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Original poster

schools introduce hair straighteners to encourage girls to do PE

47 replies

meemarsgotabrandnewbump · 18/09/2009 09:44

Not sure how I feel about this

Just seems to be feeding our image obsessed society even further. The last sentence about helping girls to 'support positive self image' is a bit .

Discuss

OP posts:
LadyGlencoraPalliser · 18/09/2009 09:45

That'll be interesting. In DD's school they have removed the mirrors from the girls toilets to stop them spending so much time in there.

stepaway · 18/09/2009 09:46

now I've heard everything.

that's mind boggling.

there is no hope if even the schools are encouraging children to be obsessed with their looks.

Lovemyshoes · 18/09/2009 09:46

Absolutely bloody ridiculous.

2shoes · 18/09/2009 09:47

what a waste of money,

ErikaMaye · 18/09/2009 09:47

Oh for goodness sakes... How utterly absurd. Though saying that, I do remember some girls in my PE class who would bring their straighteners with them so they could do their hair after Its more about conforming than positive self image.

And besides - hands up who reckons that the numbers in attendance will still be down, but more people will be walking round with straight hair at those schools???

SqueezyCheese · 18/09/2009 09:47

Horrendous! I was driving into town the other morning and saw girls standing in the queue for the school bus and they were all short skirts, fake tan, full make up and fancy hair do's. There's just no need for it.

What happened to the days of gym pants and hockey in the freezing cold whether you liked it or not?

I mean, straighteners at school, WTF is going on in this crazy world?

electra · 18/09/2009 09:49

I think it's a good idea. People care about the way they look - it's just part of human nature. I think I would be more shocked about mirrors being removed...just my opinion.

belgo · 18/09/2009 09:54

Absolutely ridiculous waste of money.

And what will they do when the fashion for straight hair changes? Introduce home perm kits? Hair dye?

Original poster
meemarsgotabrandnewbump · 18/09/2009 09:58

that's a good point belgo.

Is PE not compulsory then? Why do they need 'encouragement'?

What if girls refused to take part in science because the lab coats and goggles are ugly?

OP posts:
midnightexpress · 18/09/2009 10:01

I'm not sure about this one. While it does seem like £800 that could be better spent, I don't really see that it's all that different from having hairdryers in changing rooms, which nobody thinks are absurd. And I'd rather that they took a bit of exercise than not.

OTOH, I feel at my old-gittiest when I see teenage gals heading off to school with skirts so short that their knickers are more or less on display to the world at large. I really hate the precocious sexualizing of young girls. Tis very sad.

dilemma456 · 18/09/2009 10:02

Message withdrawn

AMumInScotland · 18/09/2009 10:03

Back in my school, they could have made people happier about PE by actually ending the lesson in enough time for us to get showered and changed and to our next lesson on time. If this is part of a general rethink about why people are likely to bunk off PE and/or dump it at the first opportunity, then fair dos.

titchy · 18/09/2009 10:03

Great - how to encourage positive body image amongst those with naturally curly hair... not.

And surely this must be a huge fire risk?

titchy · 18/09/2009 10:04

and blimey £800 for 9 - mine only cost about £20!

flowerybeanbag · 18/09/2009 10:04

Does that mean they were previously excusing girls from PE who were worried about bad hair?

For crying out loud. We had to be on our deathbeds before getting out of PE when I was at school!

GypsyMoth · 18/09/2009 10:07

they'll prob be ghd's then for that price,with a discount i hope

madness!!

dilemma456 · 18/09/2009 10:10

Message withdrawn

Mybox · 18/09/2009 10:29

How strange

SignoraRubyrubyruby · 18/09/2009 10:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Grumpla · 18/09/2009 10:33

Hairdryers so you're not walking around with wet hair and catching colds all day seems reasonable. Hair straighteners so you can prettify yourself - ridiculous.

Just another thing for them to fight over / with - would have been about ten minutes in my school before some unlucky sod (probably me) would be pinned down and branded with them.

IneedacleanerIamalazyslattern · 18/09/2009 10:34

I actually know the area pretty well that they are trialling this in and TBH if I was in charge of those schols I would probably be doing absurd and weird and wonderful things to encourage the pupils to participate.
I would bet that they would do anything to get some involvement from pupils and probably feel if that is one way to get them to do it then they'll try anything.

Still think it's a ludicrous idea god they are never gonna get the girls out the toilets for their next class.

ErikaMaye · 18/09/2009 11:11

That's a point, Grumpla - it would have been me who was pinned and branded too. Surely there will be bullying incidents now they have "tools" handy?

IneedacleanerIamalazyslattern · 18/09/2009 11:16

Actually in these schools I can see that happening too

charlotteolivia · 18/09/2009 11:34

How long before pupils are dissappearing in break time to go to the changing rooms and straighten their hair?! There are only a few in each changing room, and what- 20...30 girls maybe if 2 classes at once- how are they going to control how long the girls use them for? Arguments about not getting a chance to use them are surely going to happen!!

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 18/09/2009 11:35

DD is year 8. I shall ask her what she thinks this evening.