School uniform rule - girls not allowed trousers

[Fisharefriendsnotfood]

I'm wondering if I can call on the collective wisdom of you good people to help me construct my argument in the best way.

Dd (5) and yr 1 attends a local R.C primary school that I am more than happy with. She suffers from recurrent thrush and this year I noticed that when she wore tights under her pinafore it seemed to exasperate the problem. I checked the school prospectus for details because I have never seen a girl in trousers at the school and it states that girls must wear a pinafore or skirt as school uniform..

I then emailed the head and explained the issue and asked for clarification on the rules and she said that the last time the issue came before the chair of governors they decided not to introduce trousers as part of the girls uniform. She was very sympathetic and pleasant and said that if I got a doctors letter perhaps she.could allow it.

Now, there is no way dd would wear trousers if no one else was and I also feel that this would high light the issue / invite questions into something that is no one else's business.

So if you are still with me, I want to get the issue raised again with the chair of governors because I cannot think of any valid reason in this day and age why girls should not wear trousers if the want to. I have to speak at a parent voice meeting and if I can muster enough support the issue will be on the agenda of the next governors meeting where I can present my argument.

Where to start? Can anyone offer pointers?

Sorry for the essay

Maybe they're worried the boys will want to wear skirts.....

I think it should only go to parents of girls, however, if they are sending to all, then responses should indicate if they are parents of boys, girls, or both.

It would be interesting to see what the response was if they asked the girls themselves.

And I hope those two parents at the parent voice meeting won't be representative of too many others.

Fwiw, I'd definitely vote for trousers and I have two boys - it's just as important for them to know that girls can choose to wear practical smart clothes and not just be there to look pretty.

So, I contacted my local Councillor yesterday and he read my letter to the board. He emailed this morning to say it was the best constructed argument he had read in years and that he backed me completely. He has forwarded to two other local councillors and the LEA and is going to write to the head and the chairman of the Board

Great news.

Great!

Yeay, well done!

Am buzzing

Just the lift I needed. Thanks for the support on here too

I agree with the no trousers rule , they aren't very smart or feminine for school age girls.

Why do school age girls have to look feminine?

Don't agree they can't look smart, but then again, I don't necessarily see the need to look smart either.

What do you mean by trousers not being feminine? I'm a woman and I wear trousers all the time and nobody has ever mistaken me for a man. I even have short hair. And no make up, and no high heels. And rather flat-chested, I have to admit. Not one single person has mistaken me for a man.

What does being feminine even mean!?

Soon to be six, I'm interested that you've decided to join the discussion. Can you answer some questions? Why is it important for girls of primary school age to look feminine at school? Why can't trousers look smart? (It's what I wear to work 95% of the time).

And do boys not look smart in trousers?
And why exactly does a 5 year old girl need to look feminine.
Seriously typing that question out makes me shudder with disgust.

Sorry Six, we've all piled in at once with the same question, which probably comes across as very aggressive (and you'll run screaming for the hills going "never darken the FWR section again). But I am genuinely interested in your answer, since actually the "they don't look smart" claim is one OP has encountered among the other parent-governers at the school, and this is a rare opportunity to actually talk to someone who holds that view and find out why they do!

Well done Fish - I've just read the whole thread. I hope in 20 years time your DD is posting proudly in a forum about how well her mum did in the fight against sexism when she was at school. And hopefully there will be universal disbelief that such policies still existed at the start of the 21st century.

Great result Fish. Keep up the good work! I thought of you this morning as DD was putting her trousers on

Well done Fish! Great stuff, I am buzzing for you!

Celestial, not sure if you still are, but if you are, would you mind summarising the email "why ties for girls is a feminist issue"? I am curious

Wow. This thread has well cheered me up. Changing the world, one trouser-leg at at a time.

What a great tag line
"Changing the world one trouser leg at a time"

Well done Fish.

One of my friends has a DD in year 2 and she refuses to wear skirts because some of the boys in the class are going under the desk and looking at the girls' pants

DD wears the posh boys suits and blazers from M&S Autograph range and she is skinny as a rake and as a 10 year old, currently has no hips or bosom. She chose them as soon as we went in the shop...

I'd love to know how these suits, designed for boys to attend weddings magically become "not smart" when a girl wears them.

However, if a mother of boys wishes to assign me her superior trouser choosing wisdom, I am sure I can go to the same shops without my silly little woman's head exploding. [irony emoticon]

Well done Fish for making people stop using these silly arguments!

Miggise I have a son and a daughter. I would love to help you - I have no trouble buying trousers for my son. BUT when buying them for my daughter, oh how I struggle. All these thoughts of fluffy kittens and cupcakes distract me and I have to rush over to the pinny section instead so I can get ready to make hubby something scrumptious for tea.

Wow, this is an eye-opener. I remember girls campaigning for trousers when I was at school, always met with patronising rubbish about it not looking feminine. I had no idea it was still going on.

I hated wearing a skirt, especially in summer when the boys commented on how hairy your legs were! Funny how we had to wear ties though isn't it? The only time in my life I've ever done that.