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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

185 replies

Littlemissbusy · 29/06/2008 21:11

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??

OP posts:
TigerFeet · 30/06/2008 15:58

I still don't understand what the problem is. If you prefer skirts, send your dd in a skirt. That option hasn't been taken from you. I'm at a loss to understand why this is such an issue for you.

FWIW I prefer skirts myself and dd will be wearing a skirt when she starts school in Sept. That doesn't mean I don't think other girls shouldn't wear trousers if they or their parents so wish. DD would far rather wear a skirt but if she asked for trousers I would happily buy her some. Surely it's more important that they are warm and comfortable than all the little girls looking identical? There are so many different styles of skirts and pinafores that they don't all look the same anyway.

MsDemeanor · 30/06/2008 16:05

I just don't get why it bothers you so much what other parents and children decide. You can choose to force your daughter to wear only skirts, but you aren't boss of the whole world you know!

JodieG1 · 30/06/2008 16:07

Why should girls wear skirts? What difference does it make?

Kimi · 30/06/2008 16:23

YABU sorry

MsDemeanor · 30/06/2008 16:57

Personally I think all girls under five look best in smocked dresses and mary-janes, but I recognise that not everyone agrees with me

Sobernow · 30/06/2008 17:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ripeberry · 30/06/2008 17:32

Years ago i worked in an office where they BANNED women from wearing trousers, but then that was in the late 1980's

iamdingdong · 30/06/2008 17:34

without reading whole thread...what's it got to do with parents? if schools asked the parents every time they needed to make a decision they'd never get anything done!

bunchoflowers · 30/06/2008 18:12

Think you should let the school get on with it and try not to stress out. Life's too short!

bamboostalks · 30/06/2008 19:10

LMB, bet you thought you wouldn't get this many replies!!

fizzbuzz · 30/06/2008 19:52

I can't believe that there is such a thing as a school in this day and age that is only just allowing girls to wear trousers!!!! Are we stuck in the 1930's somewhere?

I teach secondary, and nearly ALL the girls wear trousers. I think I can count on one hand the amount of skirts I see in a day. I don't like skirts, and cannot undestand why anyone likes faffing with tights or similar (especially as they can encourage thrush)

ja9 · 30/06/2008 20:00

haven't read whole thread - it's too long. decisions like this will probably have come from consultation with the children - all about them having a voice, making informed decisions, and becoming responsible citizens...

PeachyHidingInTheShed · 01/07/2008 12:47

fizzbuzz ours cant wear trousers 9as in our school, have only boys myself)

but stuck in @ 1958 i would say

motherinferior · 01/07/2008 12:49

Like Anna, I would hate to send my daughters to a school where they couldn't wear trousers.

But then mine don't wear uniform at all .

GrapefruitMoon · 01/07/2008 12:53

My kids school also only allows skirts/dresses or girls. At first I was a bit surprised, thought it sexist, impractical, etc. But now I think they actually look a lot smarter than other local schools. Some schools near us don't have a policy on shoes either so you get kids wearing school trousers with trainers [ponce emoticon]!

DDs secondary school also only allows skirts, as do the other all-girls schools around here...

Fennel · 01/07/2008 12:57

I can't believe the number of parents here who dictate whether their small child will wear skirts or trousers. I wouldn't dream of telling my dds which they should wear out of the uniform options. It's one of the areas you can give them choice in without any ill effects.

Psychomum5 · 01/07/2008 12:59

at least they only introduced trousers without parental involvment.

i have now had two schools change the entire uniform without parental involvment!!!

first was changing the colour from grey cardigans/jumpers with red summer uniform, to navy (after I had bought up sale stuff for the next year too), and then last year the senior school my elder two are in changed the skirts, and that is not funny when you have paid for the next size up and they are £22 per skirt and the school shop refused to change them as they were not faulty, just now wrong, and that is not their fault, it is the school!!!!

I would much rather that they just have added trousers.....and lets be honest, you don;t have to buy them for her do you???

Original poster
Littlemissbusy · 01/07/2008 17:27

GrapefruitMoon - thank you for reassuring me I'm not as has been said on this thread totally a) mad b) from another era c) unreasonable and d) against democracy!!! I was also beginning to think that our town was the only one in the country where girls only wore skirts or dresses!!

OP posts:
RosaLuxembunting · 01/07/2008 17:41

Well our primary has just been awarded outstanding by Ofsted despite the fact that the girls are allowed to wear trousers. DD1 wouldn't wear anything else.
DD2 and DD3 chop and change depending on the weather. I haven't seen any noticeable drop in their academic standards or general behaviour on trousers days.
Can't believe we are even having this discussion in the 21st century, tbh.

DarthVader · 01/07/2008 17:49

lmb wicked sense of humour (post at 21:54:09)

I am not sure if you are going to find anyone who identifies with your sentiments on this though!

DarthVader · 01/07/2008 17:52

My school did not allow trousers and in winter I was frozen when I had to wait for the bus. Long boots weren't allowed either, and the coats were duffles so quite short. It was a miserable decision in the name of traditionalism.

I hate all uniforms with a vengeance

mumeeee · 01/07/2008 21:59

YABU. My girls went to a secondary school wear they could wear trousers or skirts. They opted for trousers as they were more comfortable in them.

cupsoftea · 01/07/2008 22:01

what's the problem? more choices on what to wear & warm legs in the rain

cory · 02/07/2008 07:25

Littlemissbusy on Mon 30-Jun-08 15:49:06
"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!"

It's not that you prefer primary girls to wear skirts- it's that you expect every other parent to follow your preferences because you don't seem to be able to impose your views on your daughter.

Do your own parenting- don't expect others to do it for you!

Would you like it if I tried to get your daughter banned from wearing skirts because the cold is bad for my daughter's legs? (as it is). Surely that is my problem? And I have no difficulty in telling my daughter that this is the uniform choice I am paying for and I don't care what the others do.

ChoChoSan · 02/07/2008 15:15

Why should parents be consulted? Those that wish their girls to wear trousers will be happy, and those that don't are not obliged to, and its none of their business if other parents send their kids in wearing trousers.

I worked in a school, and we get some ridiculous complaints from parents, but that takes the biscuit...don't you think they have anything better to do?