Would you think twice

[lionhearted]

Thinking of sending ds1 to a private school, a very good school which I like a lot except that the boys uniform even in the Winter consists of shorts (cord ones). Playground is quite open and though they do look smart they also look like they freeze. Would something as superficial or minor as this make you think twice about the school? Would you wonder whether it represents a slight affectation on the part of the school and that they put appearence before comfort/protection?

Hi ggglimpopo...hot and sunny,currently 38 degrees, fortunately monsoon season seems to have ended!

My son went to school in his shorts today- my daughters without tights but knee lenght socks.
I am not English and found this whole uniform busuness a bit funny in the beginning, and shorts in winter 'cruel'.
But, my children were at stateschools initially where they have suffered far more then a bit of cold.
My son can wear his tracksuit during break and is very, very happy at school (and gets excellent education).
Don't worry about the uniform!

Thanks, lots of useful advice. I'll give it some more thought. Don't think I'd like to be wearing shorts on a day like today 'cos I'm sitting here wearing three layers and still hugging the radiator. On the other hand, perhaps it's a question of acclimatisation. Aren't there some really tough boarding schools where they get you up at 6am, make you run three miles and then jump in a lake? In the Winter they send someone ahead to break through the ice first! In fact I think that was Gordonstoun where Prince Charles went. Explains a lot.(Although to be fair to that particular establishment I think the ritual is now a voluntary one!)Would anyone choose a school because it provides a regime designed to toughen their children up?
There you go, more thought .... no wonder I can never decide things ....

I went to a school that was founded by the same loonies as Gordonstoun - we were the only school not to close and send the children home during a four-day power cut in the middle of winter. Being freezing cold isn't character building. It just makes you feel bloody miserable and neglected. I would think twice against any school that makes the assumption that children don't feel the cold.

the old ides was to get tough or something, but by now it has proven to be wrong : cold will make you ill. So why continue??

the old ides was to get tough or something, but by now it has proven to be wrong : cold will make you ill. So why continue??

the old ides was to get tough or something, but by now it has proven to be wrong : cold will make you ill. So why continue??

My DS2 had to wear long shorts (and long socks) at primary. Y6 (and I believe Y5) went into long trousers. DS2 was never bothered about it.

DS3 today went off to school in a short-sleeved shirt and thin blazer- refuses to wear a coat despite it being -3 degrees (he is 14). They don't seem to feel the cold like us old-timers

It might be worth asking the school about this. One private school I know of allows the boys and the girls to go out to play wearing black stretchy jogging bottoms over their shorts (for boys) and under the skirts (for girls) when the weather is very cold. Perhaps the school you are considering does something like this.

All the private schools round my neck of the woods, including dd's, have play tracksuits that they wear outside during breaks. This is for warmth but also because they can then play properly and not worry about getting their uniform muddy. You could suggest this at the potential school.

So pleased ds's school has no uniform.

If my boys' schools (when the time comes) want to make the children suffer unnecessary cold for the sake of appearance, they will have a fight on their hands

And I went to boarding school and froze to death as tradition demands.....and I have legs like a snooker table. So there is no link

hausfrau............. so.... does your DH have nice legs or what? lol

Why on earth would any school insist on boys wearing shorts all year round. It would make me seriously question their judgement.

Smart uniforms are fine even if they look a little silly but insisting children are inappropriately dressed in the depths of winter is just plain stupid.

I have to force DSs to switch from shorts to long trousers in winter. It took me until mid November one year to get DS1 to change. I used to walk along saying "Wouldn't you prefer to wear trousers?" loudly to him whenever I walked past a group of parents so they wouldn't think me cruel.

It would make me not want my child to go to the school, because it indicates to me an attitude towards children that I find quite unpleasant.

When working class people dress their kids inadequately, we tut tut and take it as a sign of neglect. I don't really see why being well off is a good excuse to underdress children in winter.

do the teachers wear shorts in the winter? if not why not if the children do? think its a stupid idea, its not war-time Britain, we are not rationing clothes.

I'd hate to think of my little boys dithering in the playground.

I love that dithering tiredemma, do you mean shivering ?