To think that children should be wearing overalls for art at school?

[PrettyCandles]

Today ds1's sweater was covered in paint. It was quite obvious that he'd been wiping his fingers on his top. There was paint on his trousers, too.

When I asked him what happened to his overall, he told me that his teacher says that Y4s don't need to wear overalls, and that none of his classmates wear their overalls.

Long-sleeved art overalls are part of the required uniform list.

If it's not finger-marks on his front, it's paint-streaks on his back where his classmates have accidentally or deliberately waved their paintbrushes around. A splash of paint or glue here or there - OK, that's part of the acceptable mess, and I wouldn't expect them to put on overalls every time they pick up a glue stick, but for fully-fledged art classes?

Well, AIBU?

No, YANBU and I'd be annoyed about that too.

I always used to tell my class that I wasn't going to INSIST they wore overalls (assuming we were using something easily controlled, such as watercolours), but that if their parents came in complaining I'd tell them I'd SUGGESTED it and the child chose not to. Most of the children then chose to wear them cos they knew their parents would go ballistic at them for not wearing them.

However, for what I term 'gloopy paint' and clay, papier mache, etc, there was no choice. Well, there was - Overall or don't take part!

Perhaps have a quick word with the teacher - "I realise they are getting older and need to start taking responsibility for their own things, but some of the paint isn't washing out, so I wonder if you'd make sure they used overalls if they are using poster paints, etc?"

Don't get me started....

I don't get the "taking responsiblitiy for their own things" arguement. I'm an adult, and I take responsibiltiy for my own things, but I put on overalls because I know that you can't exert complete control over where the paint goes, especially when you are not the only person handling messy stuff.

Yes, but you choose to put on an overall, PrettyCandles, you are not told you must. They are, presumably, being offered the choice, in the hopes they will learn that the prudent choice is to wear one. Therefore they are learning to be responsible.

From ds's explaination it sounds lik she is discouraging them from wearing overalls. No doubt trying to avoid disruption and loss of time. Or perhaps it's my prejudice re this teacher that is influencing me.

And what 9yo boy is going to wear his overall if the rest of his class does not?

An art apron is part of DD's uniform and I am mightly glad of it. When she was in infants it was a red waterproof long sleeved art pinny. Now she is in juniors it is a long sleeved white lab coat. Completely covers the rest of her uniform so she can get covered in paint (which she does!) to her heart;s content.

hmm...I'm not sure I'd believe your ds to be honest PC. "I don't have to and none of the other kids do" is just one of those things kids say, isn't it!!! Ask the teacher!

Both DC are provided with are overalls and science overalls. Nobody seems to make sure they are worn. Jumpers and shirts regularly paint/ink/clay spattered and occasional hole from acid....I have given up nagging. I don't understand why it isn't compulsory...

Do you remember when you used to take in an old shirt of your Dad's as your art "overall"?

In fact I think that was how it was worded on our uniform list - "one of Daddy's old shirts".

Claricebeansmum - holes from acid

When I started secondary school, one of the first science lessons was why we had to wear our overalls or lab coats, and why they had to be pure cotton: the teacher laid out several strips of different fabrics, synthetics, poly-cotton mix, and pure cotton, and dropped lit matches and acids on them. Cottons char. Synthetics melt and stick to whatever is beneath them. "Your arm", as she put it. Not one of us refused to wear overalls or lab coats after that. Given that our dc's uniforms are far higher in synthetics now than they were when we were children, I am shocked that the cover-up rule is not enforced.

Cirrhosis - from my knowledge (or, as I said, prejudice) of this teacher, I am inclined to believe him. Also, it is not the sort of thing ds would say. Besides, he's not good at lying - yet!

I feel your pain. My dd is one of the only ones in her class to have her own overall. Admitedly it has winnie the pooh on it and she is nearly nine, but anyway. She constantly forgets to put it on and covers herself in paint. I am unable to get the stains out so she goes in in splodgy clothes.

PrettyCandles - first science lesson of year is always safety in the lab. Obviously that is ticked as done and then they move on...

Obviously 1st lesson of the year is not graphic enough. Scare the little monsters darlings into submission!

I would be cross if my DC's weren't properly protected in science - but as far as art goes,they have been regularly supplied with overalls for this over the years and the overalls go missing pretty much instantly!

So I now feel it is a waste of time and effort providing one.DS gets a bit painty - but he also gets muddy,grass stained and decorated with odd pen marks,so his(very cheap)school uniform would be less than perfectly clean whatever.

If it's a problem for you,YANBU though,I'd have a word with the teacher about it.

At DDs school they use an old large shirt rather than an overall. Very practical and I would imagine they comply with wearing these more readily than the nylon overalls they had in infants.

Used to annoy me in infants when they used the overally for art lessons but not for gluing - didn't even make them take off their blazer... paint washed out no problems but glue didn't and looked forever like snot or gravy stains.