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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Primary School closed bubble expected to wear school uniform at home for video calls

269 replies

BrainAyche · 04/10/2020 18:26

YABU - they should wear school uniform at home for video calls
YANBU -let them wear their own (appropriate) clothes for home learning

My primary age child's school bubble has closed. They'll be having some video calls/lessons with school, and he's just told me they will have to wear uniform for the video meetings.
AIBU to think that is a bit daft? Unnecessary? OTT?

While I generally agree that uniform for schools is a good idea, for us personally, it is a faff and not having to nag my awkward child to put it on and hang it up every day would be a tiny perk to the challenging two weeks that is ahead of us.

AIBU to think stuff it, and let him wear what he wants?

OP posts:
Jellycatspyjamas · 04/10/2020 21:39

Their timetable will continue as normal, their teachers will be teaching lessons remotely and everyone is expected to be in attendance.

I wonder how working parents are meant to facilitate that, or families with limited WiFi provision or indeed no WiFi provision. Or parents with more than one child needing their presence or support.

modgepodge · 04/10/2020 21:48

@newmumwithquestions

I definitely wouldn’t be happy teaching kids who were in PJs, upper end of primary girls in little Shorts and vest tops?? No way. Some boys might just sleep in boxers! Yes, 5 year olds in full length pjs might just look like they’re in a tracksuit but there’s DEFINITELY potential for inappropriate clothing there.

Boxer shorts are not pjs! And by pjs I’m thinking of the ones my DDs have. Long sleeve tops with full length trousers. How is that inappropriate or a safeguarding concern? Whereas a school dress or skirt worn by a fidgety young child that gets up and down, climbs on the table, etc (mine do) would definitely be inappropriate. So surely parents should just be warned that children will be on video and to make sure they are dressed accordingly.

All that said I’d be delighted if our school were even considering video contact, or if they had done anything last lockdown. Great teachers in the classroom but were awful in lockdown. I hope we don’t lock down again.

As I said, some of the pjs would be fine. Others wouldn’t be. Therefore most schools went with a blanket ‘no pjs on calls’ rule if they did video lessons in the summer term.

I think the main thing this thread is proving is it is impossible to please everyone, or even most people. Whatever schools do, people will complain.

TigerDroveAgain · 04/10/2020 21:54

School uniforms are ridiculous in any event. Never seen the point of them, I’d be surprised if I ever will. Want to wear a uniform? Join the army

user1471447863 · 04/10/2020 22:34

Why would the children need their video to be on? The teacher should be presenting and be the one being looked at. There is no need to see the rest of them.
There could be younger siblings running around potty training, parents could even be naturists or something so what the pupil is wearing is hardly the biggest concern.
A spate of 'i don't know why my cameras not working/I can see my picture fine, I don't know why you cant see it' might be in order

lazylinguist · 04/10/2020 22:37

I'm a teacher and I think it's a bloody ridiculous idea. But then I'm not in favour of school uniform full stop.

BadDucks · 04/10/2020 22:43

My kids secondary school are not enabling children in yes 7-9 to use video on Teams lessons. Only teacher would be visible and kids would have the microphones on if they need to speak.

BadDucks · 04/10/2020 22:43

Year 7 to 9

Piwlyfbicsly · 04/10/2020 22:47

It's unnecessary IMHO. I do understand the value of wearing uniforms when physically going to school and I do understand the idea behind wearing the uniform while having a video call. But I would hope this unnecessary pressure on parents and children would be avoided in unprecedented times like this. Isolation is stressful enough for both parents and children and I am sure people would prefer not to be ordered to do something they wouldn't be doing normally in the comfort of their own home. I don't think that the uniform will convince a child who is unwilling to learn/uncomfortable with distance learning to absorb knowledge.

StripyHorse · 04/10/2020 22:52

The thing I am most angry about with this whole situation is that the govt has stomped in demanding schools teach video lessons in case of shut downs but without addressing the huge swathes of pupils without access to the technology to do this. This is just going to widen the educational gap even more.

Your child is getting lessons, that's the main issue. As long as that is ok, compromise and just get them to wear their polo shirt with jeans or joggers if that's what they would rather wear.

ineedaholidaynow · 04/10/2020 22:52

@newmumwithquestions the problem your definition of pjs might be different to other peoples

AutumnleavesturntoGold · 04/10/2020 22:54

I don't think there is any harm... But I'm amused at the... Bubble is closed, 😂.

Grobagsforever · 04/10/2020 22:59

For heaven's sake

The school has zero right or power to enforce this. Do it if you want. Don't if you don't want. But don't let some head teacher that never learnt the limits of their authority dictate what happens in your private home.

Jesus wept

Mischance · 04/10/2020 23:01

The school cannot dictate what your child wears at home - utterly ridiculous. Just ignore.

Ecosse · 04/10/2020 23:14

@Grobagsforever

Parents agree to abide by a school’s policies when they enrol their D.C. there.

In the same way as schools can make DC do homework, they get to decide on the dress code when DC are attending live lessons with school staff.

This sounds like a school with excellent high standards and I’d hope the headteacher would take strong action against any parent who refused to co-operate with the school’s policy on wearing uniform.

MoonJelly · 04/10/2020 23:19

Uniform is stupid at the best of times and the UK's obsession with it is unfathomable. To expect children to wear it at home is ridiculous.

Notyoungbutscrappyandhungry · 04/10/2020 23:23

They can request but they can't insist. Personally I'd ignore. If they complain I would remind them that I educated my child perfectly well until 4.5yrs and for the last 6 months without a uniform. Just wouldn't be happening.

Notyoungbutscrappyandhungry · 04/10/2020 23:24

[quote Ecosse]@Grobagsforever

Parents agree to abide by a school’s policies when they enrol their D.C. there.

In the same way as schools can make DC do homework, they get to decide on the dress code when DC are attending live lessons with school staff.

This sounds like a school with excellent high standards and I’d hope the headteacher would take strong action against any parent who refused to co-operate with the school’s policy on wearing uniform.[/quote]
You're hilarious. Please do tell us what action you think they could take? Parents have a duty to educate their children. They delegate that to schools, when my child is not at school I decide what is best. My parental authority is the overriding one.

Notyoungbutscrappyandhungry · 04/10/2020 23:27

@Smellbellina

Unless you’re trying to teach your child that he can ignore rules so long as he feels they’re daft

To be fair, that pretty much is what I am trying to teach my kids.
As a teacher and a parent I would personally ignore that rule.

Yep. Ignoring/challenging bad rules is an essential life skill and important for society. Study Milgram.
ineedaholidaynow · 04/10/2020 23:29

How hard is it to put a school jumper on a child, you could even put it over other clothes. Parents complain when schools don't provide work, they complain when schools do provide work. I wonder if other countries have this problem

Notyoungbutscrappyandhungry · 04/10/2020 23:30

@ineedaholidaynow

How hard is it to put a school jumper on a child, you could even put it over other clothes. Parents complain when schools don't provide work, they complain when schools do provide work. I wonder if other countries have this problem
Most other countries don't have school uniform.
ineedaholidaynow · 04/10/2020 23:33

If the parents aren't going to bother with the jumper are they not going to bother with the schoolwork either

Notyoungbutscrappyandhungry · 04/10/2020 23:35

@ineedaholidaynow

If the parents aren't going to bother with the jumper are they not going to bother with the schoolwork either
The two are completely unrelated. One is a pointless power trip, the other is educating your child.
MoonJelly · 04/10/2020 23:37

@ineedaholidaynow

How hard is it to put a school jumper on a child, you could even put it over other clothes. Parents complain when schools don't provide work, they complain when schools do provide work. I wonder if other countries have this problem
Why force the kid to wear a jumper when they don't need to? Plus I'm sure schools that go in for this sort of ridiculous diktat probably expect to see blazers, shirts and ties and aren't above making the children stand so they can see what's on their lower halves.
MoonJelly · 04/10/2020 23:38

@ineedaholidaynow

If the parents aren't going to bother with the jumper are they not going to bother with the schoolwork either
My DS has sensory problems and can't cope with long sleeves. I don't make him wear a jumper and have made it clear to the school that I expect them to make reasonable adjustments for his disability. However, I have made it equally clear to DS that I expect him to take his schoolwork very seriously indeed.
Comtesse · 04/10/2020 23:42

This is ludicrous. Literally one of the stupidest things I have ever read. What will they do if a child doesn’t follow the rules? Send them home??? Come on....

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