AIBU to think it isn't fair for school to ban skirts and dresses

[helloall987]

My kids attend an all through school they start at 4 in reception and it goes up to 18. There is a primary and a secondary site.

From September they have changed their uniform to trousers and shorts so no school dresses, skirts or pinafores allowed. All children boys and girls to wear black trousers or shorts. No school shoes either just black trainers. The two reasons they cite are modesty and a gender neutral approach so there is no distinction between girls and boys. This is for primary and secondary school pupils. My DD loves wearing pinafores and patent school shoes. I just think think that with this policy the idea of "feminity" is being taken away.

Most parents think it is a great idea but there are a few of us who want to contest it.

Non uniform schools around the world (including the one DT’s went to) have a sense of community and good discipline. There isn’t any fuss about what anyone is wearing (expensive clothes are rare) as no one is interested. In state schools non uniform days are a big fuss as it’s a rare event to be able to wear what you want.
In non uniform days time isn’t wasted policing breaches of outdated school uniform policies. Children don’t need to look smart to study well, they just need to be in comfortable, practical clothes. They shouldn’t be going to school dressed like mini Jacob Rees- Mogg’s!

Both DD and I have narrow hips and bum but still manage to get trousers to fit well.

I also wonder what the school means by 'black trousers', the school I worked in was down on boys trouser styles, no chinos, cargo pants etc but the girls seemed to get away with 'trousers' that were leggings, there was a very feminist management.

Surely we have moved past skirts only being for girls? Why can’t the uniform be skirts for all?

If someone is a sex offender and they want to take indecent photos they will do something else. This is not the only crime they commit. So it will not make them safer. Remove the sex offenders from school then there is no issue.

The rest is not an issue. Kids do not show their vulvas when they move in skirts.

So nope doesn't make them any safer at all. Removing sex offenders does of which there are many in schools.

None of the girls were forced to wear skirts. They had the choice. Now there is no choice, they have to wear trousers. That is sexist.

I think changing the uniform reinforces the victim blaming mentality and sends the message that women much change their behaviour to be safe, which is completely wrong

This!

I think it’s fine in principle to have all kids in shorts or trousers. I’d have all primary school kids in tracksuit bottoms/ shorts with a polo shirt and sweatshirt if it was up to me.

For persons of practicality, comfort and low cost.

I would never make a uniform policy for “modesty reasons” or give this as a reason as I think that’s horrendous. No kids need to be modest (although of course they need to stick to uniform requirements).

I much prefer wearing a knee-length skirt for fell-walking. If it's a bit chilly, then I wear running leggings. But running leggings would break all school rules around "modesty" for girls, I'm guessing.

If girls are forced into "modest" dress, so too should boys be. Shirts buttoned up to collar, no short sleeves showing biceps, baggy trousers and so on.

But boys aren't so ruthlessly and endlessly looked at as girls are.

It’s actually dictatorial to remove the choice of girls to decide for themselves whether they would like to wear trousers or skirts/dresses. Girls and women should decide for themselves.

Yep, me. She’s as headstrong as I was as a child for sure. I chose my own clothes from a very young age. She actually has some lovely leggings & jeans, as do I, but hates them. She adores dresses and looks beautiful. I find it bizarre how determined some people are to stop little girls enjoying wearing dresses.

At my DC's school, eldest doesn't attend anymore, if you are a boy you can wear a skirt but I think there wasn't a high uptake. Girls wearing trousers more of an uptake but not really l, most wear the kilt!

I actually think our own school uniform could do with further smartening up, especially the polo shirts and sweatshirts.
I adore some of the far smarter school uniforms. I also adore a man in a sharp suit, one of my favourite things when my DH and I have a wedding to attend. My son always opts for a smart shirt and chinos when we eat out, and looks incredibly handsome like his Dad.

It’s personal preference, but I do miss when everybody dressed more smartly. You’ll certainly never catch me doing the school run in PJs, dressing gowns and slippers!!! 🙀😂

Yes my dgd is similar and let her be that way, nothing wrong with it

my dds we’re also headstrong about what they wore

Agree with you in some sense, but you just know the girly girls who are influenced by their mums who want a mini-me will want to wear a skirt and influence all the other girls. Personally I think there's more in life to get worked up over. Of the two options I find it much, much worse that in most schools girls have to wear skirts. If you want to complain about something, there's so much more important things in the education system and in life than if they wear a skirt or not! I feel embarrassed that people are even getting worked up over this "issue'.

We had the reverse of this when I was at my (all girls) school. We campaigned to be allowed to wear trousers so the school said "ok these are the uniform trousers" - they were SO UGLY we all backed down and stuck with skirts

I was someone who would roll my skirt up to be "cool", imo it allows the kids are small act of rebellion, to feel a bit "naughty" but it's actually not, hopefully stopping larger acts of rebellion like smoking. Another one was to use button the top skirt button, pull the tie right up to cover it but still know you have one button unbuttoned. Such a tile breaker 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Also, male clothing isn't as sexualised.

Yes that point seems to be overlooked. I doubt there are many schools now where girls don't have the option to wear skirts or trousers. My son's school has allowed this for years but there's very little uptake.

Of the two options I find it much, much worse that in most schools girls have to wear skirts.

Where in the UK would that be?

Up until very recently (COL crisis) I know of one C of E girls state school in London that only allowed skirts. But to be fair that does seem to be an outlier.

Our local secondary has a trouser only policy. The girls all like it. HTH.

I thought that was standard, certainly was when I went to school. Ironically that's what the complaints were, girls freezing in skirts when boys got to be warm in trousers

How many years since you left school?

I would be amazed if any Scottish state school tried to enforce that. My son's private school has allowed girls to wear trousers for years now.

I don't get the argument that girls were cold in the winter wearing tights. Girls can wear 100 denier thermal tights and boots. The boys are in the same trousers all year round. Someone mentioned that tights can be worn under trousers- yeah right.