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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To dislike the Christmas jumper day

123 replies

wintersbranches · 07/12/2016 16:12

My school are doing it. I know it's optional but let's face it, there's pressure even from adults to conform.

It's to support a local worthy charity but wouldn't it be so much better if we could give £1 to the charity and save however much on buying a stupid jumper?

OP posts:

Original poster

wintersbranches · 07/12/2016 19:55

The thing is if you don't wear a Christmas jumper you have to wear normal school uniform which is going to be upsetting to a thirteen year old.

OP posts:

LittleBusses · 07/12/2016 19:55

And, yes... this sort of insubordination cold put you on the radar to be on his way out... (you could be labelled a trouble maker).

Original poster

wintersbranches · 07/12/2016 19:56

You see I don't think the head is trying to be cruel. I think she thinks she is upholding high standards of uniform. It's just going to be a shame as I know some families will struggle. But I think sometimes there can even be a judgement attached to that - 'oh they can afford cigs / mobiles / booze but won't fork out for a jumper.'

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Original poster

wintersbranches · 07/12/2016 19:57

Oh I would be. No question.

OP posts:

merrymouse · 07/12/2016 19:59

YANBU at all.

Any jumpers bought new are going to make far more money for the Christmas jumper industry than the charity, and realistically, there is peer pressure to have a new jumper.

Hippee · 07/12/2016 20:03

Sometime I think that schools don't look at this kind of thing from the parents' point of view - we've just had "wear something spotty" for Children in Need - yes, we could have drawn spots onto plain t-shirts, but even that is a waste, if they are never going to wear them again. This week we have a 1940s day and they have to wear something 1980s on Monday. I'm losing the will ... Knowing our school they'll spring a Christmas jumpers day on us the day before. YANBU.

littlesallyracket · 07/12/2016 20:04

YANBU. People are expected to spend a tenner on a shit jumper they can only wear once a year, and pay a measly quid to a charity to wear it. Why can't they give the tenner to the charity instead?

Primark do a lot better out of the deal than the charities, frankly.

Original poster

wintersbranches · 07/12/2016 20:06

Yeah, they do. Seems wrong when families struggle.

OP posts:

ALittleMop · 07/12/2016 20:07

YANBU in the slightest and it drives me insane

It's a TERRIBLE fundraising model - an invitation to go and spend upwards of a tenner on something probably made in a dangerous sweatshop by slave children to raise £1 for Save The Children. And its another unnecessary cost for families at the worst time of year.

I think your Head should be ashamed of his or herself, tbh for being so fucking unaware.

strangehumour · 07/12/2016 20:10

This happens at my children's school too - along with spotty day and many other various dress up days. There are always those comments of "oh, just buy something cheap from the supermarket" and "just buy a white t-shirt and fabric pens then draw all over it". It baffles me as to whether people remember the point of these special days - isn't it to raise money for a charity rather than a shop. Many parents spend £5 - £10+ in the shops just to give a £1 to charity. So wrong. Also, aren't we mean't to be reducing our waste rather than buying more?

These dress up days are fine for people who already have spotty clothes, christmas jumpers, onesies etc but to require everyone else to buy them specially is wrong. It should be optional dress-up/non-uniform so all the children can join in.

I know, I should go suck a humbug.

Original poster

wintersbranches · 07/12/2016 20:10

The more i think about it the more cruel and fucked up the whole thing seems.

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FrancesHaHa · 07/12/2016 20:16

YANBU.
DDs school have a 'wear something Christmassy' day. They can wear a bit of tinsel, or a cheapy Christmas headband from the pound shop.

I think it's deliberate to not put families under unnecessary financial strain - there's very few requests for money throughout the year.

Not sure why all schools don't do the same really

Original poster

wintersbranches · 07/12/2016 20:18

No, nor me. This I think would be the sensible way of going about it. I know some families are really struggling. I guess people are just thinking 'well it's optional' but it underestimates the emotional impact of telling your 12 year old no.

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HelenaDove · 07/12/2016 20:20

"Sometime I think that schools don't look at this kind of thing from the parents' point of view"

Yet schools expect parents to see their point of view when their budgets are slashed.

From what i can see its never reciprocated!

SparklesandBangs · 07/12/2016 20:20

Always hated this idea of having to buy something especially for a school day. Usually with about 3 days notice and as I work this meant that all the local shops had sold out by the time I could get to them (think green t-shirt for sports day and the stampede to get to Matalan at 3.15 and I'm not joking)

I'm not hard up and if my DC had wanted 10 Christmas jumpers we could have bought them. BUT they don't and especially when in the first few years at senior school though that they were incredibly naff. I also hate having some children in uniform and some not and I understand it is a way of fundraising but is it really the best that can be done.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 07/12/2016 20:21

It's really shit. I don't actually own a jumper as I get way too hot in one so I wouldn't be buying one especially so I could look like a twat AND be too hot all day!

Yoarchie · 07/12/2016 20:22

People are getting wise to this. We just had a Christmas jumper day at school. Almost all the kids turned up wearing jumpers 3 sizes too small. My dd has worn hers 3 years running. I'm considering a 4th year but it might actually rip being that small. So it may go to a friend, whose dd will also wear it for several years.
Buy massive. Share around.

Original poster

wintersbranches · 07/12/2016 20:22

I have a Christmas t shirt for this reason. And it looks like it has a willy on it

So I will literally look like a dick.

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LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 07/12/2016 20:23

And not everyone loves Christmas, particularly adults. I hate it so being forced into that kind of 'jollity' would make me want to poke my eyes out...

SparklesandBangs · 07/12/2016 20:25

I used to have a bright red jumper (nice and thin) which I accessorised with tinsel as required. DC usually had a winter jumper and did similar.

I now have a Christmas Jumper to wear just to embarrass the teenagers although I am not sure I will wear it our in public.

Still don't think any of the DC have specific Christmas jumpers.

Cherrysoup · 07/12/2016 20:26

We've been told to wear a Christmas jumper, as have the kids this week. Oddly, tho, we're otherwise not supposed to mention Christmas due to the religion of two of the children (out of 600+ and there were no other complaints from the varied religions seen in our school) Odd. There are no decorations up, so how come we have to wear a sodding jumper? I don't have one and I refuse to buy one. Totally ridiculous.

CancellyMcChequeface · 07/12/2016 20:30

YANBU. When I worked in a primary school there were very frequent dress-up days and staff were pressured to join in and wear themed costumes too - I almost never participated, but then I wasn't too bothered about what others thought of me and would say that it was impractical/not my thing. (Some of it was weird - adults wearing pyjamas to school seems really unprofessional...)

Not everyone can afford to buy a Christmas jumper, and that includes those who have the money but have priorities other than a jumper which a child will wear once a year. Making children who don't have the jumpers wear school uniform instead is just mean. If the object is to raise money for a charity, it makes far more sense for them to wear their own clothes and donate £1.

On all these dress-up days at my school, there would always be the odd child whose parents forgot and brought them in uniform, and they'd usually be very distressed (if they were Reception or KS1 I'd let them pick out a costume from the home corner!) - I can't understand why a headteacher would want to do this to children on purpose!

Original poster

wintersbranches · 07/12/2016 20:31

Neither do I.

I just can't get my head around it at all.

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sj257 · 07/12/2016 21:56

I made sure I got them big enough last year that they will still fit this year lol

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 07/12/2016 22:10

I blame Bridget Jones. All these stupid £££ 'christmas' jumpers aren't apache on the weird hand-knitted crap jumpers we used to have to wear in the 80s...

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