To contact the school about this tomorrow

[cornbeeflegs]

My eldest DD (13) goes swimming with one of her friends on a Wednesday evening, has done since last August, at the local leisure centre. She goes straight from school to her friend's house, has dinner, does homework, etc and then they go to the pool for 8pm, spend an hour in the open swim session, then she gets dropped back here by one of friend's parents.
She came back very subdued this evening, thought maybe she'd had a fallout with friend or something, eventually she opened up and said she'd got into trouble with one of her teachers. Asked her which lesson it was in and what had happened, then she said it was at swimming.
Apparently DD and friend had been waiting for their lift home after swim session when one of their teachers had seen them, recognised them as being from her school because they were in uniform, and then proceeded to tell them off for not wearing it as per school rules, even though they weren't at school they were still "representing the school" by wearing it. She's asked them both to see her first thing tomorrow morning.
Usually I'm supportive of school and if my children transgress the rules then they face the consequences. But surely this is too harsh?

Ridiculous! If they were behaving poorly in school uniform out of school then fine, but this seems a step too far

Send DD with brief note saying she will not be doing the lines and please contact me.

Id call them

Is it a private school?

This is very weird. I would contact the head of the school and complain. It’s utterly bizarre.

If my children went shopping after school I did make sure they kept their tie and blazer on as I know the school policy.

My child forget to register the first time he did a school event out of school grounds. He got five lunch time detentions.

What was the teacher wearing at the time?

@Ileflottantele @1Micem0use I do think the examples of drinking and smoking in uniform are totally different though, if kids are wearing uniform outside of school most schools would consider that they are representing the school still and would deem it punishable.

I would expect my DCs to be punished if they were doing something wrong whilst wearing their uniform as I am fairly sure this is mentioned in the schools policies, I suspect its a standard policy for most schools.

"DD will not be doing the lines or participating in any more punitive action over this complete non-issue, please contact me to discuss further with the relevent passages in the school behaviour contract/handbook at hand, thank you"

In other words... Fuck off and bully someone else's kid cos this shit isn't going to fly here.

Strange to put ties back on after swimming. Tie or not I think the teacher is OTT

My child's high school has a fairly strict/pedantic uniform policy but I've just gone back and checked what it says about uniform when outside the school - all it specifies is that uniform must be worn when going to and from school. I think it would be seriously pushing it to say that at 9pm it still counts as "going from school". It's really unfair of the teacher.

At my son's secondary school, it says uniform must be worn correctly at all times even when not on school grounds, as they are representing the school.

Hss as opened to me in private school in another country 30-odd years ago! Every time we were in uniform, no matter where we were, we represented the school. We were told off and disciplined no matter where we were if we weren’t wearing it all properly, neatly etc! Looks like nothing has changed!!!!! 😳😬

*this happened

I'm boggling at the 100 lines punishment. We thought that was old fashioned when I was at school in the 1960s/70s!

When in school uniform you represent the school.
That’s the rule always.

I guess it's similar with some companies with logos ect, any thing you do can alter the perception of said company.

Teacher here... That's crazy. No need at all

It’s both utterly ridiculous and also something that most schools will say. If you’re wearing the uniform, wear it as per school guidelines.
When I was at school, we had girls get detentions 2/3 hours after school had finished for their ‘questionable’ deportment in school uniform. And I got a detention for walking down the local high street with my skirt rolled up at the waist to make it shorter. And another friend was dressed down in public for not having her shirt tucked in.
To be fair though this was always hammered home to us at the beginning of every year so we were totally aware. Was your daughter ever aware this was the case? If not I think pointing that out to the school is warranted. Otherwise YABU.

I don't think you being unreasonable. Even if their policy is you represent the school if your wearing school uniform. I think the teacher sounds like she/he is on a power trip. Surely the teacher having a quick chat about it to your DD would have sufficed.
100 lines/telling off outside of school is disproportionate. I would be asking for a conversation with the school.

This is ridiculous! If this power-mad teacher wants to be that petty - you can be too - and remind her that the school doesn't actually own your child's school uniform - YOU do. You purchased it and therefore it is your property. Outside of school, they are just "clothes" and are for you and your child to do with as you please.

As a PP mentioned - anyone could buy a school uniform if they were so inclined and wear it however they want, whenever and wherever they want. The school couldn't do a thing about it.

Honestly - giving kids grief at 9pm at night after spending a productive hour getting some exercise! Your DD should be commended!

If my head teacher had walked past me in those circumstances the most he'd have done was praise my sporting efforts and ask if I had means to get home safely! In fact I often used to run into my head teacher after dance class, after which I would put my uniform back on - tie loose (if on at all) - I'd often be carrying my blazer - and walk to meet my mum - (my head teacher lived close by so I'd often see him walking round). All he ever did was ask how I was getting on and always spoke to me with respect. Failing to wear my uniform properly after school hours never prevented me from becoming a responsible member of society or highly qualified and successful professional!

I’m shocked you didn’t intervene right away. No the teacher cannot dictate when uniform is worn. Some kids do not have any other clothing. They wear it out of school and it can be seen as a red flag.

Wouldn’t have allowed my kid to be told off like that. Would have been in there first thing in the morning. Protect your child from bullies and that includes teachers!

Honestly as a teacher myself a smile and a hello whilst teenagers trying to cringe away is enough..lt would be enough for any poor pupil to see me in Lycra... shoe on other foot what if they spotted the teacher drinking then driving home... nothing to do with school but...

When I attended a (private) school with strict uniform, faculty would scold you if you were wearing the uniform improperly outside of school, or if you behaved improperly while in uniform. The latter could be as simple as entering a certain supermarket without a parent. The teacher did nothing wrong. This is a small consequence; I would not complain to the school.

My DD has a teacher who is obsessed about uniform. She almost seems to go rogue over it. Personally, I would ring the school on Monday morning and ask to speak to the Head. I understand the uniform if they're clubbing in their uniform (I know it’s a poor example!), but after swimming. Ludicrous!
I would not let my DD14 get into trouble over this. Do not let her do any more lines.
If the Head is useless ask for the contact details for the Chair of Governors.
This teacher should be apologising to your DD. She may be on a power trip. This sort of thing makes me so cross.
Please let us know how you get on.