School ban Canada goose coats

[Unicornandbows]

I feel slightly on the fence.. What do you think?

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/16/schools-right-ban-pupils-wearing-designer-coats

Whether of course fur is needed to protect your face from frostbite in the Wirral is another question.

It’s the huuuuuge furry hoods that amuse me.

That is my experience though, Bertrand. Just because it isn't your reality, doesn't mean it doesn't happen! However, like anything else in life, coats or schools are choice and a priority and up to the consumer. You can't deny that they make a certain impression though and you can't control what other people think. If someone wants/can afford/prioritises CG- their choice. But ime at school, the only kids who wore that sort of thing to school came from places that made a big thing of conspicuous wealth or were desperate to be noticed and thought of as loaded. It was about as unattractive as any other insecurity.

CG is also the sort of item that I would be told no to- on the grounds that it was v expensive, unnecessary in the uk and that school fees were paid instead. I didn't go without but I wasn't indulged like that. But that is my experience, not anyone elses. I'm sure I buy plenty of stuff that people who buy CG coats disapprove of or would think a waste of money. I accept being judged for that.

Agree with schools banning them for being PITA items to have on school premises though.

I thought it was good, even growing up in a poor area there were still many kids bullied for not being able to afford branded jackets or trainers at school - it was awful.

In my opinion, when there's bully, the fault lies in the kid and possibly his / her parents (either lack of or unhealthy parent/child relationship), but definitely not a coat, no matter how much it costs.

I think blaming coats and trainers for bullying is a cop out. Kids at dc's school are bullies for their hair or they talk funny or they are a bit disorganised or they smell funny - you can't ban these things...you have to deal with the culture of bullying head on, not excuse it.

This is my old school and many of my friends have children that currently attend this school. There have been similar issues in the past with regards bullying and school bags so the school banned branded bags and bought out their own generic bag a while ago.

A few parents are annoyed as they wanted this policy to be phased in before the beginning of the school year in September or January, they were irritated that it was a notification sent out with just a few days notice of implementation. Overall a majority of the parents seem to have responded positively and are in favour of this new policy.

Personally I would never buy or send my DC's to school wearing a valuable coat. My DC's attended other schools on the Wirral, DS is dyspraxic and we usually have at least 2 coats go missing every year so I put a £25 limit on a school coat. His previous school implemented the same policy 2 years ago but have been very lax in implementing it but that was because parents were complaining about their DC's losing them and not because of bullying issues.

I think that is the thing schools should not be responsible for 100s of £ worth of coats losing a £25 coat is irritating parents contact school school looks in lost property no there aw well. I can imaginea parent creating hell if a fancy designer coat went missing no matter what they say they would be devestated and a school has enough to worry about.

So

The coats might be lost/damaged, and schools have to deal with angry parents when they have better things to do.

They are ethically shit and cost the equivalent of a week’s holiday to actual Canada. (Or more).

Some children will be bullied for not having the right label.

Some children will be vulnerable to county lines type drug gangs using them as runners.

Some children will wear fakes and in doing so be contributing to the black economy and crime.

The school is between two housing estates. Not Arctic tundras.

No, can’t see anything wrong with them at all.

I haven’t noticed any of the teenagers locally wearing Canada goose coats and we have some expensive private schools close by. I’m surprised that there are parents who are willing to pay so much for a coat that will be too small in a years time.
I am thinking of buying myself one. I really feel the cold and am on the look out for a super warm coat for the days I’m standing on the side of a rugby or football pitch for hours watching my children.

Schools should require pupils to wear hi-viz workwear coats. Warm waterproof and safe. Cheap to buy, not going to get damaged or stolen.

What do you mean it’s wealth shaming, is that a thing now?

@Ali1cedowntherabbithole spot on post.

Makes a mockery of Fairtrade Fortnight too

What sort of values is the parent teaching the child with a Canada Goose jacket - wear it to school and then be a bully because others cannot afford it. Knowing that there is a bullying issue, knowing that there is poverty in that school, what type of parent still insists on putting their children in designer clothes whilst not giving a damn about another child?

Canada Goose uses real fur, could this be the reason too?
At school we were banned luxury items as this would happen

I dont think it is bad tbh

CG coats should be banned because of fur sourcing reasons, couldn't care less about the cost. I feel negatively about wearing fur, seeing someone in a burberry doesn't do anything, except stir up some envy

Bits of dead coyote don't need to be in our schools, thanks. I think it's a good move.

My children’s secondary has a plain black or navy coat. No designer label. Plain black leather shoes. No exceptions. It a great school in a very affluent area and everyone abides by the rules. I think my daughters coats were £40 each.

I agree with the ban - this thread caught my attention as I had an interaction with a parent last week who came into school wanting to look for ‘the furry bit’ from his reception child’s coat “which cost £100” my mouth must have been agape - it was a Canada Goose coat, for a 4yr old. Of course, the child had taken off and lost the fur trim. This parent came and moaned at me, at the teacher, at the TA, at the headteacher - all because of the lost fur trim on the stupidly expensive coat. I suggested he visited primark for a cheaper coat next time

They retail form about £400 depending on style of coat
I got my son one from selfridges in the jan sale for £250. He wore it last year, he will wear it this year then his brother who is 2 years younger will get 2 years out of it . So that’s about £63 a winter.
Coats in next retail for that (£63) and I find them much better quality.
Saying that my children go to a school where brands don’t mean much. I bought it simply due to the quality and for me it is value for money if it will last 2 children 4 winters

I'm an adult and even I don't own a £1000 coat. I think its crazy to give kids such expensive items. The one up man-ship in schools is maddening...you're supposed to be there to learn, not show off. The parents that are happy to splash out of this stuff are just creating rods for their own backs not to mention narrowing their kids horizons and outlooks. And anyway...NO-ONE should be buying Canada Goose coats, they are boycotted and protested about regularly by animal rights groups, who are appalled at the conditions the animal they use are in. Birds stunned and plucked while still alive etc...just google it. I'd rather teach my kids about ethical shopping than trading logos in the play ground.

The parents are to blame .. I think the school has the right... for me from an ethical stand point Canadian Goose are the worst, (many others lined up behind), if the kids knew how these coats were made and the abuse the animals suffered for fashion.. they would be refusing to wear them and would rather be cold.

They should be banned in the UK and the world. These animals are skinned alive! Just so people can wear fur. Because it’s fashion. Why would anyone think it’s ok for animals to be skinned alive and kept in terrible conditions just for a bloody coat. 😡🥺

id sooner get rid of uniforms, but put a ban on expensive designer gear and logos.

a leather, denim or bomber is a jacket or coat and is warmer than wearing no coat- what's wrong with fashion
It's simple. Buy a proper coat that isn't a designer status symbol.
I seriously question how some parents can't see such a simple solution because they're too busy banging on about their child's right to wear what they want.

I look at the range of coats we have at my school and there's a range of colours, rarely stupidly expensive brands and a range of styles. They are warm and practical and look nice.

I love on this thread how some posters are acting like not being able to wear an expensive fashion item is somehow crippling tenagers' identities. Honestly, if someone's sense of identity and self is so fragile they require expensive products to manage life then they have more issues than uniform rules.