Are schools too strict.

[Flyndaran]

I think most of us can figure it out.

Obviously, I couldn't. I try not to assume people have their own assumptions without written proof.
I believe that person or some other already stated a follow rules at all costs even for adults in another thread, so I don't think I was out of line for asking in this one.

I had an anti-kick me sign in school. No matter how nerdy, non-confrontational, or minor rules breaking I was, no student or teacher ever bothered me.
I even spent a few classes just reading a book without any problems.

[AdminAssistant]

There is another reason for the ban on mobile phones, it helps stop helicopter parents.

Yes. A million gajillion times yes.

Because then these kids go to college. And they give me a lame excuse as to why they missed class. And say, "I can have my mom call you". Sorry, the only time I want to talk to your parents is if you have a serious, long-term health problem and they are taking care of you.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

In school, my husband beat the crap out of the school bully. His mom was a teacher there. Of course, they called her to the office. Her only question, when told her son had beat up this one particular kid, was "Did he win?"

I love my MIL.

[violetyoshi]

Yes. A million gajillion times yes.

Because then these kids go to college. And they give me a lame excuse as to why they missed class. And say, "I can have my mom call you". Sorry, the only time I want to talk to your parents is if you have a serious, long-term health problem and they are taking care of you.

Helicopter parents, a term used by people who are envious of people who's parents invest time in them, because their parents didn't.

[JuniorMintz]

Helicopter parents, a term used by people who are envious of people who's parents invest time in them, because their parents didn't.

WTF?!? Now that's nuttier than squirrel poop!

I'm 27, my mother was a stay at home mom, and my father spent every waking moment from when he got home from work to when we went to bed with my siblings and I. They helped us with homework, signed us up for sports, taught Sunday school together, went to all our games/concerts/plays, planned family trips, and even home-schooled my brother and sister for a few years (which BTW was *their* idea, not my parents' !)


My parents taught me to be both self sufficient and a damn hard worker. They don't hover over me because they know I am capable of handling my business (in both work and school) on my own. Not since junior high have I even considered asking them to speak to an authority figure on my behalf. To behave in such a manner at a college level is pathetic and shameful.

[Nyoibo]

Helicopter parents, a term used by people who are envious of people who's parents invest time in them, because their parents didn't.

Would you like me to remove that foot from your mouth, or are you good with it?

[fireheart17]

OK, I'll try and get this thread back on track before we devolve into helicopter parenting and name-calling.

What about school uniforms or dress codes? OK, most of these I can understand since my work is fairly strict most of the time on them.

BUT....

The things that tend to annoy me and they crop up on quite a few of the uniform lists I've seen for both public and private schools in my area are...

-socks must be a certain colour and/or length. (particularly for some all-girls schools or boarding schools) They're socks! Honestly....
-hair ties/hair accessories MUST be a certain colour. And I mean this is going into ribbons, bows, right down to the colour of the hair elastics. For goodness sake, it's keeping the hair away from the face, why does it matter what colour they are? (we sell black, brown and coloured ones that's it)

[Nyoibo]

The reason socks are an issue is because they usually go with a uniform and they're supposed to match, winter uniforms aren't usually a problem because you can't see them, but a summer uniform they're out there for the world to see, I'm just glad they got rid of the having to have them pulled up to the knees, that sucked.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Yeah, the hair things and socks were colour coded at the all girls school I went to; same with coats. They asked for hair things, socks and tights to be navy blue, coats too. The head kicked up a fuss cuz my winter coat was black. My mum just said that she could not afford to buy me a brand new winter coat, so if they wanted me to wear navy blue, then they were welcome to do so themselves. The head backed down; after all, the coat was black, not fuchsia pink.

I used to go thru tights like crazy; getting them snagged on stuff, and also laddering for no good reason. -.-

[AdminAssistant]

Helicopter parents, a term used by people who are envious of people who's parents invest time in them, because their parents didn't.

Heh.

For my parents, their children were their lives. Practically every decision was centered around what they thought was best for us. Didn't always turn out that way, but they had the best of intentions.

However, when I moved out and went to college, that stopped. I was responsible for my schoolwork, for getting to class, for balancing shows and classes. My job, not theirs. There are parents of college students who do their homework for them, who try to get them out of classes for the stupidest reasons, who do everything for them. No. You're over 18, you're an adult, and your parent has no say. As I said, unless you've got a long-term or severe illness and they are stepping in as your caretaker.

School uniforms, for me, would have equalled one less decision to make. And my mom wouldn't have felt so pressured to spend money we didn't have on name brand crap. I would fight her on it, because I don't like being a walking billboard for Calvin Klein, but my sister ate it up.

[Boozy]

I would have loved school uniforms, as long as they were reasonably priced. Parents do still have to pay for them.

Growing up, the local Catholic school had uniforms that cost a LOT more than the average outfit that my parents would typically buy for us. I had a friend who attended that school, and her parents didn't have a lot of money. They could only afford one uniform at first, so she had to be very careful not to get it dirty, or they'd be doing laundry constantly.

But I like the idea of removing the instantaneous recognition of economic class from the schools. And from the looks of the students at the Catholic school in my current neighbourhood, teenagers have no trouble "expressing their individuality" while in uniform.

[Nyoibo]

But I like the idea of removing the instantaneous recognition of economic class from the schools.But I like the idea of removing the instantaneous recognition of economic class from the schools.

My school uniform pretty much gave an instant recognition of economic class.

[Boozy]

My school uniform pretty much gave an instant recognition of economic class.

Because it differentiated you from students from other schools. I was talking about students within the same school; if they're all wearing the same thing, it's harder to tell who's poor and who's rich.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Oh yes, that is indeed a fact. And yes, you can show your individuality off with a uniform, let me count the ways...

* Biro tattoos
* Skirts rolled up
* Blouse with one undone button
* One long sock, one short sock
* Socks over tights
* Tie with all the white thread pulled out
* Tie tied so that all the big bit is inside the blouse, with the little bit sticking out the top
* Friendship bracelets
* Laces tucked into shoes
* Jumper sleeves rolled up

And many more which escape me at this moment. Most of these I remember purely cuz I see students at my old school doing them, probably believing they're being original. XD They're not, any more than I was when I did them.

I don't agree however that school uniform stops cliques forming; oh, there were cliques alright, just as much as there are in a nonuniform school. All it does is make it hard to tell the well off from the less well off.

[fireheart17]

I think from the uniform at my school, the rules were a bit less rigid. They were picky on things like shoes for safety reasons (can someone explain to me how ballet flats are not OHS?) but basically, with hair, as long as you didn't come to school with your hair dyed green, you could get away with just about anything. I used to wear brightly coloured headbands.