posted September 09, 2005 09:49 AM         

So the school send home a letter a few months back asking the parents how they would feel about buying another track suit for sports (they get this for one hour a week). For some reason, although the school colours are blue and red, they go ahead and order in a dark GREEN tracksuit - it is expensive, poor quality, expensive and if you want to buy extra pants, you cant you have to buy the whole track suit. Some parents say after 3 or 4 washes it becomes like a piece of rag!!

A few of us have said we wont buy it - we never agreed on this and never sent samples. I found out the majority of parents said no - but the school still went ahead.

Our son ws told yesterday if he didnt wear it he would not be allowed to play sports.....or any other child who didnt wear it.

His dad and I think it is unfair to punish the child for what their parents choose to do.....we have already paid out big amounts for books, uniform, shoes, shirts etc etc and we feel this is an unreasonable request.

What do you guys think.....value your opinions..

Thanks and love

posted September 09, 2005 10:32 AM         

It's really not a big enough issue to pull your kiddo out of the school, but I can see why you'd be annoyed.

posted September 09, 2005 10:45 AM         

Thanks ladies, I know it sounds petty, and yeah Pix hubbie has just been in to command a meeting with board.....Im sick of the feckers....so asked him to support me and apparently he did brilliantly....the principle thanked him for his diplomatic approach.......mmm......he is quiet yet poweful. He said she had really cold eyes and defensive body language!

Great idea about the lawyer lion, I thought that before and we said about going to the press too......doesnt it just show the petty arrogance of the people who are supposed to be minding our kids.......shame on them hey.

As for the bully thing, we were close to moving schools, instead I waited for him after school and swung him around by the earholes.......only joking guys....if only LOL !!!

Oh to be a parent.......Aaaaarghhhhhhh !!!!!

Thanks and love

posted September 09, 2005 02:30 PM         

How are you girl

It is a national school (state).....its called the Gaelscoil, Irish speaking, the Irish tradition is kept alive. they play music and speak gaelic and learn to read and write it too!!

Hope you are well

Love

posted September 09, 2005 07:18 PM         

Good on your hubs for sticking by you. Maybe if you can get a whole load of parents to go complaining then the school might be forced to rethink.

Hugs to your son. Hope the bullying is history. Feel very strongly about bullying. Hate it. Hope your son is settling in well after the summer break.

posted September 13, 2005 10:42 AM         

I think I am OK. I felt as if I'd been thro' the wringer last week but am back on form now!!

AH...the fact that your son goes to a national school explains the colour choice (green=Irish) But the fact that the school is trying to force people to buy their tracksuits is indeed odd...sounds like a moneymaking venture as far as I can see...no law against it, but I definetely feel a compromise could be reached here...perhaps suggest they buy better quality sportswear!

I know how stupid some schools can be about exclusion. I remember there was a blanket rule on eating the school lunch at a private school I went to. An Egyptian parent who had 3 daughters at the school was told that during Ramadan they couldn't attend school, because if they couldn't eat/attend lunch, then they couldn't attend the school, period. So they were off school for a month. Isn't that just the limit? I would have sued - or at least removed my daughters from the school.

I hated the school lunches so much that I just refused to go so my parents were called in and an agreement was reached that I could bring my own food in, but had to eat it in the dining-hall with everybody else. Before then, NOBODY had been able to bring their own lunch in, EVER. And this was in the 80s. Isn't that just amazing???!!!

Needless to say, I went down the local comprehensive for 6th Form!

posted September 13, 2005 10:59 AM         

I agree with the good advice here too, especially about parents getting together- they will have no choice but to listen and change that way.

I HATE bullying! I am determined to do whatever I can so that my son doesn't have to go through that...I'll send him to Karate or Kung Fu when he's old enough (a great way to build up confidence...just a shame I'm too lazy to do it myself )

I loathe some of these stuffy, petty teachers. I remember having them at my school (one or two were angels though). Gosh, they need to get out and party, have an adventure, climb a mountain....there are far bigger issues in life than a friggin' track suit!

posted September 13, 2005 11:53 AM         

How can they exclude, in the U.S. it's mandatory to do sports once a week, to exclude would mean they are breaking their own Law.
Hope that helps.