School uniform policy = school bullying?
This showed up in my FB newsfeed this morning. My daughter attends this school so it caught my attention. My daughter told me about the black trash bags on shoes last week. We were picking out shoes and she wanted a pair that I knew she wouldn't be able to wear but she wouldn't give it up. I told her if she wore them and they called me to come get her because of it I would let her sit in the office all day and not pick her up. That's when she told me about the black trash bags. What are your thoughts on this situation below?

I think black trash bags would be dangerous... Wouldn't the kid trip while walking? Or what if someone else stepped on the bag and he twisted his ankle? I see bags on shoes as an accident waiting to happen.

I remember sticky dress code requirements when my younger two kids were going to the same school many years ago.
On one occasion, they denied my daughter (she was 6, mind you, at the time) the "right" to wear a specific hoodie one day because according to that teacher, she was in violation of the dress code. My daughter came home to tell me that she was cold during lunch recess due to not being able to wear that hoodie.
The hoodie had been fine until then and was the correct color without any decoration or logos. I had even asked the teacher if this would be OK when it first started getting cool enough to wear a hoodie here. She had said it was fine.
Apparently they had literally changed the rules overnight and without informing any parents.
I took them to task, threatening local and state media coverage along with taking this particular school to task with the district office. I was apparently not the only parent up in arms over this and they finally retracted and put out notices that the new rule would be put in force the second semester.
Sometimes you DO have to stand up for what is wrong.
But below, I hope these parents also teach their son that in that "real" adult world, an employer determines the rules and even a dress standard, their son will have to comply or lose a job possibly.
IOW, they're teaching that fight the good fight but know that the opposition can fight back and often will win and because they haven't broken any rules.
Quoting jridgill:

Maybe they should review their uniform policy. I'll bet it's vague, like most are, this color pants, this color shoes. If they want to be that nitpicky, it should be clearly stated in the policy. Better yet, they should just provide the damn uniforms themselves.
That school is way out of line. Notifying the parents is sufficient. Allow them time to meet the outrageous demands, and don't punish the kids. It's being handled completely wrong IMO, and I hope the parents stand up for the kids.

my sixth grade son was also sent to class with bags on his shoes before i got there to get him his shoes were black but the hole the laces come thru were silver he has been whereing then since school started now they call on 10/4/12 to tell me he needs diffrent shoes or he will have bags put on his feet .Furman middle school seems to worry more about my childs shoes than his education . somthing got to be done about this i got him a pair off black nike shoes now but they costed 80 buck now if you add the old shoes to that that is about 130 buck in shoes fore my 11 yo boy

I have no problem with school uniforms. My kids' schools have them and they are specific. My older two have to wear khaki or navy blue bottoms and green polos with the school emblem. The shirts you have to buy from the only uniform place in town. It's a pain but at least I know they are right.
Sounds to me like the school needs a great deal of perspective.
- jridgill
on Oct. 5, 2012 at 9:31 AM