AIBU to think HT is insane?

[sparkymummy2]

My daughters (age 7 and 9) came home from school saying the Head Teacher told all the girls in Assembly that they shouldn't be wearing skirts unless they had tights or leggings underneath as she 'didn't want to see their underwear' . She also banned the P1 and P2 children from changing for PE in the classroom and told them it was 'inappropriate' to be in vests and pants in the classroom as 'anyone could see them' (these are the actual words she used to the children)
I find it terribly depressing that children are being made to be self-conscious in this way and feel she is actually sexualising them. Or am I old-fashioned?!

Well I always felt annoyed that all the classes had to change in the classrooms, on full view to the outside world.

What on earth happens when you see underwear exactly?

Where are they supposed to change then?

If an adult can't cope with kids in vest and pants then they are kind of in the wrong job as a head teacher.

"In full view of the outside world" Is your school on the high street or something? Ours is set back in its own (play) grounds woth railings round. The only people likely to see you getting changed in the classroom are teachers or passing students from another class.

At least yours in consistent. Ours makes girls wear shorts under a dress incase they do handstands at break and show their knickers but also makes them gat changed in the classroom in front of everyone else.....

Ugh. So she was looking up their skirts to see if they had leggings on? Impressed if they have spare space in the school for little ones to change anywhere except their classroom.

The school is set well back from the road, has a large playground and the only people likely to pass the windows are staff or the occasional pare

The school is set well back from the road with a large playground. The only people likely to pass the windows are staff and the occasional parent arriving to deliver a message/late child etc. Even then, the windows are fairly high up so you'd struggle to see into the classroom unless you really had an uncontrollable urge to see pants and vests.
They are expected to get changed in the toilets- there are only three cubicles so she then shouts at them for taking too long to get ready. She also says they shouldn't share cubicles. Also she says these things to the children but never officially communicates her 'ideas' to the parents so the children are often upset and confused.

I would agree with you if we were talking about older children, but at age 4-7 I honestly can't see a problem with changing in the classroom. Surely they will all be wearing underwear and it doesn't matter if they see each other?! Children grow up far too fast and making them feel there is something rude or wrong about their underwear can't be healthy.

God I would go nuts if my kids had to change in toilet it's disgusting.Just yuck.

My kids school holds things like movie night where they change into onsies and stuff. Oatents pick them uo and we get them changed in the classrooms.The teachers have made their way through dozens of kids stood around in their underwear getting changed and they haven't batted an eyelid. Its perfectly possible.

Why is she so squeamish at some underwear?

(For the infants. Juniors is later they get changed st home ?

Yes she is nuts. Is she trying to teach them to be ashamed of themselves? Kids that age should be completely unconcerned about that sort of thing. I would try and get it nipped in the bud - not sure how though. These are very weird and potentially damaging messages she is giving off.

Primary, especially younger ones....bonkers.

Reading the OP I get the feeling maybe the head is worried about outside people being able to see in? I know my (secondary) we have had many an incident of men hanging round gates, approaching kids through railings etc and flashers too. I can see a rationale if its protection from this sort of thing if school is near a road.

In which case, the classroom should have blinds anyway which can be drawn, or at least an area away from windows where children can change....problem solved.

It does seem rather draconian and a bit OTT which makes me wonder if there's another reason behind it.

Bonkers and all wrong imo