Was This Headmaster In The Right To Enforce Such Strict Uniform Policy?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3775968/Police-called-school-sends-FIFTY-children-home-day-term-weren-t-wearing-right-uniform.html

/// 'One of Aleasha's friends was turned away for wearing canvas shoes, and she was hysterical. ///

/// 'As soon as Aleasha saw that, she was scared she wouldn't be allowed in. ///

/// 'She's been really stressed for the past three nights and now she's terrified of going to
school. ///

Oh dear what is the matter with kids and their parents these days?

[ToraToraTora]

He's bang on, and I am disgusted at the parents.

[ummmm]

My kids school were quite strict on uniform but they over looked footwear as long as they were black. I think the head teacher is being a tad petty.

[ummmm]

TTT - the chances are the parents didn't shop for the uniforms.

[ToraToraTora]

so the kids got their own??

[saintpeter48]

of course he's right, its not his fault its the parents, rules are rules! Uniform means uniformity, all the same, etc. Get a grip mums and dads, this is the first step in following a structure and it instills discipline!

[ToraToraTora]

anyway irrelevant the rules are clear and the parents should make sure their kids have the correct attire, not go giving the school grief over their little darlings violations of the uniform code. this sort of thing tells me why society is going to hell in a handcart.

[ummmm]

I haven't bought my sons uniforms in years...

[ummmm]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1740124/only-one-of-these-pupils-survived-gestapo-schools-50-student-uniform-cull-can-you-tell-which-one/?CMP=spklr-_-Editorial-_-FBPAGE-_-TheSun-thesun-_-20160907-_-News-_-576357935

[ToraToraTora]

ok but if his uniform was not standard and he was sent home, would you blame him or the school? I think I know.

[THEMOTLEY1]

That's easy umm, the one wearing the correct Uniform, on the right.

[ToraToraTora]

we can't see the feet on them all ummmm, I gather footwear was a key area of transgression and low and behold the picture did not show the shoes of the kid excluded! PMSL you can't beat the old current bun eh?

[lindapalmara]

Yes, they were informed before the holidays about the rule. If he backtracks on this he will lose his authority.

[agchristie]

Why didn't he get everyone in an assembly and reinforce the ethics and discipline of having the correct uniform?

Teachers usually stand at the gates and they could then have reported to the Head Teacher on Day 2 to see if his message had got through.

I wonder if he would say anything to any parents who have still been in their pyjamas when they have dropped their kids off as has happened in the north-east!

[mikey4444]

Like TTT, I am with the Head 100% here.

I heard him being interviewed live on the Today Program this morning, and it looks as this is a mountain made out of a very small molehill. Most of the 50 kids sent away, came back pretty quick, with the correct uniform on.

All the parents were informed by letter as to the Schools uniform policy, but they chose to ignore it....more fool them.

All this talk about the Gestapo is ruddy nonsense, and the media should hang their heads in shame.

[mikey4444]

agchristie...in answer to your last paragraph....I should bloody hope so.

[Barmaid]

I think there is some skewed reporting going on by the DM. It doesnt report on the full uniform policy and leaves key bits out. If one looks on the website, the uniform policy is very clear indeed (although I do not know if that was there before this all blew up or whether it is a recent addition).

He is absolutely right to enforce it. However, if standards had slipped and a "blind eye" had been turned to non-compliance in previous terms, it would have been sensible to inform everyone that a new regime of strict compliance was in force. He says he did so in which case I am not sure why there is so much of a fuss.

[Everhelpful]

Hope the Teachers are in "Uniform" too,no jeans,no tee shirts,etc.!!

[Cloverjo]

I think it's important to obey the uniform rules. As long as it's accessible for all, eg grey skirt/trousers, white shirt, which you can get anywhere, I think it's best to apply the rules.
The local primary school here has a bright green top in its uniform, which is not a normal colour that is widely available cheaply. There must be parents who struggle to afford them. I know my sister did. She refused to buy the new uniform when her son had only one year to go.

[vulcan42]

I don't accept that any headmaster, however draconian, would refuse a child to wear shoes that were needed for medical reasons. Did the parents just assume "it'll be alright" without even bothering to inform the school?

[fiction-factory]

Maybe some cases at the margin could have been treated differently but in general he was right to start as he means to go on especially as parents were reminded beforehand. I have no sympathy with parents who go to the press and make an issue of something instead of backing the school or discussing their concerns privately with the school.