To tell the school my child will NOT go to detention..

[Nataliaa]

DD year 7 has been given a 30 minute detention tomorrow afternoon, after school. Since starting secondary, she has received 2 detentions- 1 for forgetting her PE shorts and 1 for not completing homework.
I fully supported the school and the consequences DD had to face on these 2 occasions. She did learn from each time and since then, she has always been organised with PE kit and completing homework.
DD is well behaved, works hard and all school reports have been brilliant so we have no concerns.

Back to today… it is 31 degrees and the school allowed blazers to be left at home, but still expected the children to be in their shirt, ties and trousers (the school recently banned skirts, and does not allow shorts so all children are in trousers. All year round)

During lunch break, DD loosened her tie and untucked her shirt as she was so hot and sweaty… and then forgot to tuck in her shirt and redo tie before going back in.
She walked into English and straight away the teacher told her to tuck the shirt in and do tie, which she did.
Then whilst sat down she untucked the shirt again… she then got up for something and the teacher noticed the shirt untucked and as she had already been told once, she was given the detention.
DD tried to explain she was just so hot and sweaty, she felt she couldn’t concentrate and loosening the shirt helped.. she was then told off for answering back.

I do not agree with this detention at all. Other local schools have let kids go in wearing PE kits in this heat. The teacher was not wearing shirt and tie- she was wearing a floaty and cool summer dress.
I can’t think for the life of me how an untucked shirt would affect DD’s education, and why it’s more important to stick to a strict dress code rather than doing whatever is comfortable in this heat!!

I have never been in the position to disagree with the school, and not sure what would happen if I refuse to let DD go to this detention… also not sure if that’s setting the wrong message to DD, as I always encourage following school rules!!

Any advice? Is this a hill worth dying on? What would you do?

In fact that was the first detention that particular DC got and it was in year 11

Explaining isn't answering back.

My guess is that a lot of teachers will be dressed appropriately for the hot weather. I don't see staff being required to wear blazers and ties as part of policy - so the same should be valid for kids.

They're primarily there to learn and if it's too hot and uncomfortable, because let's face it, what schools have the money for proper air conditioning, then they can't concentrate.

A bit of flexibility goes a long way. There is absolutely no need to wear a tie or to be uncomfortable.

My office doesn't even have office dress anymore, and people often wear shorts when it's hot. I'd rather my team come in comfortable enough to do a good day's work rather than wear something they're too warm in.
The issue could well be though that she didn't calmly advocate for herself as she's said and was maybe cheeky to the teacher?

Untucking your shirt doesn’t stop you getting heat stroke.

Insolence! Alright Enid Blyton.

You probably signed a homeschool agreement at some point so they'll point out that anything you say is invalid.

It seems that many secondary schools have made their uniform requirements stricter since I went to school, apparently it drives up standards (it doesn't) just gives them more to punish kids over and cause more resentment

I work in environment where people earn 500/600k… not a tie or suit to be seen.

Maybe the teacher doesn't have the authority?

It would certainly help to get some airflow- why do you think we all wear lose floaty clothing in the summer rather than tight clothing?

A teenagers ‘explaining’ can often be a lot more than that. Any teacher will tell you that.

They might find it hard to understand what a man and woman is though up there.

This is one of those times when I would fully support replying to the teacher. Mindless obedience is not a virtue.

I'd be explaining that she would not be attending the detention until after the hot weather. I'd also be thinking twice about sending her in whilst it's so hot and the school is being so twatty.

My daughter’s Scottish state school doesn’t allow dress down on hot days. Like OP’s, the rule is they can go blazerless.

All that will happen if she doesn’t do the detention is that it will all escalate - check the behaviour policy but probably longer detention for not doing detention, then internal exclusion then 1 day exclusion. It’s just not worth getting a “name” for an untucked shirt.

my son came home today looking like he was about to pass out, PE last period at the height of the day doing long jump, the other class were made to do 800m and someone was sick. His school is over the top with everything like that as well.

My son had the same! He sat the detention- wouldn’t dream of contesting it- but then again I work in a school and try to be compliant as I know the other side ☺️

Mine too!

Whilst sitting down in a warm classroom with two dozen other kids? No, it won’t stop you getting heatstroke. If that’s your last defence, you’re already there.

Neither is mindless disobedience.

Yeah it is very strange schools haven’t moved with the times. In my office, when I started 30 odd years ago it was all strict suits and ties for the men. Gradually the tie was dropped and the suit jacket. After Covid it is now smart casual - it’s all chinos and comfy shoes. As a women I have never worn a tie in my life past school. I deliberately picked a school for my child where there is no tie and no blazer.

Poor poor girl. How ridiculous and girls body temps can rise at certain points in the month.

How draconian.

This.
I wouldn't be arguing. Hopefully she'll add it to her list of things she's learnt from detentions.

I would challenge the school about it. I know others have said she was rude and answered the teacher back but imo she just tried to justify her actions… being hot! It’s crazy how secondaries essentially undo all the work done in primaries. They are taught and encouraged to speak out and express themselves then when they get to secondary they want them to be minions and blindly follow the rules like a nodding dog! I get discipline for many things but this is really not looking at the bigger picture at all!

If you have an objection to the school's uniform policy you should address that with the school leadership team. Or find another school.

I don’t think your DD was answering back, OP. I think she was just explaining. I don’t really get schools’ attitudes to uniform, especially around shirts being untucked.