School field trip, bathing suit guidelines

[Dawnlight]

From my son's permission slip for an upcoming, 6th grade, end-of-year field trip that includes swimming:

"The dress code for xxxxxxxx is the same as for school. Girls' bathing suits seem to present a particular challenge. The permission slip says swim suits must be "school appropriate". A very skinny suit is not appropriate for boys or for girls. Please provide strict supervision in the suit your child brings or wears. Regretfully, we would insist that an inadequately clad student needs to put on more clothes. We will bring a few clean t-shirts just in case."

A few questions:

Does this mean that kids can regularly wear a swim suit to school?

WTH is a "skinny suit"? One that fits on a thin middle school girl? One that shows too much skin? (Don't all swimsuits?)

Boys on school swim teams wear Speedos; presumably "school appropriate". Would they be disallowed as being a "very skinny suit"?

I'm all for maintaining a dress code at school, but what are they expecting girls to wear to a pool? A burqini?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

A "skinny" suit for a boy I believe would actually be a speedo. I'm willing to bet that the swim team gets an exception on that. For a girl... I don't know. A bikini? Something that would show cleavage (if there's any to show in 6th grade).

I'd call the school if you think you have a problem.

As for wearing swim suits to school, if you school has a pool, and gym includes swimming, than yeah, you'd wear a swimsuit in school (not too school...)

 

[jrmasm]

I bet skinny was supposed to be skimpy.

 

[mamacatnv]

I think the whole bathing suit attire on a field trip is just ridiculous - everyones opinion of "appropriate" is different
I don't understand this provincial trend that girls skin is taboo

 

[lucky978]

I think what they are trying to say is for parents to make sure their daughters don't bring the thong bikini bottoms along on the field trip. And I will say that there are indeed some girls that go to school with my kids that would definitely try to get away with something like that - push up top and thong bottom. Very inappropriate for a 6th grader.

 

[Luv2Run]

I remember for my 6th grade field trip to a water park, our permission slip said that two-piece swimsuits were allowed, however, no string bikinis were authorized.
For boys, I would imagine that a "skinny" swimsuit would be anything other than board shorts.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

This is what is acceptable. Anything that shows more skin than this is distinctly inappropriate. I might even recommend getting them a size or two bigger. Those men's suits are a bit tight, if you ask me.

 

[Saimaeve]

This is what is acceptable. Anything that shows more skin than this is distinctly inappropriate. I might even recommend getting them a size or two bigger. Those men's suits are a bit tight, if you ask me.

Pfft we all know men's bodies are perfect and not evil. It's the woman's that is skimpy. You can see her elbows. #Noshame #attentionseeking #distraction

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Pfft we all know men's bodies are perfect and not evil. It's the woman's that is skimpy. You can see her elbows. #Noshame #attentionseeking #distraction

Gasp! I didn't even realize you could see her elbows! Stone the witch! She's clearly trying to bewitch the boys with her feminine wiles.

 

[smiths02]

Totally off topic, but I can't think of anything that would have been worse than having to wear a bathing suit and take a field trip to a water park in middle school. I seriously would have been absent that day.

Of course, I grew up in Huntington Beach, CA...so we just went to Disneyland or Knott's for a fun field trip day.

 

[goofy4prez]

I think the whole bathing suit attire on a field trip is just ridiculous - everyones opinion of "appropriate" is different
I don't understand this provincial trend that girls skin is taboo

I don't think it's a matter of just a girls skin... A banana hammock for a boy or a thong for a girl (or boy) or string bikini regardless of school age, while it may be "appropriate" for some people's opinion, but for most it would be a little too much for a school outing. On a public beach or pool let it all "hang out" if you will, but for a school sponsored trip or function keeping some of the skin (both genders) covered IMO, is the right thing to do... On a second thought, from what I see on TV, the movies, or in pop music, I really don't see a provincial trend that any skin, male or female is taboo. In fact keeping ones clothes on and showing less of the body seems to have become taboo. Not trying to flame you at all, I think we just see things differently.

 

[kimblebee]

This is what is acceptable. Anything that shows more skin than this is distinctly inappropriate. I might even recommend getting them a size or two bigger. Those men's suits are a bit tight, if you ask me.

MY EYES

*fans herself to prevent a fainting spell*

 

[smiths02]

I don't think it's a matter of just a girls skin... A banana hammock for a boy or a thong for a girl (or boy) or string bikini regardless of school age, while it may be "appropriate" for some people's opinion, but for most it would be a little too much for a school outing. On a public beach or pool let it all "hang out" if you will, but for a school sponsored trip or function keeping some of the skin (both genders) covered IMO, is the right thing to do... On a second thought, from what I see on TV, the movies, or in pop music, I really don't see a provincial trend that any skin, male or female is taboo. In fact keeping ones clothes on and showing less of the body seems to have become taboo. Not trying to flame you at all, I think we just see things differently.

I think speedo suits that are actually worn in swim team (boy and girl) while tight relate to the sport. However, a thong and pasties is as asinine for swimming as the old fashioned picture everyone is using to make fun of us prudes with.
Modesty is still a virtue.

 

[asta]

I will never forget my daughter's 8th grade school trip to the Florida Keys. The school was a conservative faith based school with a strict dress code. They guidelines called for a one piece suit so that is what I sent with her. The first day one of the teachers posted a picture online with a group of 10 girls in the background. All 10 of these girls were standing arms linked in tiny bikinis. I was so mad that not only did I spend money on the one piece but that the school wasn't even bothered enough that they posted the photo to their website.

There always seems to be a group of people that rules don't apply but the school publishing the photo just rubbed it in everyone else's face.

 

[Saimaeve]

I think speedo suits that are actually worn in swim team (boy and girl) while tight relate to the sport. However, a thong and pasties is as asinine for swimming as the old fashioned picture everyone is using to make fun of us prudes with.
Modesty is still a virtue.

So what exactly are these virtues I am to adhere to? And why do we want them?

 

[pookybean]

For my daughters summer camp the requirement was that the girls bathing suits could not be a 2 piece and the one pieces could not be a halter or a string. Basically we bought her the sports type one piece bathing suits.

She is not going to camp this year and while bathing suit shopping she bought a tankini. At the beach this Memorial Day she decided it was too showy and now wants a plain one like camp. I agree....modesty is still a virtue.

 

[Dizlvr]

I just signed my ds's permission slip for their waterpark trip. There was no mention of dress code, just behavior. I would assume that the "skinny" in yours meant "skimpy", so no string bikini's, deep V's, thongs or speedos.
Unfortunately its not always common sense to some parents about what is appropriate for their child's age so schools are forced to remind those parents with notes. There have probably been issues in the past with what kids wore.

 

[smiths02]

So what exactly are these virtues I am to adhere to? And why do we want them?

There are going to have to be some guidelines. I think it is illogical to say that some guidelines=burqas or swimwear from the Victorian era.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I think speedo suits that are actually worn in swim team (boy and girl) while tight relate to the sport. However, a thong and pasties is as asinine for swimming as the old fashioned picture everyone is using to make fun of us prudes with.
Modesty is still a virtue.

Woah woah woah. I wasn't making fun of anyone. Well, maybe the people in the photos but I can assure you that no harm was intended.

 

[mjkacmom]

I have 12 year old b/g twins, exactly the same size and build (lean and muscular). Why should ds12 be able to go shirtless, but dd12 needs to cover her stomach? She doesn't even own a one piece or ranking, but none of her bikinis are inappropriate. Everything is well covered (she even prefers ruffles on the top for more coverage, even though, there is nothing there to cover). She loves swimming, and doesn't like excess fabric.