my daughters new school uniform
By doormouse
@doormouse (4599)
July 16, 2010 11:26am CST
i'm so cross,it started when my daughter came home from her open day at her new school,she went to meet her new teacher,collect her uniform etc,when she came home she had her uniform and stuff but then told me that if she wanted to wear a skirt to school then the school had to provide it,you couldn't buy your own,no other school has this policy where we live,it's bad enough that the school uniform is more expensive this year without having to pay extra for a skirt,so i rang the school,this part really annoyed me,,i asked why we weren't told about the skirts when we ordered the uniform,they said that they hadn't decided about the change of uniform until after everyone had ordered theirs,i said they could've warned us that this was possibly going to happen,and i then asked how much they were,£14-£17,i was not impressed with that,and said that i could get a cheaper one up the local shops that was quite adequate,they said that they'd checked the shops and there wasn't any,i know that's a lie coz i've seen loads,also that the skirts were optional,the girls could wear trousers,my reply was,so in the blistering heat you expect my daughter to wear trousers,he replied well the boys have to,i don't care about the boys,every other school lets girls wear skirts from shops,i told him it was a ridiculous price for a skirt and as i'd have to buy 2 it would be £28,i then said i could get a new wardrobe for that price,he said he would pass my complaint onto the head teacher,to which i said,and like he's going to care what i have to say he's already made his discission,he reckons the head takes all complaints seriously,,whatever,,i'm so cross,this is the second time i've complained about the uniform,the first was the price,it just cost me £131 and now they want an extra £28 for the privilage of wearing a skirt,AARRRGGGGGHHHHH
2 people like this
10 responses
@doormouse (4599)
•
17 Jul 10
i think all schools in the uk have uniforms,i may be wrong,if i am please feel free to correct me
1 person likes this
@jugsjugs (12967)
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16 Jul 10
I think that it is very nice that children look smart in a uniform.I do not like the price on the uniforms as there is also all the other things that you have to get like pe kits that also have to be from the school,which they are just as much as a rip off aswell.I think every year it gets dearer.My daughter is going to college this year and there are lots of things that have to be paid for like trips as she is doing travel this year as a course.Then my son had to have an upper school uniform aswell as getting more uniform for the other children,the joys and costs of having children.
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@jugsjugs (12967)
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16 Jul 10
I think that it would be alot better for us as parents if we never had the school crest on the uniform and just dressed the children in the colours of the school,as it is the crest that costs.I think plain colours would be cheaper as we could get them from Asda cheaper.
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@doormouse (4599)
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16 Jul 10
uniforms do look nice but what i didn't agree with was being told to buy a skirt from the school for £14,when i could get a similar skirt for £10 or less from the shop,it's not even as if their skirts would have the school emblem on either,it's just a normal knee length black skirt
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@doormouse (4599)
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18 Jul 10
i know it's ridiculous,i'm certainly not paying £14 a skirt,they can make do with a cheaper one from the local shop,and if they don't like it then tuff,they should lower the price of their skirts
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
17 Jul 10
Hi Doormouse,
I actually am very against school uniforms. I understand a dress code but the uniforms,well, I just can't and would not go along with for my children for so so many reasons. I do think a dress code to set some limits is good. These kids are learning how to be respectful and dress appropriatly. We are trying to teach them to respect each others differences yet we force them to all dress alike. And why is that? So that the kids that can't afford to dress in designer clothes won't feel inferior!! How about teaching the kids that can afford those clothes that they are no better than the kids who can't. How about teaching the kids that can't afford them that they are just as valuable as those that can! We want our kids to be individuals and yet we are forcing them to all dress alike. And then there is the cost. So much for the lower income kid.You don't get to look for sales or thrift shops. I really don't know of any public schools that have a uniform. If I were spending money to send my child to a private school then I would be furious to be told I had to pay even more for my daughter to wear a skirt. If the parents of boys aren't fighting to have their boys be allowed shorts then that is their problem.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
18 Jul 10
Hi doormouse,
Yes it is very ridiculous! I think you should see if there are other parents that feel the same as you do and try to get them to change their policy a little. I'm sure there are many others who struggle to pay those prices! It sounds like they maybe have some sort of contract with this particular shop.
@doormouse (4599)
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17 Jul 10
if my daughter was in a private school it might be slightly different,but she's in a normal run of the mill school,i was fuming,i already spent £130 on her uniform,now they want an extra £28 for the privalige of wearing a skirt,it's ridiculous
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Jul 10
No school uniforms here, hooray.
But when my girls were in private school, they had to wear the school polo shirt with either a skirt or trousers. On Wednesdays, it was chapel day and they had to wear a dress. I went out and bought them a few dresses and skirt outfits for chapel day, then when school started, I found out the chapel day dress code had changed. They had to wear the polo shirt and a skirt, no dresses. A lot of parents complained about the last minute change. 
2 people like this
@doormouse (4599)
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16 Jul 10
i like uniforms as it means that my kids aren't messing around in the morning deciding what to wear,what i don't agree with is saying if the girls want to wear skirts then you have to buy them from the school and not get cheaper ones from the local shops,i really let rip at the financial manager at the school,that now makes 3 teachers at that school i've pi**ed off,oh well they shouldn't annoy me
2 people like this
@oldchem1 (8132)
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17 Jul 10
My son goes to a very strict school with a strict uniform policy.
When he first started ( he's going into year 10 in September) I bought all the uniform as they dictated from the set shops, but now I buy his trousers from Asda - they are £6 instead of £26 and look exactly the same.
Naturally the blazer, tie and PE kit has to be from the list but there's no way they can tell with the skirts and trousers!!
But I am VERY much in favour of the uniform, and the stricter a school is with the uniform it seems that the better the school with discipline and academic results.
1 person likes this
@doormouse (4599)
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17 Jul 10
i don't have a problem with uniform,but it's the fact that they are telling me she can only wear a skirt if it comes from the school,when you can get a perfectly adaquete skirt much cheaper from the local shops,they say that they've checked the shops and can't find one that's why the school are selling them,i know for a fact that's a load of rubbish,as i've seen them,it has to be plain black,and no more than 2 inches above the knee,you can't tell me that no shop where i live sells skirts like that
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
17 Jul 10
i agree with you that the price of a school uniform is ridiculously high... even here in australia... that's why lots of parents try to get away by buying them outside in a cheaper store... and it is not allowed by the school as you say... it is annoying because in this recession time, we try to save as much money as we can... and if it is a similar item and we can get it cheaper elsewhere, i don't see any reason why the school has to forbid wearing it... ridiculous... take care and have a nice day...
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
17 Jul 10
doormouse,
Trade protectionism and right in your own front yard.
You should raise this with the education ministry of your state as I just could not buy that the principal is not in any way involved with this. Maybe you should raise this matter with school's principal first as to prove that he/she is in cahoots with these people.
I have to say that this is absolutely appalling and unbecoming!
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
18 Jul 10
doormouse,
This must be awful to put up with but I suppose if no one is willing to cooperate and speak out, it will just be left to these people to exploit you parents to the end.
Still I just help feeling sorry for you here.
@doormouse (4599)
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17 Jul 10
the school my daughter is going to is quite strict,which i think is good,apart from the strictness with uniforms,the head teacher is the one that authorizes these changes so it would be pointless going to see him,but my complaint will be passed onto him,not that he'll pay any attention unless more people complain,which they won't,as people in the uk don't tend to like to make a fuss,they just put up with things
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
17 Jul 10
hi doormouse I think you are right they should indeed have warned you
about the extra skirt and also let you find a comparable skirt at
a price you could afford. school officials can sometimes be most arbitray indeed. I would talk to some of the other parents, as maybe if you all
complain
they will have to do something about it.good luck and God bless.
they will have to do something about it.good luck and God bless.@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
18 Jul 10
he he doormouse yes you are rated as not complainers and I am wondering if we are rated as the Complainers fare thee well. lol
@doormouse (4599)
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17 Jul 10
i don't know any of the other parents,i just got to hope that other parents complain,they probably won't though as us british don't like to complain,according to the recent polls
1 person likes this
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
17 Jul 10
What a complete nonsense. What's the point in wearing uniforms anyway, it's not like they are in the army and need to look dull.
However for children with poor parents it would be a good thing since they wouldn't have to wear clothing for which they could get bullied, like I experienced.
However for children with poor parents it would be a good thing since they wouldn't have to wear clothing for which they could get bullied, like I experienced.1 person likes this
@doormouse (4599)
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17 Jul 10
i like my kids wearing a uniform,they look smart and respectable and also as you said they won't get picked on for not having expensive clothes
