Pages

It's school rules gone bonkers!

Following on from this, also here, it seems the rebellious are popping out of the woodwork as schools crack down on uniform rules.

St Paul's Cray Primary School tells child to remove jubilee hair ribbons

THE mum of a child ordered to remove her Diamond Jubilee hair ribbons at school, says teachers care more about an annual French day than the Queen's 60th anniversary.
French day?
But the school disagree
"We're very supportive of the Queen's jubilee.
"We did a lot more for the jubilee than the French day. (French day? Ed.) It has been a real focus of attention this term.

"In terms of our uniform policy we expect the children to adhere to the uniform policy when attending school.
It's not about Jubilee excuses, it's about wearing the correct uniform to school. You can either accept that or get you fifteen minutes of fame in the local paper.

Schoolgirl excluded in row over black socks
A SCHOOLGIRL was excluded from a week of lessons for wearing black socks in the classroom.
Year 8 pupil Chelsea Whiteman was banned from Knole Academy, Sevenoaks, after refusing to stay in isolation for wearing the non-uniform footwear.
Yep, she's a bit of a one this 'un, but her mum is right there to defend her.
The 13-year-old's mother admitted her daughter can be "mouthy" but believes the school over-reacted.
Insisting a gobby teenager stick to the school rules is an over reaction if you are the parent that raised the brat.
"Chelsea does stand up for herself, and because she was in correct uniform while in isolation she walked out, she was then excluded for a week.
There are adult ways and child ways to resolve a dispute. She chose the child way, and she will continue to do so until someone teaches here right from wrong.
"Exclusion is not the right punishment, Chelsea was probably enjoying her time off in the sun, so it isn't a deterrent. After-school detentions would work a lot better.
"Now she is just sat at home having a nice time while I'm out working.
"If she was kept after school she would miss out on going out with friends, swimming and things like that."
Maybe if you stepped up as a parent and punished her yourself you wouldn't have to worry about the schools choice of punishment.

Pupils forced to wear blazers in hot weather
SCHOOLCHILDREN have been punished for [...] taking off their blazers to cool down.
Bit harsh
"It has been scorching and it is totally unfair that the teachers walk around all summery and the pupils have to keep their blazers on. They come home sweating."
At least they'll be safe from p...
...no, don't go there.

5 Comments:

Longrider said...

I have mixed feelings when it comes to dress codes. They should, however, be sensible and simple. These schools are setting themselves up for a fall. Teenagers will always try to stretch the rule as far as they can get away with it. Having strict rules that are bordering on the absurd - colour of socks, for cryin' out loud - simply distracts from their purpose; education.

Bucko said...

I also have mixed feelings where the rules appear to be over the top, however I beleive a big part of education (should be) understanding the need for rules.

School uniform requirements are made very clear before a child starts school. I know it isn't as easy as saying go to another school if you don't like the rules but at least you are aware of what you are getting into from the outset.

Children will not get anywhere in life by throwing tantrums when they disagree with something. Particularly when they don't really know why they are disagreeing and have no counter arguement. Simply wanting your hair a certain colour or wanting to wear trendy brand named trainers rather than the approved shoes is not a reason to rebel.

If the school were to back down in certain areas like the socks or the blazers, would the children and parents be happy to form a common ground or would they simply want more concessions?

Longrider said...

The need for rules being the crux. If a rule is there for a good reason - as opposed to "because I say so" then effort spent enforcing it will be worth while and the majority will obey because they can see the value in doing so.

If on the other hand it is petty officialdom in action then robust resistance is not only called for but is a duty. I've spent a lifetime bucking stupid rules and will continue to do so. But I will stand by the sensible ones.

The trick is begin able to see the difference and to think independently. And give me one independent thinking rebel over an army of conformers ever time. ;)

Bucko said...

Agreed, agreed and agreed.

I don't often see independent thinking rebels in stories like this though, it's usually just naughty children.

JuliaM said...

And those children are almost always backed by their parents. That's the problem.