Grrr school and fancy dress costumes

alwaysskint96

Is it just my son's school or does everyone get this? Year 4 son, trip to some Tudor place- of course they now have to dress up in Tudor costume. Same as "book character day" "Victorian School" "Nativity " and others of that ilk

Now what is it actually teaching the kids having parents getting the hassle of making up or buying costumes? Apart from stressed annoyed parents of course

Surely seeing as the same things are repeated year after year there should be the necessary costumes in school for them?

I have no problem supporting the school in educating the kids ( was 100% happy helping pout setting their computer stuff up)- but i do object to having to become some kind of seamstress and it does seem that its some kind of competition of who's parent can make the best costume. Rather than what the child actually learns from the trip

marisco_2

No it is not just your sons school. My sons school is just the same. As is the school where I work as a teacher. Trust me the teachers are just as fed up of it as the parents. So far this year I have dressed up as a Saxon, a Victorian school mistress and St George. I also had to make a papiermache dragon and find myself a charger (aka my kids hobby horse). Later this term I get to sport my cockney Nora Battey look complete with rollers in my hair and pinney to bring World War 2 day to life.

daisiegg

marisco wrote: »

No it is not just your sons school. My sons school is just the same. As is the school where I work as a teacher. Trust me the teachers are just as fed up of it as the parents. So far this year I have dressed up as a Saxon, a Victorian school mistress and St George. I also had to make a papiermache dragon and find myself a charger (aka my kids hobby horse). Later this term I get to sport my cockney Nora Battey look complete with rollers in my hair and pinney to bring World War 2 day to life.

:eek::eek:

Reading this makes me very glad I work in secondary!

nickj_2

the greatest thing about boths kids being at high school is you can wave goodbye to the trauma of dressing up for book week and all the other events that require you to find the impossible

alwaysskint96

marisco wrote: »

No it is not just your sons school. My sons school is just the same. As is the school where I work as a teacher. Trust me the teachers are just as fed up of it as the parents. So far this year I have dressed up as a Saxon, a Victorian school mistress and St George. I also had to make a papiermache dragon and find myself a charger (aka my kids hobby horse). Later this term I get to sport my cockney Nora Battey look complete with rollers in my hair and pinney to bring World War 2 day to life.

Who dreams all these ideas up??? Must say that my daughter who is doing A2s seems to need far less= just money in her case

balletshoes

My DD's primary school is in a fairly deprived area, so even though its a good school we didn't have any "dressing up" for any of the topics covered in school. I do remember fancy dress when they were in reception/year 1 for world book day, and PJs for some reason as well?

For Comic Relief etc they held competitions for best themed fancy dress, best themed hat/headdress, best themed baked goods etc, but it wasn't compulsory to join in.

For the topic themes, the kids made stuff in school, so for Romans, Egyptians etc they did designer togas and made carboard pyramids etc. For Victorians they visited a Victorian interactive museum, and for World War II they had to pack a case (ie a bag) with provisions they might have had as a child being evacuated to the countryside.

They did occasionally ask us to provide specific costumes for the class assemblies and Christmas plays, which totalled probably around 4 occasions per school year.

marisco_2

alwaysskint96 wrote: »

Who dreams all these ideas up???

Trust me I wish I knew. I'd have more than a few choice words for them. From September I am working in year 4 and get to do the whole 'Tudor look' myself. I also have to source a sari to bring India day to life. Don't get me started on the costumes I have to arrange for the 'nativity'. Then there is the panto that my colleagues and I put on for the entire school before we break up for Xmas. If I had wanted to spend my career dressing up I would be on the stage.

Secondary school teaching is becoming more and more of an appealing option.

valk_scot

I love the costume requests, I've got a great set of dirt cheap charity shops nearby and can sew pretty well so I'm miles ahead of the game. Add in the fact I'm a stay at home mum and you can guarantee I'll have half a dozen "favours" asked for the same night as the note went home from school.

Romans and Vikings are dead easy, all you need are a few old sheets in generic peasant colours, bits of scrap leather, rope and some broken junk jewellery which most charity shops can provide. Egyptians are white sheets and a lot of eyeliner, Romans are white, red and purple sheets, anything Tudor, Victorian or the easy Edwardian means the cheap charity shop and cross your fingers there's plenty of Per Una skirts in, preferably in big sizes so you can pad them out. The hats are always the big problem, dented ones are cheaper of course. Oh and for Tudor brocade old curtains in that shiny damask weave are brilliant.

You all hate me now, don'tcha? I did eight Titanic 1st Class female passenger costumes last month for under £30 the lot, a couple of afternoons work and had an absolute ball doing it. I'm going to be really upset when my youngest finally goes up to grammar school.

Gloomendoom

marisco wrote: »

Then there is the panto that my colleagues and I put on for the entire school before we break up for Xmas. If I had wanted to spend my career dressing up I would be on the stage.

Secondary school teaching is becoming more and more of an appealing option.

What makes you think dressing up stops in primary school?

daisiegg

Gloomendoom wrote: »

What makes you think dressing up stops in primary school?

There is no dressing up in my secondary school or any others I have taught in/know teachers in!

alwaysskint96

valk_scot wrote: »

I love the costume requests, I've got a great set of dirt cheap charity shops nearby and can sew pretty well so I'm miles ahead of the game. Add in the fact I'm a stay at home mum and you can guarantee I'll have half a dozen "favours" asked for the same night as the note went home from school.

Romans and Vikings are dead easy, all you need are a few old sheets in generic peasant colours, bits of scrap leather, rope and some broken junk jewellery which most charity shops can provide. Egyptians are white sheets and a lot of eyeliner, Romans are white, red and purple sheets, anything Tudor, Victorian or the easy Edwardian means the cheap charity shop and cross your fingers there's plenty of Per Una skirts in, preferably in big sizes so you can pad them out. The hats are always the big problem, dented ones are cheaper of course. Oh and for Tudor brocade old curtains in that shiny damask weave are brilliant.

You all hate me now, don'tcha? I did eight Titanic 1st Class female passenger costumes last month for under £30 the lot, a couple of afternoons work and had an absolute ball doing it. I'm going to be really upset when my youngest finally goes up to grammar school.

LOL not sure my son would like to be dressed in a large per una skirt. And dont hate you but no quite so easy as a single parent with a full time job whose sewing skills amounted to using the unpicker in sewing class and visiting the hospital after the sewing machine needle went through my finger

Mind you perhaps you could sell yr services for us uncreative parents.