To think asking permission to take off a blazer is utterly ridiculous?

[ShowJumpSally]

My child's school has just moved into a new trust. Clearly it's one of those trusts as the latest email announces how children will be placed in internal exclusion or be suspended if they dare to wear a coat in the building or take their blazer off without asking permission.

Schools consistently moan about funding, there's a teaching retention crisis, teachers are overworked and leaving in their hoards, TAs are underpaid and in short supply, children's mental health is worse than ever, but somehow there's time and money to dish out internal exclusions if child gets hot and dares takes their blazer off without asking?

Aibu to say schools should try focussing their time, attention and money on the real issues instead of nonsense made up ones?
^

So if you want a window open on a busy bus in winter, do you ask those around you if they mind or do you do it anyway?

So some schools deliberately have stupid rules for which they won't be respected and expect their staff to spend time trying to enforce them? Why waste valuable staff time like that?

I disagree with this. Teachers should be concentrating on teaching and learning, not giving detentions for things that shouldn't be a rule in the first place.

Not doing homework at all or on time - yes/maybe depending on past form and reasons for not doing it.

Wanting to take a hot item of clothing off (which you shouldn't have to wear in the first place) - no.

At least they've got lockers!!

It’s explained why in the post you quoted.

They do say no.

How is that the same? Opening a window affects everyone, taking off your jacket only affects you.

But that affects other people. What I wear does not (within reason).

But that affects the people around them!

I don't give a toss whether or not you wear a jacket

I just used to say that, once in the room, they could take them off, no need to ask individually. However, certain SLT on a power trip micromanage and use it as a stick to beat staff with whilst on 'learning walks'. See also 'going to the toilet'.

That actually sounds quite sensible. Much better than requiring loads of expensive shirts, jumpers, blazers etc with a logo on, and faffing about specifying a particular colour and style of shoes and socks. Schools which require ties should have their entire governing bodies locked up.

The only good reason for these silly rules is that it gets people used to the petty officialdom of local (and central!) government, I suppose.

But I think school does that anyway. There are always rules you don't agree with and find petty. But as an adult, you should be able to see the sense in them. If you can't, they shouldn't have been, or be, rules.

I expect other adults interacting with my children to treat them with the same respect I show them. My dd is actively encouraged to think independently and I would never ever tell her to ask me for permission to remove a layer of clothing in hot weather.
And I was raised in the Soviet Union so believe me I am well used to following rules…as well as spotting the ridiculous ones.

BIossomtoes · Today 17:06

It’s the way many successive generations were brought up. What’s so special about this one?

It isn't how the more recent generations were brought up. And it's not how schools are in other Western-European countries. I went to a girls' grammar school in the 1980s and it wasn't like that either.The draconian rules being introduced by many schools at the moment are partly a misguided act of desperation in the face of worsening behaviour (due to societal problems and increasingly screen-addicted kids) and partly a facet of the current desire to make all aspects of education uniform, measurable and judgeable. Above all it's a desire to look as though they are doing something about the problems (even if it's the wrong something).

Yes. Primary schools are better (not sure about scruffy tho! 😂)

But the secondary schools round here that tried it soon went back to formal

And both looked equally scruffy because the kids prefer baggy

They have this rule in the college in my town. I know because I’ve seen parents complain about it on Facebook. Basically the children are expected to wear these stupid looking blazers all year, regardless of the weather or how hot it is. The place is a dumping ground where the education standard is at best mediocre. Perhaps they should worry more about that…

@Sunnysidesoon well I personally didn't find it very supportive when school failed to make appropriate referrals despite being told to by our LA. Or does that not count?

Depends on if I’m next to the window or not - the person next to the window gets to decide, surely?

Although it’s a bit of a weird comparison as I don’t think people tend to go around with bus windows on their actual body.

Because not all teachers say yes. And sometimes there may not be a teacher around to ask.

If there’s nobody around to ask the rule doesn’t apply. Some of the arguments here are asinine.

I'm not a great uniform supporter: most US and many continental schools get along fine without it. The British have some unfathomable hang-up about it and our uniform policies are over-the-top and policed to within an inch of their lives. At the same time bullies too often behave with impunity, often to the exclusion of victims. Some schools' priorities are completely arse about face as far as I am concerned.

Thankfully our local schools are sensible and neither the headteacher at DC's primary, or the secondary where he goes next year, have a bee in their bonnet about it. Blazers at the secondary are optional only, meaning I shall not be buying one. They're always those dreadful, shiny polyester things that are only good for landfill in any event.

I sympathise with your position, OP. I'd say the UK education system has far more urgent priorities than daily drill-checks on the colour of the stitching on its students' shoes.

I say this as an educator.

It’s ridiculous. Their reasoning is that they can’t make the kids do one thing, but do another themselves. Ironically when he works during school holidays he goes into work in trainers, trackie bottoms and a T-shirt, and that is allowed.

I'm happy to say that, since leaving school, I've never worked in an environment where it was impossible at least to question a stupid rule and work to get it changed. If we indoctrinated our children that you have to obey the rules come what may, we would still be living in the dark ages.

exactly the reason i'm glad my grand daughter is attending a sensible prep school.
yes they have a formal uniform, and at important events all the students wear it and look sharp. on a day to day basis, the blazer and hat and jacket (puffer and rain) options mean multiple different looks (white ankle socks, colored knee socks or colored tights), add in pe days when the youngsters show up in or stay in their kit.

equally they all have their own lockers.

But it isn't a simple rule from which to understand discipline . The only understanding children gain is that adults can be illogical, stupid and unreasonable. Having that knowledge about the people in power over you definitely never results in better behaviour for any other purpose.