Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU school uniform

289 replies

Ijustdontknowwhattodo1018 · 06/07/2023 19:04

Am I being unreasonable to refuse to buy new shorts?

The school uniform states plain Black shorts for PE but the teachers have been commenting on my child’s shorts and telling them they are not appropriate.
They are proper ‘sports’ shorts and not that it matters but they are not cheap, they’re good quality, good fit, they don’t fall down etc.
I just don’t see what the problem is and what infuriates me is that they keep telling a 4 year old rather than telling me why there is a problem…after all, it is me who is buying the uniform and not my child.

Also, are we not supposed to be building children up, not making them feel self conscious?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
TimeToMoveIt · 06/07/2023 19:14

Some schools are weird, I'm glad mine are at the primary they go to. Any plain black shorts would not be an issue and mines year 5

Greenfree · 06/07/2023 19:14

OP, I don't understand your last message. Have the school told you what is wrong with them but you don't want to say?;are they too short, too tight etc?

Original poster
Ijustdontknowwhattodo1018 · 06/07/2023 19:15

You are on exactly the same page as me. I think the reason they won’t speak to me is because there isn’t actually a problem with them. It does seem that there are too many people working in school who like to Bully children. It’s like a power thing.

and before everyone starts, there are of course some fantastic, hard working teachers who make a massive positive impact on children, we just need more of them!

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 06/07/2023 19:15

Well this academic year finishes in a couple of weeks so I doubt they would care much now.
Ask other parents where they buy their PE shorts and get your kid the same for September.
Hint - they probably come from the supermarket in a pack of 2 and cost about a fiver.

Sissynova · 06/07/2023 19:15

I mean if you won’t actually state the problem and what the school said about the shorts then why bother posting? No one can really give an opinion with half the facts.

YallaYallaaa · 06/07/2023 19:16

Are you sure there actually is a problem, rather than a 4 year old getting confused?

Original poster
Ijustdontknowwhattodo1018 · 06/07/2023 19:16

The policy is Plain Black shorts which is exactly what they are.
they have made a comment about what shorts aren’t allowed but what they referred to was not what my child is wearing.

OP posts:
DappledThings · 06/07/2023 19:17

Ijustdontknowwhattodo1018 · 06/07/2023 19:10

I don’t want to put what they have ‘labelled’ them in a group communication as it may give it away but they certainly aren’t what they have said.
They are plain black sports shorts, I just don’t get it!

Give what away? The actual legitimate reason they aren't acceptable which would render your argument null and pointless?

Needmorelego · 06/07/2023 19:18

Are you sure your 4 year old isn’t just being told “Your shorts are wrong” or something because he is putting them on backwards or inside out.

melj1213 · 06/07/2023 19:18

Ijustdontknowwhattodo1018 · 06/07/2023 19:16

The policy is Plain Black shorts which is exactly what they are.
they have made a comment about what shorts aren’t allowed but what they referred to was not what my child is wearing.

FFS stop trying to be cryptic and just post what your child was sent in wearing and what they have said is wrong with them!

Why post if you're not going to give anyone the relevant information?!

Original poster
Ijustdontknowwhattodo1018 · 06/07/2023 19:18

No, they’re not confused. They comment every PE day. I make myself available every morning and afternoon, there has been plenty of opportunity for them to speak to me.

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 06/07/2023 19:18

How on Earth can anyone in this thread possibly know when all you are saying is that they've asked for plain black shorts and you've supplied plain black shorts.

Would you like us to guess the problem?

I'll go first. Are they crotchless?

Comedycook · 06/07/2023 19:18

This is like pulling teeth

Comedycook · 06/07/2023 19:20

This is so easily solvable.

Hi miss X, can you explain what exactly is wrong with X's pe shorts?

NerrSnerr · 06/07/2023 19:21

Why won't you say what the issue is with the shorts? How have the school described them?

Have you asked the teacher directly?

Mum1976Mum · 06/07/2023 19:21

What a ridiculous thread! My money is on OP buying her child tiny black shorts that barely cover her arse. No teacher has got the time or inclination to make a fuss over nothing fffs. Just get appropriate shorts and stop being a pain in the arse parent.

Greenfree · 06/07/2023 19:23

I think YABU! There must be something wrong with the shorts as your refusing to state what the school have labelled them as, all your saying is the shorts aren't the same as them. The point is the school think they are the same. Also I don't understand how unbranded plain black shorts are expensive. Is it a Skort?

Whatwouldscullydo · 06/07/2023 19:23

Normally in primary they wear black or navy cycling shorts or those black shadow stripe shorts both available from.asda /tesco really cheaply. I'm struggling to understand short of buying those really tiny gymnastic shorts for over leotards what could possibly be wrong with a 4 year olds shorts.

We need a link to the actual shorts

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 06/07/2023 19:25

What wording did they use in the letter to describe the shorts?

GoblinAeroplane · 06/07/2023 19:25

Are they leather?

Tannedandfake · 06/07/2023 19:26

So when you asked the teacher what the issue is, what did they say?

TheWalrusdidbeseech · 06/07/2023 19:27

Ijustdontknowwhattodo1018 · 06/07/2023 19:10

I don’t want to put what they have ‘labelled’ them in a group communication as it may give it away but they certainly aren’t what they have said.
They are plain black sports shorts, I just don’t get it!

then surely the first thing is to ASK the school to clarify?

If they are the ones requested by the uniform policy, what else are you suppose to provide?

Everydayimhuffling · 06/07/2023 19:27

You said you have "made yourself available", but have you actually gone to the teacher and asked them what's wrong with the shorts? Because if not then you are really wasting everyone's time with just. Ask them. Why are you expecting the teacher to do all of the chasing of you here?

SleepingStandingUp · 06/07/2023 19:27

Ijustdontknowwhattodo1018 · 06/07/2023 19:15

You are on exactly the same page as me. I think the reason they won’t speak to me is because there isn’t actually a problem with them. It does seem that there are too many people working in school who like to Bully children. It’s like a power thing.

and before everyone starts, there are of course some fantastic, hard working teachers who make a massive positive impact on children, we just need more of them!

So you've asked the class teacher at drop off / pick up and they've refused to speak about it? But he claims every lesson he's being harassed about it? Have you not bothered to follow this up? By your own words, they're bullying your 4 yo and you're just not intervening

Sissynova · 06/07/2023 19:27

Ijustdontknowwhattodo1018 · 06/07/2023 19:16

The policy is Plain Black shorts which is exactly what they are.
they have made a comment about what shorts aren’t allowed but what they referred to was not what my child is wearing.

So the school have made a comment about the shorts which you won’t say because apparently that would be outing, and they have pointed out that due to this they aren’t the uniform shorts?

But you disagree?

Ultimately it’s the schools call here, you signed up to the school knowing the uniform policy.

Given how weird and defensive you’re being I’m leaning towards the shorts not confirming to school uniform.

Swipe left for the next trending thread