Taking H&S, uniforms and rules a little too fair

[Shinny]

This was my high school, and when I was there they were strict (right type of trousers and shoes, no tracksuits nor joggers for P.E (hence why I never did P.E - yet played high level hockey...) anyway...) but this is ridiculous. Not only is there this article, I have also been told by children I look after how unhappy they are.

The pupils have to wear clip-on ties so they have the EXACT number of stripes showing. You're not allowed to take your jumper off without asking a teacher, and you're not allowed to have it off AT ALL outside of class, unless you are off school property (that started when I was in year 11, so that one has been going 5 years) some pupils with curly hair are being told to straighten there hair, as it is apparently an "extreme" hairstyle - NO that's just how their hair is! I have since just found out that they also cannot even leave school property now at lunch time. That is going to shut down half of the village. It's ridiculous.

Now tell me if you think this is going to far, and the 200 or so ex-pupils, parents and friends of the school are right in deciding to protest at the staff training day in December.

Edited October 7, 2009 by Shinny

[rabid]

Sounds like the new academy that 2 of my kids have just started, but then they have this in their mission statement.

"To encourage personal, moral and spiritual development within a Christian framework."

and this as their ethos

The ethos of the Foundation's schools is based on the traditional Christian faith. However, the schools are non-selective and, as such, are open to children of all faiths and none. We believe that Jesus offers us the perfect example of how to know God and love our neighbour as ourselves. From this belief springs a conviction that every child, irrespective of gender, race, or social background, is made in the image of God and has inherent worth. The Emmanuel Schools Foundation is committed to providing a well rounded education in which all children have the opportunity to realise their full potential as human beings -intellectually, socially, physically, spiritually and morally.

Edited October 7, 2009 by rabid

[achoo]

They're not going to improve on their GCSE results if pupils are being sent home for having Wrong Hair, are they?!

We had the same rule at my school regarding jumpers though. And we weren't allowed to drink anywhere but in the designated eating area or from the water fountains in the toilets... but we were forbidden to go there between lessons. I often ended up with headaches due to dehydration which, in turn, affected my concentration. Madness.

[Shinny]

To be honest the school DOESN'T have the best GCSE grades. They do alright, half the kids get the grades. I only know a few of the kids at the school, as (obviously) this years starters are the 6th set of starters since I left, so those who JUST LEFT still started after I left. But I know the kids I know who go really aren't happy.

There was a similar rule about not being allowed to go to the water fountain and the hall (our dining area and hall are all the same) during breaks, most kids when I was there just went out of school for lunch, but now they aren't even allowed to do that.

[Uncle Liam]

This is what OFSTED want. Those useless bastards want schools and colleges to become more regimented.

I got told not to let my classes swear yesterday, or to let them listen to music when working on their own. I work in a 6th form.

My facebook status said this yesterday:

do we know that OFSTED inspectors know what they are talking about? When was the last time they were in the classroom? Why, if they are such experts on education, not in the classroom anymore? Oh yeah. Bunch of FAILED teachers. The irony of this should not be lost on anyone.

[rabid]

This is what OFSTED want. Those useless bastards want schools and colleges to become more regimented.

I got told not to let my classes swear yesterday, or to let them listen to music when working on their own. I work in a 6th form.

My facebook status said this yesterday:

As for a Christian framework, go and look at BNP education policy and see if you can tell the difference...

[Shinny]

This is what OFSTED want. Those useless bastards want schools and colleges to become more regimented.

I got told not to let my classes swear yesterday, or to let them listen to music when working on their own. I work in a 6th form.

My facebook status said this yesterday:

As for a Christian framework, go and look at BNP education policy and see if you can tell the difference...

[rabid]

(I made exploding custard... was a trick I pulled in both my first and last ever Food classes...)

[Shinny]

We got shown how to make custard powder explode at school.

[sifi]

I worked out how to explode my own custard thank you very much.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Exactly. Regimented schools aren't going to get kids learning quicker nor better though. When I was at school I needed the freedom to try to sort things out, rather than be told EXACTLY how it should be done - explains why I got an A in Chemistry and an E in food really - Chemistry = blow shit up - Food = Blow shit up - pass for Chemistry but not Food

(I made exploding custard... was a trick I pulled in both my first and last ever Food classes...)

[Shinny]

Whitworth gets (or got in my time) those rejected from the other local high schools (and considering when I was in year 9 one of the other schools locally was put in special measures, that ain't good) so it's the least selective!

[-pogo-]

From what I was told of uniforms from my school was that they were there to make it easy to spot pupils from non pupils and in that sense provide some sort of safety barrier. Having them so perfect as those other schools doesn't add to any sort of safety surely?

[Langdale Wolf]

I worked out how to explode my own custard thank you very much.

[TalkShow Bob]

As much as I think it all take the piss, I don't see what it had to do with H&S?

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I am actually shaking my head at this. Policies like this don't just turn up, they have to be put by the Governing Body. It maybe shows the general apathy that many people have for the schools that they attend/children attend. It is only when something happens that they don't like will they take an interest. At least this may make the school community pro active in future, and get more involved. This is a comment aimed at many schools in general as I was a governor for many years at my childrens primary school.

[Shinny]

As much as I think it all take the piss, I don't see what it had to do with H&S?

[rabid]

I am actually shaking my head at this. Policies like this don't just turn up, they have to be put by the Governing Body. It maybe shows the general apathy that many people have for the schools that they attend/children attend. It is only when something happens that they don't like will they take an interest. At least this may make the school community pro active in future, and get more involved. This is a comment aimed at many schools in general as I was a governor for many years at my childrens primary school.

[oafc0000]

Looking at the photo in the paper you would not say the hair cuts are extreme.

I support school uniforms and I support the schools expecting certain standards of dress and look. Its a preparation for the working world where you will have to maintain certain standards in most industries.

It would seem this school is going a bit OTT though. When I was at primary school a kid came in with a head which had been styled like a football. That I would consider to be an extreme haircut.

Set simple uniform codes. Black pants, white t-shirt, simple tie... Keeps it cheap and simple to adopt. I dont understand why some schools try to make it so expensive.

Edited October 7, 2009 by oafc0000

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Kids aren't stupid. Just because they might not need to wear a uniform at school, they're quite capable of understanding that, depending on the career you might choose, different places have different

expectations. There are plenty of careers where you can wear what you like...

Uniforms also create great resentment among many pupils... why else would they want to rebel against it?

why not have no uniform... cheap as you like then

I know I've brought this up before, but there are plenty of countries in Europe, that have no uniform, yet have higher education standards... how's that?

what about freedom of expression? .... designers, artists, original thinkers, etc... where do they come from

clutching at straws is all it is

Edited October 7, 2009 by Rufus Gwertigan

[TalkShow Bob]

Girls aren't allowed to take Hairclips in, as they may stab someone (just asked the mum of a girl I look after why she left her hair clips at mine last week when she visited before school)

[-pogo-]

I think this is down to individual experiences. At 2 of the comprehensives near me, going back to school uniform has been embraced by the students and from what I gather it them more of a sense of indentity with the school.

[oafc0000]

Kids aren't stupid. Just because they might not need to wear a uniform at school, they're quite capable of understanding that, depending on the career you might choose, different places have different

expectations. There are plenty of careers where you can wear what you like...

Uniforms also create great resentment among many pupils... why else would they want to rebel against it?

why not have no uniform... cheap as you like then

I know I've brought this up before, but there are plenty of countries in Europe, that have no uniform, yet have higher education standards... how's that?

what about freedom of expression? .... designers, artists, original thinkers, etc... where do they come from

clutching at straws is all it is

Edited October 7, 2009 by oafc0000

[oafc0000]

As long as it's no overbearing it's fine. At our school we had to wear the tie as part of the uniform with black trousers. The colour of the shirt was irelevant. You could modify whilst still being part of a collective group.

Edited October 7, 2009 by oafc0000

[-pogo-]

First of all you ignore the issue of the kid from a poor family who can not afford the latest trainers etc etc. The sort of kids who get support from the local council to buy its school clothes. The uniform creates a level playing field in that area.

As for freedom of expression. That is very much why a child will study things like music, art, dance, photography, pottery, metal work, wood work etc etc...

You say kids are not stupid. Well f**k me sidewards but some of them are mate. I know alot of stupid adults so I don't see why kids are any different. A lot of kids need to be taught about approite clothing for certain situations.

School is not just about educational standards. A school SHOULD ALWAYS be there to teach are children more. For example, in PE a child is meant to be taught about washing themselves properly. Maintaining hygiene standards. Kids have PSE lessons to teach them about personal and social issues and responsibilities. The school uniform is about teaching a kid about dressing for the situation you are in. It also a simple tool to remove discrimination when some child can not afford the latest trainers etc.

The school is a child's professional environment and they should dress accordingly.

I don't support the looney levels some schools go to, most do not, but I think schools should ask for certain standards.