School Rules - Pockets

[FTVS]

What was the big deal about not putting your hands in your pockets when you were at school? Why on earth was this frowned upon?

[shybearuk]

Because if you fall over you can't usually get your hands out of your pockets quickly enough to break your fall, resulting in all sorts of nasty facial abrasions, and youngsters tend to run about more than adults.

I speak from personal experience... Ouch :(

[andy hughes]

I think it's just that hands in pockets was seen as looking slovenly, and seen as having no pride in your appearence - it was in my school anyway.

[beenee]

At our school it was considered impolite to speak to another person with hands in your pockets. Especially to an older person. Maybe it stems from the body language rule that hiding your hands looks like you're cagey and insincere.

[bobbobley]

for the same reason you don't put your hands in your pockets when dealing with people in the adult world, at meetings etc. It looks scruffy, shifty, and also isn't good for the trouser resulting in stretched fabric and possible rips down the seam.

[FTVS]

Thank you for yuor answers. Shybear I think you are on the money and I do agree it is not good for the trousers or whatever garment is involved. However surely that fact that it looks shifty is just a convention? Or would you argue thar it springs from the open-handed = trustworthy concept? ie i am not concealing any weapons? I still think though that this (certainly at my school) really was over-emphasised as a discipline issue.

[darth vader]

I am led to believe it was a posture issue (and the army still implements it i might add!) in that a neat, tidy, smart person is one who has his shoulders back (girls didn't have pockets in their skirts!). If you stand with your arms by your side then you will find your shoulders go back naturally. If you then put your hands in your pockets the shoulders naturally drop (especially if you use it as an excuse to rest your hands [and the weight of your arm] on the pocket) so boys would be discouraged from putting their hands in their pockets.