You know you're a grumpy old git when.....

[Zak33]

You cheer at this news article

Head bars 152 'wrong uniform' pupils http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-29911712

I know I'll get brief grief over the fact that money is tight for school uniform but none the less.....that's how to run an academy

With a rod of iron....150 students sent home for wrong dress...even minor errors

I applaude that strength of leadership

And in 6 months time so will 90% of the students as the academy moves the students up a gear... Ready for life!

[Phage]

Heh.
I remember getting punished for having the top button of my shirt undone.

[herulach]

Or you know, gets shut down by ofsted for having such poor discipline

[Smudger]

Seems to be sending out the message that how you dress is more important than education. Seems like a total 'look at me, I'm in charge' power move by the management of the school.

[Funkstar]

Seems to be sending out the message that how you dress is more important than education. Seems like a total 'look at me, I'm in charge' power move by the management of the school.

Yes, probably.

I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing. It means when other more serious issues arise the head and his team have the standing to be noticed and listened to.

[Dareos]

really dont see what the colour of your hair has to do with anything. Let the kids show a bit of creativeness and individuality.

[DeludedGuy]

You cheer at this news article

Head bars 152 'wrong uniform' pupils http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-29911712

I know I'll get brief grief over the fact that money is tight for school uniform but none the less.....that's how to run an academy

With a rod of iron....150 students sent home for wrong dress...even minor errors

I applaude that strength of leadership

And in 6 months time so will 90% of the students as the academy moves the students up a gear... Ready for life!

Completely agree - and I tell you why, as a kid there were some who would always try to bend the rules and sometimes get away with it, some carried this attitude throughout later life, you simply cant bend/break the rules every time you feel like it and as kids they should be taught this.

[DeludedGuy]

You cheer at this news article

Head bars 152 'wrong uniform' pupils http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-29911712

I know I'll get brief grief over the fact that money is tight for school uniform but none the less.....that's how to run an academy

With a rod of iron....150 students sent home for wrong dress...even minor errors

I applaude that strength of leadership

And in 6 months time so will 90% of the students as the academy moves the students up a gear... Ready for life!

Completely agree - and I tell you why, as a kid there were some who would always try to bend the rules and sometimes get away with it, some carried this attitude throughout later life, you simply cant bend/break the rules every time you feel like it and as kids they should be taught this.

[Zak33]

really dont see what the colour of your hair has to do with anything. Let the kids show a bit of creativeness and individuality.

well it doesnt.. but if the rules are set.. and you have plenty of notice of the rules.. and you break them.. you get caught.

It's not the specific rule that is important.. it's the conformity TO the rule that is the lesson to be learned.

Some other people would say the same about your shoes... if they dont fit the rules set.. you get caught.

they're still shoes.. you still wear them.....

high heels.... slippers.... wooly *** boots... all shoes.
but if they're not acceptable... you cant wear them there.

it's what makes society and not anarchy

[SeriousSam]

http://executiveapparel.com/parental...chool-uniforms

I would suffix this by stating that the school should also seek to promote individuality and openness where it matters, i.e. intellectually.

[Agent]

well it doesnt.. but if the rules are set.. and you have plenty of notice of the rules.. and you break them.. you get caught.

It's not the specific rule that is important.. it's the conformity TO the rule that is the lesson to be learned.

I'm on the fence with this.

To me, the uniform is a great way to take the worry out of kids needing the latest fashion and expensive trainers for school.

But....what you said here....I've been in enough schools to know and see this is a real problem. Schools are all about conformity these days. Students come in, do as they are told to pass exams, and get out. Personal development is minimal, exploration of who they are is almost non-existent.

I think most people in general, including kids are fine with rules - when they understand them and can see why they apply. I think schools are failing pretty hard when it comes to explaining to kids with professionalism is important in the work place.

Having said that, I think it's a bit self fulfilling. If you instil these 'rules' into people from a young age, they can follow them through later on because it's what they know. Some of the best businesses I've worked with have a no suits policy. The best one I worked for had a total open policy to dress - any hair colour, piercings, tattoos....anything went as long as it was not offensive. They're also a massive company, with a very switched on workforce. You can find it often in the tech industry - if you can do your job, who really cares?

I really don't like the barriers that are present in the business world due to dress code. I find them kinda intolerant at times. To be honest though, I've seen way too many people able to hind behind a nice suit and a strong voice, but not have a sodding clue what they're talking about.

it's what makes society and not anarchy

But sometimes a society needs anarchy to become a better society

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. - Thomas Jefferson

We're not talking about fundamental rules of a functioning society here, but rather how we allow our kids express themselves. Actually, that's probably a wider point over dress policy.

That all to one side though - I think kids turning up at school to be educated, only to be turned away for something which is quite often going to be the parents responsibility is bad. It's not like the kids here are going to be dressing themselves and purchasing their own stuff....

Punishing the kids really is the wrong approach - why didn't they take a list of all the students, contact their parents and pull them into a meeting? Probably because it's not the easy route.

[Dareos]

I think teaching kids to obey the rules that make sense is far more important than just obeying the rules.

If theres a rule that says you cant use your mobile phone in a lesson, that makes sense, it affects the other students and teacher, as well as getting in the way of your education.

If theres a rule that says you cant dye your hair blue, it makes no sense, it has no effect on anyone else, isnt anything other than momentarily distracting first time you see it, and it pretty much is in effect because it offends someones sensibilities. Quite frankly i find that disgusting. Homosexuality offended someones sensibilties and we had years of oppression over it, even though we know it was acceptable as far back as Roman and Greek times. Being non white offended someones sensibilities, being the wrong religion did etc etc.

Its hair ffs, its not like the kids are coming to school naked or with tattoos or something.


I was once yelled at by the school rector for wearing a denim jacket, i was in 3rd year, it was exam time and generally the dress code was relaxed. He did this in front of around 20 other kids in the yard. Thankfully the head boy/dux whatever you call them now, walked past wearing virtually the same thing, and as he was supposed to be the one setting the example etc then the rector couldnt really say much, was pretty funny.


Piercings and so on I would have an age limit on, like tattoos, peoples bodies are their own to do with as they please, as soon as they are old enough to make a responsible decision (i'll get a tattoo on my 90th birthday)

[RobbieRoy]

If you know anyone who attended Summerhill in Sufffolk you will rapidly realise that having no school rules at all, including when and whether to attend class, really makes no difference to a lot of outcomes. It produced young adults unburdened of other people's expectations, liberated of irrelevance and so forth - in other words fully rounded and real personalities. Even if they didn't meet the exam targets of politicians.

So, I don't even see a fence to sit on, Agent!

[Zak33]

I'm on the fence with this.

To me, the uniform is a great way to take the worry out of kids needing the latest fashion and expensive trainers for school.

But....what you said here....I've been in enough schools to know and see this is a real problem. Schools are all about conformity these days. Students come in, do as they are told to pass exams, and get out. Personal development is minimal, exploration of who they are is almost non-existent.

uniform conformity.. as one essential thing.. needs not include teaching life skills or repress expression.

To be controlled in one area.. does not hamper another. If it does then the world is doomed.
Elite on ZX Spectrum was a genius piece of development and programming. David Braben and Ian Bell were restricted in two areas massively.... CPU and ram ..... it simply influenced their creativity in their other skills.. their brain power and ability to think outside of every box ever made..

you know that better than 99.9% of the public Agent

Having said that, I think it's a bit self fulfilling. If you instil these 'rules' into people from a young age, they can follow them through later on because it's what they know. Some of the best businesses I've worked with have a no suits policy. The best one I worked for had a total open policy to dress - any hair colour, piercings, tattoos....anything went as long as it was not offensive. They're also a massive company, with a very switched on workforce. You can find it often in the tech industry - if you can do your job, who really cares?

It's a School chap.. not a company. It's how our society has been built.. if it's to change.. lets do it steadily...

I don't expect you to turn up to a meeting at my office with a suit on.... not a tie either... I'm ok with both missing.

But if you turn up in speedo's and nowt else you won't get any face time with me.

And if I turn up at your office in a lime green mankini.. . I don't expect to be accepted into your office.

So.. there ARE boubdaries.. you just havent put a boundary on them because to you shoes and hair colour dont cut it in your list of essential areas.

So you may HAVE boundaires but.. we dunno what they are.

What if... you HATE The Shamen...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shamen

DESPISE them.....uterly hate them....

but this bloke

.....turns up for an interview with a CV proving he is THE best for the job AND he loves the Shamen

Do you bend the rules to allow him to fit?

I really don't like the barriers that are present in the business world due to dress code. I find them kinda intolerant at times. To be honest though, I've seen way too many people able to hind behind a nice suit and a strong voice, but not have a sodding clue what they're talking about.

this is NOT the same argument.. this is you knowing more than all of your bosses... and so do thousands of people.. me included .. x100. ... but I'm not the boss..and he/she is.
If the suit helped...... get a suit.. if the strong voice helped... go to voice coaching lessons and learn to present......and make a difference!

If it didn't,.. prove it.. but either way... the school the person was growing up in built their ability to deal with this stuff and I don't believe that having to have a certain natural colour hair or a particular shoe hampered that ability.

Being forced to dress within a certain code.. and to look within a certain paramter.. not an un natural parameter either.. we're not talking plastic surgery here.. we're talking non coloured hair ...AND VERY boring shoes for all.... sets other parameters to excel withing I think.. it doesn't restrict.

[deejayburnout]

I too am on the fence.

I like the fact that all having the same uniform/dress will stop bullying as those who cannot afford the latest fashion/brand well not be singled out. I remember being at school and you could easily tell who couldn't afford the latest gear. I only say this as I was one who got bullied as my parents couldn't send me to school in the latest fad clothing like everyone else was wearing.

I don't like the fact that it does inhibit each kids personal identity. Kids need to express themselves.

I think the focus should be on better educating the youth with values that will guide them in the big bad world. Wearing the latest great or a school uniform shouldn't really matter as long as the kids are getting a good education and learn that materialistic things don't matter as much.

[Kovoet]

You cheer at this news article

Head bars 152 'wrong uniform' pupils http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-29911712

I know I'll get brief grief over the fact that money is tight for school uniform but none the less.....that's how to run an academy

With a rod of iron....150 students sent home for wrong dress...even minor errors

I applaude that strength of leadership

And in 6 months time so will 90% of the students as the academy moves the students up a gear... Ready for life!

Agreed. About time these schools got stern