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AIBU?

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Original poster

Schoolgirls face ban on skirts.

226 replies

Gruach · 01/07/2018 08:15

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

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

OP posts:
Original poster
Gruach · 01/07/2018 08:50

(Just pretend I bolded or italicised all that ...)

OP posts:
PlantsArePeopleToo · 01/07/2018 08:50

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?

If wearing a blazer or tie was making that boy have panic attacks and meltdowns then yes I would.

MissusGeneHunt · 01/07/2018 08:50

Isn't the answer to have skirts, shorts, skorts and trousers available, all in an acceptable design for the uniform, then anyone can wear anything, and everyone's happy?! No breaking of uniform rules but individuality gets preserved??

hazeyjane · 01/07/2018 08:51

It is bloody daft.

I have 2 girls who choose to wear trousers and shorts

It's still bloody daft.

MrsKCastle · 01/07/2018 08:51

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?

I'd absolutely be fighting for that. And also for boys to have the option to wear skirts if they want.

Skirts are a normal clothing choice for girls and many girls prefer them to trousers. They can be very practical. I just don't really see why they should be written out of uniform policies.

I know the article is talking about secondaries, but if primary schools stopped allowing the gingham dresses in summer I would be furious. They're much cooler and more comfortable than shorts IMO.

PitterPatterOfBigFeet · 01/07/2018 08:52

How is this a big deal? Boys have been surviving wearing trousers all these years so what if girls do too?

Original poster
Gruach · 01/07/2018 08:52

All visible above now, Iceweasel.

OP posts:
kalapattar · 01/07/2018 08:52

They should wear shorts in the summer. It's too hot and they should be comfortable

I know it's off topic - but THIS. I seriously don't get schools that insist pupils must wear trousers in hot weather.

Babdoc · 01/07/2018 08:52

There are some good points to the policy. No risk of upskirting, much more practical for active play at break time, acceptable to religious fundamentalists, inclusive for people with gender dysphoria, ends all the rows about suitable skirt lengths, etc. My own DDs had to fight for the right to wear trousers at primary school, with a v traditional head.

GreenTulips · 01/07/2018 08:52

High school girls here are more covered in their casual wear than their school uniform

Maybe we should ban uniform!

PolkerrisBeach · 01/07/2018 08:52

DD is 13 and has never worn trousers to school. I have given her the option, she's just not interested and much prefers a skirt. She wouldn't be impressed being asked to wear trousers to accommodate the "gender neutral" brigade.

MrsKCastle · 01/07/2018 08:53

Yes, Missusgenehunt that is exactly what I think should happen.

Here are the uniform options: choose from these.

MarthasGinYard · 01/07/2018 08:54

Absolutely ridiculous

Iceweasel · 01/07/2018 08:54

Why not have the option of skorts as well as shorts for both sexes?

CoughLaughFart · 01/07/2018 08:54

If you went for a job that required wearing a uniform, and that uniform was trousers across the board, would you start lobbying for variations by gender there too? Or just accept that a uniform is usually just that - uniform? The clue is in the name.

lentillover · 01/07/2018 08:55

“School trousers are horrible” As opposed to school skirts which are a much-loved item of clothing Hmm

I can’t really see that this is something to get worked up about. As long as they don’t implement it overnight so that parents who have already paid out for one set of uniform don’t suddenly find it unusable and have to pay for another. It’s just a straightforward change in uniform policy, making it (more?) equal for boys and girls. Sounds sensible to me.

As to the give them a choice argument - where does it end? If your child only likes to wear strappy tops should they also have an option for that? What about if your child only likes to wear flip flops? Jeans? Pink clothes? Cycling shorts? Should they all be a choice too?

It’s a uniform, by definition it’s not free choice. Your children can wear whatever they want outside of school. In these schools they’ve made the perfectly reasonable choice to just have trousers.

foxssoxareinthebox · 01/07/2018 08:55

Oh for goodness sake. Where will this all end? This is just another area where this whole trans moment is affecting the rights and choices of women and girls. Summer school dresses are far more comfortable for girls in this hot weather and I happen to think they look really nice too. Whatever next? Requiring all girls to have short hair so that it doesn’t offend trans pupils? Eliminating female terms such as woman and girl? What about when they have sex ed lessons. Will the terminology have to be changed so as not to offend the infinitely TINY minority of trans pupils? I’m sick of it to be honest.

NeeChee · 01/07/2018 08:55

Whatever happened to culottes?
I don't recall myself ever being concerned as a young girl about flashing my pants at anyone, but I know some parents and teachers would not be comfortable with this. In this sense, skirts are not very practical, and depending on the style, could restrict movement.

SideOrderofSprouts · 01/07/2018 08:56

I don’t see th issue. The school I work in is trousers only for boys and girls.

No one has an issue

BaronessEllaSaturday · 01/07/2018 08:56

I like the way my daughter's school does it. It lists the options for uniform and makes no distinction between boys and girls so yes boys can wear skirts if they so choose. Shorts are also allowed.

While I can understand having a single item uniform policy the fact that it defaults to the traditional male model does show how sexist we still are as a society and it does not help in breaking that down. it reinforces the message that the correct way is the male way which will not do much good for building girls confidence in their own abilities

CoughLaughFart · 01/07/2018 08:57

She wouldn't be impressed being asked to wear trousers to accommodate the "gender neutral" brigade.

Schoolchildren are also rarely ‘impressed’ st being asked to wear blazers, ties and smart shoes. Yet no one is up in arms about it.

CherryPavlova · 01/07/2018 08:57

I’m old fashioned. I prefer skirts for girls but can see that this is nothing to do with the whole transgender agenda.
It’s because your average comprehensive school has girls with thick wedges around their waist and the lower edge of their knickers showing. That’s not always a good look. It puts male staff at risk of being called a pervert for “ looking at teenage legs”, gives school a poor reputation and distracts teenage boys from work. Not helpful to anyone.
I think school trousers are, on the whole ghastly but girls have brought it on themselves.
Much nicer to have a decent knee length kilt that can’t be rolled with opaque tights and a light, comfortable summer dress.

Iceweasel · 01/07/2018 08:58

All visible above now, Iceweasel.
Sorry, I'm multitasking and hadn't refreshed the page

BrexitWife · 01/07/2018 08:58

I suspect. The issue with the skirt is the fact girls wear them so ‘small’ and not according The the school policy that schools have had enough.

So basically it’s written as gender neutral to stop any comments when it’s actually an issue with behaviour and actually enforcing a rule (which my dcs secondary seems to be unable to do)