School detentions

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My son has been receiving a number of detentions over not wearing his uniform correctly in school. Despite me speaking to him about it he's received marks for constantly not tucking in his shirt or not doing up his top shirt button. Do other schools have similar sanctions for minor uniform issues or is the school being petty on such issues. I think it's silly and he should be allowed to concentrate on his work rather than receiving sanctions for the way you dress.

It is common.
It might seem a bit OTT but if he’s really that unhappy getting detentions then he should just do as the teachers ask

He'd easily be able to concentrate on his work if he just tucked his shirt in.

He's been told, given warnings and still refuses to do it. I think this is much more about his attitude.

He'll need to think carefully about his future career/ place of work if he doesn't think rules apply to him.

You are not giving enough importance to this so that he gets it. It is unlikely just one time, probably reminded and caught not having done tie up or tucked short in. It may well be symptomatic of his attitude to school. If he was bothered he could avoid the detentions but he isn't and you don't seem inclined to tell him he has to.

Yes my children’s school will give out detention for this. Wearing a uniform represents the school and how you wear it demonstrates your attitude and respect for what it stands for. Be firm - rules are rules.

God it’s so irritating when students deliberately leave their shirts untucked and CONSTANTLY have to be asked to tuck it in. Absolutely done deliberately and a sign of a bit of an attitude ime.

Uniform rules are a PITA but so are the kids who deliberately flout them then moan about detentions. He needs to start going to school dressed properly. If mine was repeatedly getting detentions at school he would be facing sanctions at home too.

I can also say the vast majority of students manage to keep shirts tucked in all day, with maybe the odd reminder after lunch.

Yes, they get minor uniform infractions recorded, and too many within a half term leads to detention.

Your DC wouid be able to concentrate perfectly well if he learned to do up his buttons up and to tuck his shirt in (I am assuming here that he does have shirts which are correct collar size and long enough).

I'd flip the question round - and ask him why on earth he feels the need to wear garments incorrectly when it is so easy, and removes all stress, if he does not.

OTOH, better to use up teenage rebellious instincts on something harmless. Maybe you should just leave him to get in with it as he wants to, with your responsibility ending with the provision if appropriate garments that fit (line I have taken with my 'rolls skirt to a pelmet DD)

Schools are unnecessarily tough on school uniform as it has a big impact on behaviour as a whole. If you're hot on the small stuff the big stuff is lessened. I know it seems ridiculous but rules are rules and he needs to follow them if he wants to be prepared for the work place.

Uniforms are twaddle. They are designed to be uncomfortable. Schools should do away with them as they are currently designed in favour of softer and more comfy fabrics and designs IMO.

Whatever design they are, the same students would push and push the boundaries.

It's really not hard to keep your shirt tucked in all day. My kids have never been reprimanded for it, and we've had eight years in total at secondary. It's not that they are angels, but they know that this is a pointless thing to do. And their view is that the kids who insist on untucking doing it only to rile the teachers and disrupt the class.

It's one of those rules that's all about staff sweating the small stuff to make sure the big stuff doesn't happen.

They are practical, not particularly expensive (in most schools) and give the students some sort of social "leveller".

Having your shirt hanging out is a low level sign of disrespect and disregard for discipline. Most students wear correct uniform all day every day.

Finally, when you send a child to a school, you agree to the uniform policy. If you don't like the policy, move schools.

All of the above.

Him persistently not tucking in his shirt or doing up his top button even though he knows he should do and has been asked to is him persistently not following school rules.

Totally agree with the above. Tell him to tuck his shirt in and fasten his top button. He follows the school rules and does what the teacher asks, then he won't be distracted from learning.

Easy problem to solve by him doing up his top button and tucking his shirt in.

I'm a teacher. One thing that is really annoying is when I ask a pupil to tuck their shirt in, they do so and then I see them again five minutes later with it untucked! Some pupils deliberately have their uniform in a disarray to look 'cool'. At my school we wouldn't give a detention for a one time incident but if it was a repeated case of flouting the school rules, then yes of course!!

He wouldn't last long in our school if he walked around with his top button undone. He would be told to do it up and comply with the rules. This is the same in most schools with high standards.

So he thinks he is more important than the school rules. That’s his problem and until he learns to do basics like looking smart then he will have to face the consequences

I think it's a ridiculous rule, however he can't really break the rules and then complain about the consequences.

It's not hard to comply with the rules really, and whether the rules are asinine or not is irrelevant.

My ds is like this too, and tbh I think the school is too strict about it...but I have also told him he has to stick to the rules, and that for every detention he loses all computer time that day. Miraculously the spate of detentions seems to have stopped.

I do wish they would choose a more relaxed uniform though, what was wrong with polo shirts and jumpers? making children wear jackets and ties seems so totally unnecessary.

The school isn’t going to change its uniform policy for your son!

I’m a teacher and although uniform rules sometimes make me role my eyes a bit, it’s important to enforce them or else ALL the rules become meaningless. ‘Broken windows’ and all that.

*roll my eyes, not role! Had to correct myself because I’m an English teacher. The shame!