Sorrys it’s a school uniform one!

[user1496146479]

DD9 came home today and told me that she cannot wear her shorts to school as she says the principal says ‘the shorts will attract boys to girls’!!!

School policy on shorts simply states children can wear black or navy shorts with no logos allowed.

For the record, her shorts are knee length, not tight like cycling shorts but not very baggy!

AIBU to think that instead of policing girls shorts, we teach boys to control themselves??
Surely this is like blaming a girl that something is her fault because of what she wore??

Parent of boys & girls, so can see it from both sides I think?

9 year old boys are not generally that interested in 9 year old girls, whether they are wearing shorts or not.

As long as they are uniform items, your daughter should continue wearing them, and the principal is being ridiculous.

Exactly the same thing happening at my DD’s school at the moment, girls getting uniform slips for wearing shorts that are apparently too short or too tight, and cycling shorts have been banned for PE when they’ve been the standard bit of kit for years. Shorts bought with the best of ‘knee length’ intentions will ride up, or be grown out of in a matter of weeks.

DD is very conscious about ‘flappy’ shorts and insists on wearing cycling shorts underneath as well which kind of defeats the idea of shorts being cooler 😏

I’d be writing a complaint to the governors if the head teacher actually policed girls’ uniform because of perceived boys’ reactions.

What’s the idiot going to try next, slut shaming 9 year olds?

Girls wearing shorts is perfectly fine, is on the uniform list, and is practical for an age when it’s endless cartwheels and gymnastics at play time. Anyone saying it will “attract boys” is a misogynist at least and possibly a pervert.

They are shorts, not g-string bikinis. And she’s NINE.

I'd start with speaking to the principal to check what they actually said.

I'd have thought that shorts were more practical than dresses. We went through a phase of midday supervisors telling girls they couldn't do handstands in dresses if they didn't have shorts under them. The teachers squashed that pretty quickly as pants are there to cover private parts, but covering pants isn't necessary.

I read this as year 9 at first for some reason, but 9 year olds?! How utterly ridiculous.

I made my daughter wear shorts under her dress when she used to do handstands at school...I didn't want people seeing her knickers

If the school uniform states that it’s allowable then his sexist misogynist claptrap can get to fuck. Ask where it says in the policy that shorts only apply to boys. And ask why 9 year girls in his school are limited and disadvantaged because of the inappropriate thoughts of males. Grrr I’m so angry on your DD’s behalf.

I would get some clarity on this before steaming in.
If she did say it, it's completely inappropriate.

Girl mum. This is wrong on so many levels and I’d be taking this all the way. Agree first find out if this is what was actually said though. It could be that a child has worn those shorts so short that bumcheeks are seen and it’s not appropriate for school (although no teacher should be saying this is because they will attract boys, to 9yr olds).

It’s sexualising children of both sexes to make a comment like this.

Its sexist and misogynistic to suggest that girls need to adjust their clothing otherwise boys couldn’t control themselves, or that girls clothing choices depend more on the needs of boys than on their own need for comfort.

9 year old boys tend to be fine controlling themselves. It’s really not them you need to be concerned about. The crazy attitude of that teacher is what needs to be addressed.

What country are you in? If it's the UK, that "Principal" is playing fast and loose with their career 🤔

When my dc were at primary school, shorts weren't on the girls uniform list at all. Then a few girls started wearing them as they didn't like skirts. They never got told off, the boys didn't care. AFAIK shorts are now listed for girls and boys.

If the uniform list includes shorts then she can wear shorts. If it doesn't then challenge it. It's the only way change happens.

ugg What a weird thing to say to 9 year olds.

As an aside, the wider availability of jump suits as summer uniform has been a game changer for us. They look like the summer dresses but means the older girls can do cartwheels etc without feeling like they have to put cycling shorts underneath.

Thanks everyone! I was so shocked when DD told me. DS12 has confirmed it…. But I will of course be checking & clarifying no crossed wires!
I was stunned earlier when I posted!!
thanks for showing me I am not the mad one ( assuming this is true!)

I'd email the head and ask for clarity about the short-wearing policy. Quote the uniform list that says children can wear shorts, meaning all children, so girls and boys.

If the response is that girls aren't allowed to wear shorts, ask for the reason. I don't think any head would be daft enough to put what your dd said that she was told into writing. I believe that changes in uniform policy would need to go through governors as well.