School Uniform

bestpud

Seems ridiculous to me but it's one of those long standing rules that assumes it is somehow beneficial for children to be uncomfortable!

It was good enough for us so it's good enough for them no doubt! Make them suffer - its good for them! *rolls eyes*

liney

Does 'all other times in school' mean break times, or actually only the 2 mins walking from one class to another?

miss_independent

I left school 9 years ago and it was always like this at the schools I attended. I've got a health problem where I faint quite often and getting overheated is one of the primary causes but I was always fine and never in the least overheated. We were allowed to remove our blazers in class when the weather was warm but had to wear them at all other times, tbh it was only to walk from class to class and coming in and out of school, it wasn't a big deal and I can't recall anyone getting angry about it (and we had quite a few children of barristers and judges whose parents would have made a stir if they felt it was bad). We were allowed to wear short sleeved shirts and knee high socks in summer term and, during class, boys were allowed to roll up their sleeves to the elbow when the weather was hot (they would send out a "shirt sleeves protocol" letter during a heatwave) but blazer were to be worn outside of class. I can't remember anyone breaking the rule or making a fuss. At junior school we were allowed to wear either a short sleeved shirt and tank top jumper or a summer dress but at all times, except in class, we had to wear our very heavy wool worsted blazer. Again, no fainting or people making a fuss.

I didn't realise this was a new thing for alot of people?

As I say, it didnt bother me in the slightest. Has your son complained of struggling with the heat? I was more upset at the gym teacher who used to make us tuck our athletic vests into our horrid skimpy athletics knickers as we girls in the full swing of puberty had to exercise on the playing field which overlooked a main road!

mammyof7

miss_independent wrote: »

I left school 9 years ago and it was always like this at the schools I attended. I've got a health problem where I faint quite often and getting overheated is one of the primary causes but I was always fine and never in the least overheated. We were allowed to remove our blazers in class when the weather was warm but had to wear them at all other times, tbh it was only to walk from class to class and coming in and out of school, it wasn't a big deal and I can't recall anyone getting angry about it (and we had quite a few children of barristers and judges whose parents would have made a stir if they felt it was bad). We were allowed to wear short sleeved shirts and knee high socks in summer term and, during class, boys were allowed to roll up their sleeves to the elbow when the weather was hot (they would send out a "shirt sleeves protocol" letter during a heatwave) but blazer were to be worn outside of class. I can't remember anyone breaking the rule or making a fuss. At junior school we were allowed to wear either a short sleeved shirt and tank top jumper or a summer dress but at all times, except in class, we had to wear our very heavy wool worsted blazer. Again, no fainting or people making a fuss.

I didn't realise this was a new thing for alot of people?

As I say, it didnt bother me in the slightest. Has your son complained of struggling with the heat? I was more upset at the gym teacher who used to make us tuck our athletic vests into our horrid skimpy athletics knickers as we girls in the full swing of puberty had to exercise on the playing field which overlooked a main road!

Yes apparently all the kids are complaining about being too hot. The school building has a lot of glass walls so this will probably only add to the problem.

This is quite new to me as also have a son whom has left school, but the old polo shirt was still in force then. I also have a teenage daughter who attends a different secondary school, again wearing a blazer and shirt. There is no problem with this school as the pupils are permitted to remove their blazer if the heat gets too much.

Lol at your PE teacher. I remember those days of pe knickers with a "netball" skirt. I think those lessons contributed to my lifelong hatred of the subject. I still find it mortifying if I'm taking a pe class in a school where the pupils have to wear their underwear. I can't understand why all infant schools have not adopted a pe kit!!

mammyof7

liney wrote: »

Does 'all other times in school' mean break times, or actually only the 2 mins walking from one class to another?

All break and dinner times (kids are not allowed to leave the school any more at lunch times).

GobbledyGook

I just wish more schools realised that if you give the children a choice then a lot of the time they'll actually come up with a sensible suggestion and if you give them a bit of ownership of the uniform policy they'll adhere to it and respect it better.

Unfortunately some seem stuck on the idea that shirt, tie and blazer at all time will automatically equal more respect and better behaviour. Whereas the school that I've seen with the best behaved kids (in respect towards their school and their uniform wearing) are the one where they allowed the children to vote on blazers in class, between classes and the hot/cold weather policy.

Mrs_Arcanum

Comparing school uniform to office wear is somewhat unfair as office workers often have the benefit of air conditioning. Nor are they lined up in exactly the same outfit regardless.

Personally think shirt & tie is more open to abuse, with ties being worn at a huge variety of heights & styles. At least polo shirts can only be worn pretty much either tucked in (not cool) or loose.

GobbledyGook

Also comparing school uniform to office attire is unfair because they are school kids. They've got donkeys years ahead of them to conform to office standards. I don't see the need to try and turn our kids into adults too soon. (Though I have this opinion about children's clothing in general, not just school uniform).

newgirly

My three have to wear blazers at all times except lessons, but tbh they have never complained about it. They are in lessons for the majority of the time, and if its really hot they get permission to take them off outside lessons.

I like the fact the school are strict on uniform, they have high standards for all aspects of school life including behaviour and apperance, and have consistently above average results.

I am sure it is possible to acheive good results without a uniform , but in my experience the schools that have the highest success rate locally have strict uniform policies.

miss_independent

mammyof7 wrote: »

Yes apparently all the kids are complaining about being too hot. The school building has a lot of glass walls so this will probably only add to the problem.

This is quite new to me as also have a son whom has left school, but the old polo shirt was still in force then. I also have a teenage daughter who attends a different secondary school, again wearing a blazer and shirt. There is no problem with this school as the pupils are permitted to remove their blazer if the heat gets too much.

Lol at your PE teacher. I remember those days of pe knickers with a "netball" skirt. I think those lessons contributed to my lifelong hatred of the subject. I still find it mortifying if I'm taking a pe class in a school where the pupils have to wear their underwear. I can't understand why all infant schools have not adopted a pe kit!!

At least you got a netball skirt lol! Things must be very different in this part of the uk, as we seem to have done the opposite lol, our local schools have gone from shirt and tie to polo shirts (I think myself that polo shirts can look a bit untidy, i'm not keen on them) and even the most underprivileged of primary schools require students to have a P.E kit round here. That's terrible about kids doing P.E in their underwear, I had no idea there were schools like that!

Blazers are a newer tradition round here also. It was only ever private schools and the former grammar schools that had them but around five years ago all schools seemed to require them.

I hated my school uniform but I think that it is better to have a uniform than street clothes. My mum used to tell me when I complained that it was so that children whose parents were on low income didn't have to feel bad that they didn't have alot of clothes or fancy, branded things. She came from a poor family that couldn't even afford uniform for a while, I think their school clothes were their best clothes! I used to moan about my individuality being supressed by the school etc but I am one of those (like the OP) that does think uniform is smarter. My parents are currently interviewing young people for positions in their businesses and you would be amazed at the amount of college students who think it is perfectly acceptable to turn up for a job interview for a public facing role in torn scruffy jeans, uggs and a hoody with stains/holes/expletives all over it. They get away with it for college so think its fine to turn up for a job interview like that. At my sixth form college, we had to wear to wear suits and maintain a professional, businesslike appearance as did the staff!