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

canada goose fur and down policy

This looks as good as it will get from a 'using and killing animals' perspective.

Could they do more (looking at welfare standards, not outright ban)?

It's protecting those kids, like ths kid I was, who have unbranded-or worse, cheap branded- clothes. I was ridiculed and humiliated in high school for my Nick's trainers and it's fucking horrible. There is nothing that you, as a kid, can.do.about having poor parents or parents who won't get into debt to keep you up with your peers, but the twats who make your life miserable don't care.

I'm sorry this happened you but if the school banned expensive trainers those twats would have found something else to tease you about. The school should spend their time and effort trying to deal with the toxic atmosphere that allows bullying and teasing of pupils who don't have the latest whatever. It isn't a given that a wealthy school will have this atmosphere (dd2 is in a school with many very wealthy pupils- private plane wealth - and no one comments on lack of clothes or gear). Good leadership and strong pastoral care can create a better atmosphere.

If I was the head teacher of that school watching kids being made to feel shit because they can't have a 4 figure coat I couldn't stand idle.

I agree. But while I wouldn't care about the coat ban it doesn't deal with the real issue - kids being made to feel shit because they don't have something expensive. That is what I would deal with rather than kicking the problem down the road to the next conspicuous luxury.

Wirral if the coat was made of the furs of rabbits killed to eat, why wouldn't it be ok? Otherwise the furs would be going in the bin anyway.

And yeah you're right that leather is largely produced in India from cattle raised and slaughtered purely for their skin. Most leather is not a by-product of the meat industry. That's a good example of how most people have zero idea where their food/clothes come from!

It is pretty pathetic that there are parents who are so self absorbed making purchases for their DC to wear to school and that is all that matters.

There is also the parent who feels pretty shit that they cannot provide their DC with the same status symbols. Their DC is just supposed to suck it up because they are poor and just some “random kids in their class” who do not matter in the eyes of the rich parent. Such a self centred parent will also instill the same values in their own DC.

Inequality in action.

Going off topic here but Canada Goose jackets should be banned anyway due to the sickening cruelty of the fur being ripped off the coyote while it’s still alive. Perhaps if kids saw a clip of this they would change their minds.

@pallisers largely I agree with you. But school uniform itself is supposed to tackle toxic inequality isn't it?
I agree the Canada whatever coats are a symptom and not the disease but I can't think of a more extreme example - as I said earlier it's such a leap from the usual example - I don't think most branded trainers are more than £100. Except those Balenziaga things.

Thinking about my kids school. Very middle class suburb and school demographic pretty even. V v low fsm. I couldn't identify the brand on about 70% of kids. About 3 Barbour, handful of joules, few more m and s, I'm guessing the rest are next type items. Hype and smiggle back packs and a few of that new scandi brand - lots of Harry Potter :-) glad none of these kids here have to deal with this Canada goose shit.

@Aroundtheworldandback that's not even off topic it's very very relevant and makes it all so much more crass

The school is in one of the most deprived areas in the country. Slap bang in middle of two biggest council estates in Birkenhead.

Truth of it is there will be alot of children in that school who fall into the very poorest demographic. And already have the odds stacked against them.

If stopping them from worrying about being picked on for not having a designer coat im all for it.

I can also imagine alot of those are fakes from manchester markets.

It also seems to be an almost uniform for the roughest scally kids. So I imagine this is another reason for teachers to discourage them. The huge hoods are very good for hiding faces and identities behind.

Imagine one of those ending up in lost property or just plain going missing!

More teaching time wasted dealing with the problems they cause, no doubt when they get damaged the school will be held responsible, sad faces in the DM!

Better article about it here

abcnews.go.com/International/british-school-bans-pricey-canada-goose-coats-hopes/story?id=59290750

I can see why a value based ban makes sense. I was privately educated, including time at one of the priciest boarding schools in the country. No one would have worn that sort of coat to school where I boarded. The money to buy us that sort of thing went on school fees! People did have some labelled stuff and things like nice quality make-up but never usually anything that expensive, even when people got naice 18th presents. People didn't want nice stuff to vanish, plus only overseas students or very new money dressed like that.

I don't see why you'd give a 12yo something they'd get so little cost-per-wear out of before it got lost, damaged or outgrown. Especially in a climate where it's not needed. There's also the fact that labels don't make an unpopular kid look cool. And in the absence of CG, they'll find something else to live and die by. Decent quality is one thing but buying just to show off is quite another.

And here

www.thesun.co.uk/news/7743616/school-bans-canada-goose-moncler-pyrenex-coats/

At dd's school you're only allowed to wear the school uniform coat, not that any of them seem to wear it.

They're going to school on the Wirral, not on an Antarctic trek. Spending hundreds on a coat for school is madness.

Ugh I googled. I couldn't wear it if you paid me. Horrid horrid nightmare inducing images of torture

£1000 for a coat?! Anyone who would spend that on a coat for a kid at all, far less to wear to school, is mental.

I know it’s unworkable but I’d love to see schools ban all labels. Kids boast about them when they’ve done nothing to actually earn the money to pay for them themselves and kids who can’t afford them feel inferior. Not a great message to send out in schools

wealth shaming Fucking hell, heard it all now.

@BakedBeans47 exactly. Every word

i bought CG coat new from baby /kids shop for £400 3 year ago and has been passed down from one son to another. very warm coat. He wears to school all winter (age9) . Never had it lost or misplaced.
its my right to make that choice. You call it immoral . i call it choice. its not illegal. whats next ban iphones and bring back nokia 3310 . get over yourselves .
Take a visit into harvey nics and try one on you might just like .

Won't somebody think of the teachers?
"Jonny's lost his coat / someone got paint on it"
"Oh dear, Jonny, have you looked on all the pegs / given it the once over with a wetwipe?"
"It's worth £800."
Super.

@wirralsquirral Yeah okay they are going to write the perfect summation on their website aren't they? Try this one: www.peta.org.uk/action/spread-word-canada-goose-cruelty/

Im not a huge fan of PETA but they get the point across.

Your confused emoji is popping up in every post and I'm not really sure what it is you're not getting. I don't wear leather, I was merely suggesting WHY some people may feel leather is better than fur, which was your original question, and my initial point. You're picking at people taking a stance against something because they might do something else. Why can't they just stand against something without your confused emoji popping up?

Also, if you want to wear fur then go right ahead, I couldn't give a bloody monkeys it's completely your choice.

I don't like fur, which is completely my choice. Why you feel the need to question and try and belittle my (and others') stance or something I don't know.

bandito
This.

I get multiple phonecalls/emails a year asking what I'm going to do about lost PE kits and coats.
I've also had calls complaining claiming staff have stolen and lost confiscated jewellery that's very expensive (despite school having a no jewellery policy). Staff hadn't lost it but it was highly annoying listening to parental threats of suing the school and reporting to the police. Amusingly enough, those parents aren't the wealthiest in school. The most wealthy families in every school I've worked in don't send their kids in wearing symbols of wealth.

Never have so many Mumsnet themes been collated on one thread. Including, gloriously, "new money" and scrimping for school fees!

Despite the very distressing animal cruelty which by buying this item you are agreeing with. Shame on you. But you bang on about your rights.....much more important than coyotes being skinned alive.

It's just a bit tragic. Needing to send your kid to school in a grand coat - not skiing or on holiday or to a nice party or something- but school.

Fur wearing has always been the most crass form of pathetic wealth flashing. This isn't a new debate.

BetrandRussell nails it!

I imagine they are mostly fakes. There were a lot of fakes floating around my kids primary school in a more deprived area. Not coats at that age, but fake toys - fake pokemon cards etc.

We've moved to a school in a wealthier area and I haven't spotted a single fake. There is a bigger range of cost being spent on clothes but less pressure to have the latest whatever.

It's interesting... And I'm glad we've escaped the pressure of fakes everywhere for now. It gives kids a totally unrealistic expectation if what might be affordable.