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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Is this a bit off or is it just me?

14 replies

nearlythree · 18/11/2006 23:20

Not quite sure where to put this, but...

Dd1's school (a small village primary) had a non-uniform day on Friday for CiN. One boy (I suppose he must have been about 10) turned up in full combat gear - camouflage jacket and trs, jumper, boots and hat. I assume he must belong to some cadet group but would have thought he was a bit young? Anyway, his attitude and that of the boys around him really bothered me - talking about fighting and stuff - quite intimidating for my little dd1.

Now, I have no objection to boys doing this type of thing - a dear relative of mine was in the ATC and is now an officer in the RAF and we are soooooo proud - but this just seemed a really inappropriate time and place (esp. given that it was for CiN) to dress this way. Or am I just being a hairy liberal sandal-wearing wuss?

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hana · 18/11/2006 23:23

at my school when we have a mufti day the students came in such outlandish things! I figured it was such a chance for them to wear their own clothes - they put all the special things on at the same time.....
so yes perhaps a bit inappropriate
but maybe that is boys at that age, would be hard for your dd to be shielded from that
am dreading dds upcoming mufti day this week and what she wants to wear!!

Moomin · 18/11/2006 23:24

think it's just boys and what boys do. My brother wore a combat outfit for so long when we were kids all the adults we knew called him Bilko (we didn't have a clue what it meant). He now is a nature-loving hippy who dives in the Indian Ocean for a living.

Skribble · 18/11/2006 23:26

I see quite a lot of kids at country activities my kids go to wearing combats and boots and stuff ideal for running about outdoors.

Perhaps not the full kit and not at school.

Saturn74 · 18/11/2006 23:28

I wouldn't send my children to school wearing combat gear, but I wouldn't be too worried if someone else did - as long as the weaponry stayed at home!

Original poster

nearlythree · 18/11/2006 23:28

I have no objection to him wearing it, it's just the time and place. I don't want to shield dd1 from it either, it was just a bit much for her to be herded into the tiny entrance with him.

Ds is only 5 mo, guess I have all this to come!

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handlemecarefully · 18/11/2006 23:30

I wouldn't call you a liberal sandal wearing wuss, but I do think you are being a little over analytical.

Original poster

nearlythree · 18/11/2006 23:32

I dunno...I can't actually analyse why I found it so unsettling. I mean, I know boys like all this stuff.

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handlemecarefully · 18/11/2006 23:34

Thinking about it, if I observed the same at dd's school I would probably think it 'odd' but other than that it wouldn't worry me. It's an unusual choice of mufti - I'll give you that!

ratclare · 20/11/2006 11:46

you should of just said ' oh how sweet youve come dressed as action man'

joelallie · 20/11/2006 16:33

But they look soooo sweet.... there were a load of cadets in town on Thursday. Baby soldiers....aahhhhh DH told me off for saying so though....

Zofloyya · 20/11/2006 22:59

I would be squeamish about this too. And I really can't be doing with the 'oh it's what boys do' line, as if it's totally impossible to have any agency as an adult in relation to this. Yes boys play at fighting (so do girls sometimes), but you don't have like it, and you don't have to legitimise it by buying them army kit. War is too serious a matter for that.

Hallgerda · 21/11/2006 07:51

I used to be a hairy liberal sandal-wearing wuss who wouldn't allow her children to do anything remotely fighting-related, but then DS1 constructed a complete Roman soldier outfit out of paper and cardboard, and I realised I was being a bit silly .

What would be appropriate dress for CiN anyway? Oliver Twist? Orphan Annie?

Original poster

nearlythree · 21/11/2006 09:07

ratclare - I so wish I had!

Hallgerda, the Roman thing is fine as Romans haven't been butchering anyone for 1500 yrs now. I just think on a day when we are trying to look after children suffering in this country, dressing up as a soldier is inappropriate given the suffering of innocent child victims of war the world over, some of which we are involved in.
As zoffloha says, war is too serious for that.

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Marina · 21/11/2006 09:16

nearlythree, I'd have felt the same. I can't stop ds (seven) talking gleefully about spies and eradication of traitorous double agents with stealth bombs etc because they hear it in the playground all the time. But I wouldn't send him to school in full combat fatigues for the same unease about CIN/effects of warfare that you articulate.
I can see how this sort of kit is very useful in a mucky rural environment, mind!

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