/05/2014 22:10

DS's school's sole difference between summer and winter uniforms is shorts or trousers (in that order). Same huge acrylic long-sleeved jumper, same wool blazer, same stupid poly-cotton short-sleeved shirt.

If just another "torso" element was different, I could see A Point (if not THE Point...). Say, no jumper in summer, just blazer, or cotton knit sleeveless jumper. Something.

MoonSong · 20/05/2014 22:11

Agree with OP.

Arky · 20/05/2014 22:44

I completely agree with you. At the very least kids should be able to take off blazers and sweaters in class even if they have to wear them walking around.

Trish10000t · 23/06/2014 18:53

I get that substituting a cotton sleeveless jumper would be better than a heavy long sleeved jumper, but what is the point in making them wear a sweater in the summer, when they are also wearing a blazer? Isn't a blazer enough? Why make them wear a garment designed for warmth in hot weather?

DogCalledRudis · 23/06/2014 19:01

I have a hatred about school uniforms in general. I'd rather have my DC wearing NORMAL clothes to school.

Picturesinthefirelight · 23/06/2014 19:02

Dd. & ds both go to different private schools. At both jumpers are optional. Blazers have to be worn on formal occasions eg assembly/school functions.

Dd can wear a short sleeved open collar blouse in summer.