My son came home from school on the first day back last September, telling me that his tutor told him he needed to get different shoes because his "are trainers." They weren't trainers, they were shoes, and I'd bought them from the school shoe section of a shoe shop. I went straight back to the school with him, and explained at reception. I showed them the shoes and the 3 or 4 members of school staff who were there were all in agreement with me that there was nothing wrong with them. The deputy head came to deal with us, and he also agreed that they were clearly shoes rather than trainers. He said that all teachers had been asked to look at the children's shoes as they entered school to make sure they were wearing appropriate footwear and that this teacher had got "carried away" and he would be immediately having a word with him. This wasn't the first time he'd said something to my son about his shoes though, he'd done it the year before too, again when his shoes were fine.
cannot blame the parents if the kids change into trainers when they get out of the house can you.
Well yes I would blame the parents actually. It's their child. It's their responsibility. However, I'm not sure that anyone is seriously suggesting that all these children had the corect shoes and changed after leaving home.
Parents wishing to take their child out of school for a day during term time, say for a parents funeral, can be perfectly reasonably refused as not an "exceptional circumstance", as has happened in the past because, after all, taking a child out of school for even one day will totally ruin their life.
But a completely disproportionate action of sending pupils home for the temerity of wearing the wrong shoes is perfectly reasonable.
It is little wonder so many people hold teachers in such low regard.
A more reasonable approach would be to send a letter to each parent informing them of the issue and asking for it to be rectified by a certain date.
Parents wishing to take their child out of school for a day during term time, say for a parents funeral, can be perfectly reasonably refused as not an "exceptional circumstance", as has happened in the past because, after all, taking a child out of school for even one day will totally ruin their life.
But a completely disproportionate action of sending pupils home for the temerity of wearing the wrong shoes is perfectly reasonable.
It is little wonder so many people hold teachers in such low regard.
A more reasonable approach would be to send a letter to each parent informing them of the issue and asking for it to be rectified by a certain date.
Seems the pendulum is swinging back toward uniforms for schools. I suppose its a fad and in another twenty years informality will be back in fashion again.
Mind you, you have to laugh at some of the "hard done by SadFace" pix in the Mail:D
Whats really funny is the pic of Mrs Guthrie's son holding up what she describes as "Formal shoes" - yeah puffy trainers with three massive velcro straps! Its not fair that rules apply to us too!
If it's that vitally important to them, would it not have been more appropriate to send a letter, text or e mail to their parents, asking that they buy the "correct" ones ?
Seems like overkill to send the kids home.
Apparently the parents were informed well in advance what the dress code was. Some parents seem determined to flout the rules. The shoes in the photographs were trainers, which are not allowed. Rules are rules, and if parents bring their kids up to deliberately flout them it leads to trouble.
My son came home from school on the first day back last September, telling me that his tutor told him he needed to get different shoes because his "are trainers." ....
Edit: His shoes were similar in style to these.
Those look like trainers to me! Admittedly I don't think they'd actually be much use for playing serious sport in, but they certainly don't look like something I'd expect a lad to wear for formal events. Maybe I'm just gettin' old - what happened to laces?
Apparently the parents were informed well in advance what the dress code was. Some parents seem determined to flout the rules. The shoes in the photographs were trainers, which are not allowed. Rules are rules, and if parents bring their kids up to deliberately flout them it leads to trouble.
The answer is not to employ such stupid, arbitrary rules in the first place.
Entire countries have successful education systems where every kid every day wears what this idiot woman calls 'inappropriate' footwear.
If it was up to me, I'd abolish school uniform altogether! :mad:
And then we're back to having the rich kids mounting a daily fashion parade with the poorer ones being made to feel like shite.
Uniforms aren't ideal, but they are the lesser of two evils. I must admit though that the school went OTT to send kids home on day one for this.
And then we're back to having the rich kids mounting a daily fashion parade with the poorer ones being made to feel like shite.
Uniforms aren't ideal, but they are the lesser of two evils. I must admit though that the school went OTT to send kids home on day one for this.
Well, our country is becoming americanised in every single other way, so why not?
Apparently the parents were informed well in advance what the dress code was. Some parents seem determined to flout the rules. The shoes in the photographs were trainers, which are not allowed. Rules are rules, and if parents bring their kids up to deliberately flout them it leads to trouble.
Aren't they just stock photos, rather than photos of students feet from that particular school?
Those look like trainers to me! Admittedly I don't think they'd actually be much use for playing serious sport in, but they certainly don't look like something I'd expect a lad to wear for formal events. Maybe I'm just gettin' old - what happened to laces?
Well the deputy head and other staff at the school who were there were able to see they are clearly shoes and that there's nothing wrong with them. It's a common style of school shoe, shoes like that have been around for years. I've never known anyone to have problems with them until my son ended up with this particular teacher. Shoes with laces are still around although there usually seems to be more with velcro straps or just slip on shoes.
If it was up to me, I'd abolish school uniform altogether! :mad:
I would like to see them relaxed, it costs hundreds of pounds to buy a secondary uniform, just have basic rules like, school trousers, any white shirt and any black( or whatever colour the school chooses) jumper.
Also basic PE kit, this is the thing that costs the most, all those different shorts, sock, boots and shirts.
Really, as long as the basic units of the uniform are present - same colour trousers, shirts etc - what's wrong with allowing a little creativity or comfort in the footwear....petty little people
When I was at school on the 1970s that is all that was required then. We were never checked to see what shoes we were wearing.
Does it really matter. It's not going to make a blind bit if difference to the kids education.
Just to pick up on this sentiment....
It certainly does have an impact.
The sort of shoes in question are ones with soft soles, which leave skid-marks on smooth floor surfaces and it costs a heap of money to get specialist cleaners in to remove the marks.
"Sorry kids, there's no Physics text-books because we had to pay the floor cleaners".
Having seen my kids school go from polo shirts to a more traditional full uniform, I'd argue that it reflects the attitude of the whole school - if you don't enforce one rule, there is less chance of you being able to effectively enforce other rules, that will negatively impact learning - be that having the right equipment, or turning up on time, of general good behaviour.
Shoes, in and of themselves, will not affect learning. Not following clearly laid out requirements, on the other hand, will. If some pupils (and parents) disrespect the school by refusing to comply to the rules without consequence, there will be a knock on effect.
That isn't to say that rules shouldn't be challenged, but there is a way, and a time and a place. Simply refusing to comply invites consequences, and the school (in this case) were clear, and gave plenty of warning.
One of the positives of a (sensible) school uniform policy is that it removes a huge chunk of social pressure about having the 'right' trainers, t-shirts etc.
Those look like trainers to me! Admittedly I don't think they'd actually be much use for playing serious sport in, but they certainly don't look like something I'd expect a lad to wear for formal events. Maybe I'm just gettin' old - what happened to laces?
i had velcro school shoes in 91, this is not a new concept. my school did a sock check as well as a belt check. we even had to buy the underwear the school sold.
It affects discipline. If the kids think it's OK to ignore rules, then they start ignoring staff, ignoring lessons and being generally arsey.
My school had no uniform luckily and there was no big problem with kids been arsey. Know more than schools with uniforms.in my class there was only one boy who was a problem.
I would like to see them relaxed, it costs hundreds of pounds to buy a secondary uniform, just have basic rules like, school trousers, any white shirt and any black( or whatever colour the school chooses) jumper.
Also basic PE kit, this is the thing that costs the most, all those different shorts, sock, boots and shirts.
It doesn't have to cost a fortune. My school uniform was difficult to get round because there were only one or two stockists of some of the items and high street alternatives were only acceptable for a couple of things (winter gloves, jumpers and cardigans were fine if they were the right colour, same with socks). The school used to hold secondhand sales of old uniform and kit which would save a fortune. Most of my games kit was secondhand.
I don't know whether many schools run secondhand sales any more but it's so much more economical and you're not wasting a perfectly good item that a child has grown out of.
Comments
Edit: His shoes were similar in style to these.
http://asda.scene7.com/is/image/Asda/5052558772019?hei=382&wid=305&resmode=sharp&op_usm=1.1,0.5,0,0&defaultimage=default_details_George_rd
Well yes I would blame the parents actually. It's their child. It's their responsibility. However, I'm not sure that anyone is seriously suggesting that all these children had the corect shoes and changed after leaving home.
Parents wishing to take their child out of school for a day during term time, say for a parents funeral, can be perfectly reasonably refused as not an "exceptional circumstance", as has happened in the past because, after all, taking a child out of school for even one day will totally ruin their life.
But a completely disproportionate action of sending pupils home for the temerity of wearing the wrong shoes is perfectly reasonable.
It is little wonder so many people hold teachers in such low regard.
A more reasonable approach would be to send a letter to each parent informing them of the issue and asking for it to be rectified by a certain date.
because schools are power mad
Mind you, you have to laugh at some of the "hard done by SadFace" pix in the Mail:D
Whats really funny is the pic of Mrs Guthrie's son holding up what she describes as "Formal shoes" - yeah puffy trainers with three massive velcro straps!
Its not fair that rules apply to us too!
Apparently the parents were informed well in advance what the dress code was. Some parents seem determined to flout the rules. The shoes in the photographs were trainers, which are not allowed. Rules are rules, and if parents bring their kids up to deliberately flout them it leads to trouble.
One week, one lad forgot his.
The teacher wound his hair into a metalwork vice and kicked him up the arse.
Uniform policy can get rather silly
Those look like trainers to me! Admittedly I don't think they'd actually be much use for playing serious sport in, but they certainly don't look like something I'd expect a lad to wear for formal events. Maybe I'm just gettin' old - what happened to laces?
The answer is not to employ such stupid, arbitrary rules in the first place.
Entire countries have successful education systems where every kid every day wears what this idiot woman calls 'inappropriate' footwear.
so if your work place had a dress code you'd ignore it?
And then we're back to having the rich kids mounting a daily fashion parade with the poorer ones being made to feel like shite.
Uniforms aren't ideal, but they are the lesser of two evils. I must admit though that the school went OTT to send kids home on day one for this.
The "shoes" pictured are Converse All stars, Nike Air Max 90 and another Nike runner.
Definitely not shoes.
Aren't they just stock photos, rather than photos of students feet from that particular school?
Well the deputy head and other staff at the school who were there were able to see they are clearly shoes and that there's nothing wrong with them. It's a common style of school shoe, shoes like that have been around for years. I've never known anyone to have problems with them until my son ended up with this particular teacher. Shoes with laces are still around although there usually seems to be more with velcro straps or just slip on shoes.
And that affects effective learning how?
Yes as i was not allowed a t shirt under my work shirt but i did not listen .And did as it was cold .
It affects discipline. If the kids think it's OK to ignore rules, then they start ignoring staff, ignoring lessons and being generally arsey.
I would like to see them relaxed, it costs hundreds of pounds to buy a secondary uniform, just have basic rules like, school trousers, any white shirt and any black( or whatever colour the school chooses) jumper.
Also basic PE kit, this is the thing that costs the most, all those different shorts, sock, boots and shirts.
When I was at school on the 1970s that is all that was required then. We were never checked to see what shoes we were wearing.
Just to pick up on this sentiment....
It certainly does have an impact.
The sort of shoes in question are ones with soft soles, which leave skid-marks on smooth floor surfaces and it costs a heap of money to get specialist cleaners in to remove the marks.
"Sorry kids, there's no Physics text-books because we had to pay the floor cleaners".
Having seen my kids school go from polo shirts to a more traditional full uniform, I'd argue that it reflects the attitude of the whole school - if you don't enforce one rule, there is less chance of you being able to effectively enforce other rules, that will negatively impact learning - be that having the right equipment, or turning up on time, of general good behaviour.
Shoes, in and of themselves, will not affect learning. Not following clearly laid out requirements, on the other hand, will. If some pupils (and parents) disrespect the school by refusing to comply to the rules without consequence, there will be a knock on effect.
That isn't to say that rules shouldn't be challenged, but there is a way, and a time and a place. Simply refusing to comply invites consequences, and the school (in this case) were clear, and gave plenty of warning.
One of the positives of a (sensible) school uniform policy is that it removes a huge chunk of social pressure about having the 'right' trainers, t-shirts etc.
i had velcro school shoes in 91, this is not a new concept. my school did a sock check as well as a belt check. we even had to buy the underwear the school sold.
My school had no uniform luckily and there was no big problem with kids been arsey. Know more than schools with uniforms.in my class there was only one boy who was a problem.
It doesn't have to cost a fortune. My school uniform was difficult to get round because there were only one or two stockists of some of the items and high street alternatives were only acceptable for a couple of things (winter gloves, jumpers and cardigans were fine if they were the right colour, same with socks). The school used to hold secondhand sales of old uniform and kit which would save a fortune. Most of my games kit was secondhand.
I don't know whether many schools run secondhand sales any more but it's so much more economical and you're not wasting a perfectly good item that a child has grown out of.