in thinking that my daugther's school shouldn't change the uniform to trousers allowed for girls without asking parents?

[Littlemissbusy]

Just heard on Friday that it's likely that my DD's school will allow girls to wear trousers from this September (current only skirts for girls). I'm outraged that parent's haven't been involved in the decision. Just need to rant I think! I actually feel very strongly that trousers shouldn't be introduced - but just a strongly that it's just been decided!!
Any thoughts / experiences from anyone else. particularly anyone wear trousers are allowed - do any girls actually then choose to wear skirts??

For under 11s, if its not a private school then uniform is not enforceable. Therefor trousers have never been banned or allowed.

You could send her in to school in whatever you chose if you dont want her to wear trousers then dont buy them.

I think that because its non enforceable that Heads don't feel the need to "consult" with parents.

My dc's school has just changed the logo of the school sweaters and cardigans, without consulting the parents. I have 3 children and have in the past recycled/ handed down outgrown items. I have a number of outgrown items that are still in good condition and I also have 2 brand new cardigans which were too big for my dd.

It concerns me that my children will be seen to be wearing the "old" uniform as obvious hand me downs. I feel I am being forced to by new style items to ensure my children dont stand out.

i really think for such minor things as packed lunches and trousers for girls, the school council is probably best just to push them through. if they consulted all parents about everything, they would be spending a lot of time dealing with your's and others 'outrage'. best to use the time wisely and consult and handle feedback for the really important things.

school council is ideal for this- give them the sense that they can change things in a real, yet relatively minor, way and maybe they'll grow up with some sense of empowerment?

hope so, ds2 is involved with his.

my uniform gripe is that in infants they all wear blue, in juniors the girls till wear blie but the boys wear grey, thus necessitating an entire new wardrobe, for boys only.

Thank goodness for asda cheapies!

Sorry, think YABU.

what a weird OP.

I haven't read the whole thread, but I think
yabu. Why do you not want you dd to wear trousers? Of course they can still look smart.
I think it's sexist, and snobby. I know people who don't like trousers on girls because skirts imply it's a posher school. A load of wank.

And why on earth should parents be involved? Crikey, it's a fairly irrelevant thing isn't it, trousers or skirts?

er do you always get worked up over such trivial things?

My ds (9) wears shorts all summer (even when it's not warm) and his primary school has no uniform. He'll have to start wearing a uniform when he goes up to secondary school and he thinks it's very sexist that girls can choose to have bare legs (by wearing skirts), but boys can't wear shorts. Where's the justice in that??

TBH, if you're complaining about that sort of thing, it must be a pretty good school

You don't have to let her wear the trousers.

Have only read the OP and think there are bigger school things to worry about tbh.

YABU. I feel sorry for girls you aren't allowed to wear skirts. They are much warmer and more practical. Less teasing over hairy legs IME too!

ivykaty44 on Mon 30-Jun-08 08:30:49
'Goodness Cory - girls that look at the weather and let that detirm their choice of clothing? That is a new one for me - teenage girls with sense [grins]'

Ah, mine is not a teenager yet, only in Year 6, that accounts for it. I confidently expect whatever sense she has to go out of the window sometime next year.

"TBH, if you're complaining about that sort of thing, it must be a pretty good school" - yes on all measures, "outstanding" actually. And the very strict uniform code has been stated by previous heads, ofsted etc as being one of the factors which brings about the school's achievements (in a very mixed catchment area). So - I guess I am concerned about anything that will change that success. And in reply to other postings - my DH is a governor at our other DD's infant school, and I'm on the PTA there, so it's not as though I'm just standing criticising, never having been involved in schools.

I was really hoping to find another Mumsnetter who had similar experience to help me with my concerns. All schools close to us (all state schools) are skirts only for girls, so no local friends can help me out!

I haven't seen a state school round here at ALL where the girls MUST wear skirts. Is your local area called 'the past?'

This is SO not anything to give even one second's thought to.

If I gave it a second, I would be glad that any dd of mine can a) have the freedom given by trousers, to move in a way they damn well please without worrying about skirts getting in the way/revealing too much and b) not be defined by her femininity alone - MAKING girls wear skirts is going along the path to that IMO.

I would find it immensely difficult myself to send my daughter to a school where trousers were not allowed.

When I was at school in the early 1980s there was a Greek girl in my class whose very macho traditional Greek father (an extremely senior legal figure) would not let her wear trousers. We all felt immensely sorry for her. When her father died suddenly and unexpectedly, she wore trousers in a flash.

How about thinking about this as enabling your daughter to grow up by learning to exert her independence and letting her choose for herself?

i agree. trousers for girls are horrid. our school changed couple of years ago. only a few wear them. its an equality thing, so boys should be able to wear skirts, none done so as yet.

I really don't understand why this is a problem for you LMB.

I really don't think that allowing girls to wear trousers will affect the school's success.

Why exactly does it concern you? Do you think that it's the top of a slippery slope?

In all honesty I would have thought it bonkers if a school had put it to a parental vote. I rather suspect that the vast majority would have voted in favour of allowing the choice. After all - it's allowing a choice, not stating that girls should wear trousers.

I do hope you manage to find someone to help you with your concerns littlemissbusy, although I am really struggling to understand what they are.

I think the only concern I'd have about your situation was that all your dd's mates will immediately start wearing trousers, your dd will still be in a skirt because you think it's smarter, and she will want to be dressed like her mates.

This boys wearing skirts comparison is just daft.

Many girls will want to wear trousers. I can't see too many boys wanting to wear skirts.

Hi

Please tell us why skirt-wearing equals success...schools, life, futures, marriage? then we can understand better why this is an upsetting issue for you LMB.

Our school has skirts or trousers for the girls. A requirement really as it is c60% Muslim. The kids - boys and girls, look smart whichever they are wearing. (my ds in fact chooses to wear shorts - just about the only kid who does in the summer)

jillyj - thank you! I knew I was totally in a minority - but didn't expect to be the only one in the whole Mumsnet world who prefers primary school girls to wear skirts!