Schoolgirls face ban on skirts.

[Gruach]

Personally, I appear to have lost all power of speech ...

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/f08d6f1a-7ca5-11e8-8ce4-0bcac63244b2

Oh FFS. I'm actually a firm believer in 'gender-neutral' uniform policies. I don't think there's any good reason why boys and girls should have to wear different clothes.

But 'gender-neutral' doesn't have to mean all children wear trousers. It can mean presenting the options and letting the child choose.

My girls are only primary age, but they have always chosen to wear skirts and dresses and find them comfortable and practical. They rarely wear trousers, even outside school. My youngest is incredibly slim, so getting trousers to fit can be an issue.

Don't force girls to wear trousers, just let everybody choose.

School trousers are horrible and I would have hated wearing them. This is ridiculous. I sometimes wonder if I’m in the same UK as people in these articles because I have 2 girls in separate schools and trousers are not an option at either. They are not mentioned on the uniform list and school shop doesn’t make : stock them. At DS’ school, they are apparently an option for girls, but I’ve seen a girl take up the option.

Would anyone like to paste the article so the rest of us don't have to pay to read it?

Haven’t loads of schools been doing this for years? Except for years it’s been framed as ‘Why are girls forced to wear skirts?’ and gender neutrality in uniforms has been seen as a good thing that this is happening less and less. Now, because ‘trans-panic’ has become fashionable in certain sections of the media, the (extremely goady) headline is ‘Girls face a ban on skirts’.

‘Face a ban’? As if this is some major trauma that will potentially psychologically scar them for life? It’s a UNIFORM, for God’s sake. Schoolchildren male and female have ‘faced a ban’ on jeans and T-shirts and trainers because they’re obliged to wear a set uniform. Somehow no one has died. I think the secondary school girls of Britain will battle on somehow.

I’m obviously missing something, this seems like one of the less ridiculous uniform rules. Personally I’d do away with uniform altogether but if you’re going to have one then trousers seem ok to me.

About time. Why shouldn’t girls and boys wear the same thing? Be treated the same where clothes are concerned? Trousers are practical and comfortable. They could add shorts for all in the summer.

The only way to stop this crap is to fight back. If every girl wore a skirt they would have to change the rules surely. I would show up in a skirt every day especially in this weather.

I would show up in a skirt every day especially in this weather

Thigh chaffing ?

Would anyone like to paste the article so the rest of us don't have to pay to read it

If you register on The Times website, you can read a limited number of articles for free without anyone else needing to break copyright rules.

@CoughLaughFart

I only ever wore skirts as a teen because I have autism and couldn't stand wearing trousers. This rule would have been disastrous for me.

How on earth have boys managed all these years one wonders.

I would show up in a skirt every day especially in this weather.

So I presume if it’s a weather/comfort-related issue that you’d be fighting for boys to be allowed to wear shorts in summer?

Surely it's because trousers and shorts are more practical and sensible items foe school? nothing to do with trans surely?

@NewYearNewMe18 I've not had that issue this year but when I did I would use talc or cream for the problem areas.

Trousers are not always practical I have a yr 1 child and she can still struggle with buttons when she goes to the toilet so it is better for her to wear a skirt or summer dress in this heat. I also have the very slim child issue and getting dresses that fit is a lot easier than it is to get trousers that do.

They could add shorts for all in the summer

I would show up in a skirt every day especially in this weather

There are schools which ban shorts - so we then get the usual headlines of boys who have been told they can't wear shorts turning up in skirts instead.

Schools are so ridiculous when it comes to uniform codes.They shouldn't be restricted to boys must wear this, girls must wear that.

I only ever wore skirts as a teen because I have autism and couldn't stand wearing trousers. This rule would have been disastrous for me.

So presumably if an autistic boy felt he couldn’t wear a blazer or tie, even though they were compulsory uniform items, you’d make the same argument?

My dd never wears trousers and wears skirts and dresses out of school too. Why not let boys wear skirts if they are so inclined. Rather than banning clothing, make it open to all

Ours is skirt by default but girls can now wear trousers. We were told it's because they recognise that not all girls are comfortable in skirts for various reasons and they want them all feel comfortable. Choice for all is the way forward surely

I wish people would stop finding creepy reasons for banning skirts. It is a simple equality issue and a practicality one.

@CoughLaughFart Yes of course. They should wear shorts in the summer. It's too hot and they should be comfortable.

Paywall.

I don't see the problem. Skirts have proven to be impossible to police as some kids who wear skirts ignore the rules on skirt length. I do think shorts should be an option for both sexes in the summer term.

The change to trousers comes as schools opt for gender-neutral uniforms to cater for transgender pupils

Here's a thought.

Why not let pupils wear what they want?