General Chat

It's only recently that my daughter's school has even allowed pupil to wear coats, now it's got to be black or navy which is fair enough, I don't mind having to buy a coat of a certain colour. Before that, however, they weren't allowed to wear coats on the way to school even in the winter when it was freezing cold. I have to admit I would have thought twice about sending my daughter there if that rule was still being enforced. Kids need to be able to wear coats, hats, scaffs etc during winter or else they'll start coming down with colds/flu which would be disruptive to their education. Juliexx

I have just seen this Elizabeth. How did you keep away from the phone? I remember some of these teachers too, and I would have been speaking to the head. Idiot!... not you ! Deanna X

I have followed this thread with interest, The school my boys went to was very strict with school uniform, if you didn't comply, you didn't go to school. I was an agreement at the time of entry. The school was very oversubscribed! If you didn't like it, you didn't accept a place! simple as that. But when it came to outer clothes, the policy was a bit diffferent. Any coat in a light colour was recommended (to be more visible in dark mornings and evenings!) but underneath that the uniform had to be impecible! The kids looked a right shambles in the winter, but in the summer it was quite different! We would have got away with the hat! Discipline was enforced in many ways, One day my son was seen crossing at a pelican crossing before the green man was on! he got a week of detentions for that, It was the day after he had been at the hospital with me when my Mother died, there was no room for compassion, he still had to do the weeks detention! It just isn't worth argueing too much, you accept a school for what it is, and that is why the kids go there! Suex

I don't feel I can comment on this particular situation as I was not party to the conversation between the teacher and your son. However, it brought to mind the uproar in our local paper last year. A local school was accused of causing distress and putting its pupils at risk because they were confiscating coats that didn't meet the school dress code. The pupils were getting their coats back at the end of the day but couldn't wear them at breaks (which could be spent inside the school) if they didn't meet the required standards. There were hoardes of parents writing in to the paper complaining that their little cherubs would come down with something because of the cold but they seemed oblivious to the fact that the school dress code indicated that outer wear should be black or navy. All I could think was what the hell was wrong with the parents for allowing their children to wear coats to school that didn't comply? When I was at school, I had to wear a navy coat and guess what? thats exactly what my mother bought for me. (It was the only coat I had and I hated it. It was one of thbose that my Mother got with the intention that I would 'grow' into it and it would last a couple of years!)

Of course there are 2 sides to every story, but there are also right ways and wrong ways of dealing with any conflict. If the teacher concerned had thought that the child was breaking any rules, given the circumstances, a better way to deal with it I think would have been a quiet word with or note to the parent the next day - or a period of waiting and seeing if the rule break was repeated. Not bawling someone out outside school in very bad weather. How is that going to engender any more respect for the teacher? What does the child think of that teacher now, and is he going to be more or less likely to comply with future directions from her? Teachers should enforce rules through strictness where necessary, yes, but also through gaining the respect of the children and their parents. If I had been the teacher I would have commented on the bad weather and if I had had to make any comment about the hat at all it would have been that in the circumstances it was okay, but to remember it was not part of school uniform and that I wouldn't want to see him wear it regularly. I object to Walter's tone especially. I don't rise to arguments so I will say no more than that the tone was particularly unecessary and designed to provoke. By the way I am both a parent and school governor, and I also work for the Government in a job that brings me in close contact with the people who set down policy for education and schools. Those are my credentials for having a legitimate point of view on this. I've given it and that's the end of my involvement in this thread as I do not seek to join threads which descend into pointless arguments. Angela

Peter, I NEVER want to see the return of that style of discipline.

I agree that if they wear school uniform outside the school grounds they need to have it spot on to indicate their respect for the school. If the school do not stipulate a warm winter hat then that is their bullet hole in their foot when they decide to complain about it. Walking to school.... Health of the nation.... etc, etc, etc. I am so glad that the teachers we have at our school are down to earth, common sense types, or perhaps are able to be because of a good headmaster. Anyway, if he is well and does not fall back into the 'flu or catch another strain, job done. If she gets any type of 'flu, she will lose some of that weight and not be able to pull over on the side of the road to heckle pedestrians! Regards Abigail

Although I agree Jess about kids playing out in the snow and getting wet etc they do have the choice as to what to wear, ie Hat, in this case the boy in question didnt seem to be given a choice due to schools so called policy with no thought about how it effects him, to me it just sounds a bit petty minded by an overzealous teacher, but thats just my opinion. Marie

Hi Elizabeth. What a cheek !!!!. I would phone the school in the morning and make a complaint about this teacher. It has nothing to do with them what the children wear outside the school gates. Alyson..

Marie, come on , this isnt anyone personally attacking anyone!Must admit , it is begining to look that way. How many children will be out in the snow tommorow, freezing cold and soaking wet? About every other child in the country is my guess. Yes, you'll all dress them up snug and warm and how long will those gloves stay dry and cozy? 2 seconds.... How many of them will come down with double bronchial pnuemonia as a result? None.

Walter I take it then that if a child takes seriously ill due to braving the freezing tempratures, it will be ok as long as we as parents made sure that they looked good for the school! I would like to add that I support my childrens schools in every which way I can but at the end of the day my childrens health most certainly comes first regardless of contracts etc and if that makes me one of Those Parents then so be it! Marie

Elizabeth, you do not say whether there is a 'regulation' hat with your son's uniform. If so, then I suppose he should have been wearing that particular one and no other. If not though, then surely he can wear whatever hat he wants?? I too would be querying this with the head first thing in the morning. Calmly lol - has more effect!! Maz. XX

Walter, I can understand her not giving him a lift. Fine. What I cannot accept is that the lad's been ill with flu, for God's sake. And for the record, thank you, I am not one of those parents who stick up for their children against teachers no matter what! If my children disobey the rules at school they deserve to be punished, and we always support the school. So, kindly do not label us like that please.

More than any teacher dare do in this day and age, give a child a lift home- my opposite neighbours children attend my school .Am i allowed to give them a lift home? - NO. Am I allowed to babysit them? NO ...and you wouldnt believe the list of clothing reglations that are applied to me as staff- how i'll wear my hair (tied back at all times, if shoulder length or below), a maximum of 3 rings and two earings (and thats one in each ear) No trainers or Jeans, no tatoos or body piercings on show EVER. No skirts above knee length, no tops that reveal Midrift or cleavage ( I wish,...!) WHY? TO SET A GOOD EXAMPLE!!

I hadn't thought about her not being allowed to give him a lift home. Hold my hands up. But I do think this teacher semed to be over reacting. I know not all teachers are over zealous most are good and that they do have a hard job these days. But you do get the odd one that is power happy. Just thought to pull a kid up over a hat in this weather seemed to be going over board. Yes two sides to every story and not all children shorten the truth. There are some nice kids out there too. Germaine x

Just been looking online at daughters unform list...... the really stupid thing is they even stipulate what colour gloves the girls can wear, but then go on to say the girls do not need a PE/sports bag.... a carrier will do PMSL talk about contradiction of standards!!!!!!!

Jess is absolutely right, there are two sides to the story and if we are not careful we run the risk of alienating teachers when what the vast majoity of us want is to give them a bit more authority. Dont forget that in the 60's you got the cane or strap for not wearing the corrrect uniform. Harsh, maybe but those of who were there at the time look back and wish that there was a bit more of this style of discipline today.

Sorry, It depends what the contract a parent has with the school. School would possibly retort that if she was that worried about his health then she should have organised that he didnt have to walk in inclement weather - I'm not looking to argue, just possibly help foster the understanding that there are two sides to the story.

Walter so we're bad parents for putting a childs health first??? I'm willing to back my childrens schools up if my children have done anything wrong and need discipling. So far they haven't. Elizabeth's son had just got over a dose of flu and quite frankly in my opinion was being sensible by wearing a hat. He wasn't misbehaving or causing trouble of any kind. I don't see a problem with wearing a hat. Juliexx

It's the same at my daughters school they are only allowed to wear school issue coats, or fleeces. Strict rules that we accepted when we accepted the place...it's a very popular school that is vastly oversubscribed. P.s Jess Isn't a parent she works at the school!!