Girls not allowed to wear trousers to school? I thought we were in the 21st century?

[TheYearOfTheCatMPADist]

My DD is due to start primary school in September. I have been reading through the school's info pack, and I am really surprised (and hacked off) that the school specifies for winter school uniform, girls must wear a skirt & tights, and not trousers.

Is this normal? It seems so unnecessary. I can't really put into words how I feel, as it is pretty late, but it seems to be reinforcing gender stereotypes.

I am considering raising the issue with the head teacher, but would appreciate any views.

[HerBeatitudeLittleBella]

I agree Solid.

I think all these wanky uniforms are all about emphasising elitism and I honestly don't understand how anyone who belives in education for all, can justify the emphasis on elitism. It's disgusting.

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

'the wearing of trousers is more of a race than a gender issue'.
I'm not sure what you mean here, Dolly.

[thedolly]

Since when were ties practical? Do we want those banned?

[Hulababy]

HerBeatitudeLittleBella - DD has all thatkind of uniform; part of the original uniform from when the schoolw as set up. I don't see it as elitism. TBH though - I do care greatly about education, both my DDs education plus the education of those I have previously taught in schools or prisons, and also of the children I am a TA for. I just don't see the uniform as something to concern myself about it - to me education is far more important than what they wear! I'd rather concern myself over what is actally happening in the classroom than if one school has a boater as part of thier uniform

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

Ties are silly and pointless IMO. Would be happy to see them disappear - I think a lot of men would agree.

[BonsoirAnna]

Ties on school children are just horrible!

I do think that school dress codes can provide important lessons in teaching children how to dress appropriately. But sadly, it mostly seems to teach counter productive lessons in how to dress inappropriately and badly .

[BonsoirAnna]

My DP gave up wearing ties to the office about 6 years ago. It looks so much better.

[HerBeatitudeLittleBella]

Well we'll just have to disagree on this one Hula. Some dress is designed to show your membership of a club, one from which others are excluded. I think poncey uniforms fit into that category, you don't. There's no meeting point there.

[thedolly]

LGP perhaps I should have said 'religious' rather than 'race'.

For a number of religions, uncovered legs for females is not considered appropriate.

[thedolly]

Ties are yuck Anna but I wouldn't not send my DC to a school that had them as part of the uniform - that would be just silly.

[BonsoirAnna]

LittleBella - I agree that uniforms are generally a status symbol.

Personally, I like signalling my superior status by being eminently sensible in the way I dress

[HerBeatitudeLittleBella]

Oh and I absolutely agree with you, that what happens in the classroom is more important than what is worn. But most advocates of school uniforms, poncey or not, do not agree with us.

[thedolly]

They are a symbol of the status of tradition .

[BonsoirAnna]

Indeed, but tradition has no status at all in my book.

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

Yes, you should definitely have said religion rather than race. I suppose you are alluding to Muslim pupils.
Well, while it may be the case that some parents prefer their daughters to wear trousers to school for religious or cultural reasons, I should think that there are at least as many who wish their daughters to have the choice to wear trousers for reasons of comfort and practicality.
Either way, I don't see why schools should enforce a trouser ban on girls.

[Hulababy]

HerBeatitudeLittleBella - yes, we shall have to agree to disagree. I suppose I come at it from another angle. When grown adults have made personal negative remarks about the way your own child looks in their uniform (and yes this did happen on MN once, as well as it happening in RL onthe bus once too) in front of said child then you sometimes think differntly.

I personally bring my daughter up to accept everyone for who they are, regardless of who they are. I will continue to do so.

Sadly not all people do feel this is the way to behave (not this thread, but as said before - in the past) and will themselves, and encourage their own children, to react negatively if they see someone in a uniform, be them child or adult.

I personally can;t understand why some parents allow their children to go to school wearing strappy cropped tops, mini skirts, slip on slip flops or kitten heels at the age of 6 and 7, but even then my decent manners ensure I would never comment to them or said child unles it was in a professional capacity.

Life is full of uniforms and dress codes - to me it is the norm. It is not elitism, but they way things are. But others must chose for themselves how they wish to view uniforms in society.

[thedolly]

I am not alluding to any pupils LGP.

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

Well of course you are alluding to some pupils when you speak of 'a number of religions'. I assumed this was a reference to Muslim pupils, but perhaps I was mistaken and you meant some other religion.

[Squidward]

Knowing of Annas obession with etiquette and the in parisian crowd and what is right and wrong regarding Village halls I am entertained by her iconoclasm on this thread.

[BonsoirAnna]

I'm not remotely obsessed with etiquette - in fact, quite the contrary, I am a notorious breaker of protocol

[Squidward]

NO YOU ARE SO NOT!!! remember the I cant be arsed to go out in the week, but you did incase you casued offence.. etc

[BonsoirAnna]

I didn't go! LOL you're all mixed up! The fact that I am confronted with a lot of protocol doesn't mean I go along with it.

[Squidward]

ha ha



look at me all indignant in caps

[bumpsoon]

One of our local village schools has the same rule .I feel very sorry for my friend having to buy endless tights in the winter because her dd knees at least two pairs a week! Other than the weird uniform rule ,it is a lovely school

[edam]

I went to the same school (years ago, obv.) as one of the posters on this thread's dd does now . Am VERY jealous that they have changed the uniform and today's little girls no longer have to do battle with hideous, impractical kilts. In a part of the country so windy they were always blowing up and tearing the kilt pin!