Your child's school rules: the stupid, weird, or just plain annoying

[TanyaS]

My oldest started middle school this year and I find some of the rules at his school to be, at minimum, annoying. Two examples:

Students may not use book bags during the school day. Girls may not carry purses. What a pain for the kids to have to haul their notebooks, folders, textbooks, novels, pencils, project supplies, etc. from class to class without being able to just keep them in a book bag. Ugh. I guess girls have to make a special trip to their lockers to get feminine products when needed. Double ugh.

Students may only carry clear water bottles. It's South Carolina, it's hot, the school is not evenly air conditioned, and staying hydrated is probably helpful for learning. The nice stainless steel Kleen Kanteen water bottle I had bought DS to use at school (and when he bikes to school, on the 4.5 mile ride home) - nope, can't carry it (rule was told to students after the school year began). Ugh.

So, do all the rules at your school make sense? Or do you find any of them annoying?

 

[Uncle Remus]

My oldest started middle school this year and I find some of the rules at his school to be, at minimum, annoying. Two examples:

Students may not use book bags during the school day. Girls may not carry purses. What a pain for the kids to have to haul their notebooks, folders, textbooks, novels, pencils, project supplies, etc. from class to class without being able to just keep them in a book bag. Ugh. I guess girls have to make a special trip to their lockers to get feminine products when needed. Double ugh.

Students may only carry clear water bottles. It's South Carolina, it's hot, the school is not evenly air conditioned, and staying hydrated is probably helpful for learning. The nice stainless steel Kleen Kanteen water bottle I had bought DS to use at school (and when he bikes to school, on the 4.5 mile ride home) - nope, can't carry it (rule was told to students after the school year began). Ugh.

So, do all the rules at your school make sense? Or do you find any of them annoying?

Yikes, with school rules like that, ya gotta wonder why which might make ya more than annoyed. ::

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

My oldest started middle school this year and I find some of the rules at his school to be, at minimum, annoying. Two examples:

Students may not use book bags during the school day. Girls may not carry purses. What a pain for the kids to have to haul their notebooks, folders, textbooks, novels, pencils, project supplies, etc. from class to class without being able to just keep them in a book bag. Ugh. I guess girls have to make a special trip to their lockers to get feminine products when needed. Double ugh.

Students may only carry clear water bottles. It's South Carolina, it's hot, the school is not evenly air conditioned, and staying hydrated is probably helpful for learning. The nice stainless steel Kleen Kanteen water bottle I had bought DS to use at school (and when he bikes to school, on the 4.5 mile ride home) - nope, can't carry it (rule was told to students after the school year began). Ugh.

So, do all the rules at your school make sense? Or do you find any of them annoying?

There are a LOT of silly rules at my children's school.

No birthday celebrations...not even allowed to wear buttons.

No hand holding...My twins usually hold hands from the car/sidewalk into the school.

There are others that I think are silly...but I think it's just me. Their school last year was less strict, especially with the preschoolers, but my kids aren't being harmed and they have no complaints.

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't know if dd can carry a purse, but you can't use backpacks to go from class to class, same as when I was there. I can't imagine where the students would put the backpacks when they got to class.

One rule in HS is that if I don't call the school and let them know my child is sick by a certain time (10:30?), the child will have in school suspension the next day.

 

[sam_gordon]

The biggest problem I've had was backpacks had to be clear or mesh. This is a district-wide thing. It's been the case for the last 8 years. You'd think the neighboring merchants would know this, but nope... all their backpacks are cloth.

Two days before the first day of classes this year, we get notified... you can use ANY backpack. Great, but I wish we would have had some more notice. Our backpacks were already purchased & filled.

DD's not allowed to wear hooded sweatshirts during school.

 

[Bonnie151]

Well this isn't a rule but a decision recently made by the school. Our primary shool always has school discos in Oct and March. This year they were supposed to be on 10 & 11 Oct. We got an email today saying they would be on 31 Oct & 1 November instead (certain years go on each night - you don't get to pick which one).

So much for Halloween trick or treating then if your disco is on the 31st. That's got to be one of the most stupid decisions the school has ever made!

In general I don't have a problem with the rules. It's more how they communicate them (or don't communicate them) that drives me up the wall. They have a bad habit of sending out emails to parents with one set of instructions and then tell the kids in school the complete opposite - e.g. last Friday we were asked to send our kids to school dressed in school uniform tops but casual bottoms & trainers as they would be doing a half hour walk through the woods. They told the kids in assembly that they were to come to school in full uniform the next day and bring a change of clothes. By the time you get the mixed message it's 6:00 in the evening and you can't phone the school to clarify!

 

[tvguy]

I really don't mean to offend you.....and I have posted this in other threads......but why are people so uptight about rules these days?

Yes, I know seem silly, but I bet most are not arbitrary, and there is a legitimate reason for them. In some cases I suspect something happened and some angry parent wanted to know why there wasn't a rule against that in the first place.

And I am sincere, I don't mean to offend anyone, but sometimes I think we should just shake our heads at rules we don't like, and move on.

 

[NotUrsula]

Students may not use book bags during the school day. Girls may not carry purses. What a pain for the kids to have to haul their notebooks, folders, textbooks, novels, pencils, project supplies, etc. from class to class without being able to just keep them in a book bag. Ugh. I guess girls have to make a special trip to their lockers to get feminine products when needed. Double ugh.

Yeah, I always thought this one was dumb, too. DS' grade school two years ago instituted a baggie rule; girls could carry a gallon-sized ziploc instead of a purse. (As for feminine products, I always tuck one in my bra, just in case, and that's what most of the girls at the school also do.) As to where to put them in class: same place college students do, under their desks.

DS' current school also banned hoodies on the grounds that kids were hiding cell phones in the hoods... which makes zero sense because they can just as easily carry them in their pants pockets.

 

[DebIreland]

Wow! We don't have any rules that are stupid. Both schools (my boys' secondary school and my daughter's primary school) have sensible rules:
- Mobile phones must be switched off at all times during the school day
- Lost your locker key and there's a 15 euro fine to replace it (this works amazingly well - my eldest still has the same key for going on 5 years now!)
- Only school jackets are to be worn coming in and leaving school - no other coats or jackets allowed.
- Very strict on uniforms - only approved school uniforms and track suits to be worn at all times...
etc etc. Nothing out of the ordinary.

I can't believe the no-backpacks rule and the catching hands rule. That's just sad.

 

[jrmasm]

The clear bottle rule is new at my DD's high school this year. And liquid has to be clear as well. Guess vodka is ok then.

 

[hereyago]

DD's school has the same rules about the water bottle: this isn't a really stupid rule: they don't want kids to bring in Jack Daniels, Rum,etc and hiding it in the water bottle, however, I don't think they thought about if a kid brings in Vodka since it is clear.-this actually happened last year during field day on a few days before school got out, a kid got busted for having vodka in the 7th grade.

The backpacks not being able to be carried all day thing: This has always been a thing at DD's schools. Backpacks can carry weapons,etc. She is in middle school now, they also get a few locker breaks,so it is like high school. In the morning, get your first few subjects materials, after lunch get a locker break then get the last few classes materials.

Hoodies: that is more for safety issue to.

Schools wanting clear backpacks, safety reason.

I think the shootings at Columbine really changed how schools have certain rules. In DD"s schools, as soon as you get in the school, go to your locker put your coat away, no coats allowed in class.

People need to think about some of these rules: I think if there weren't some of the rules in place and something happened, the same people would wonder why a rule wasn't in place. generally speaking.

 

[jrmasm]

DD's school has the same rules about the water bottle: this isn't a really stupid rule: they don't want kids to bring in Jack Daniels, Rum,etc and hiding it in the water bottle, however, I don't think they thought about if a kid brings in Vodka since it is clear.-this actually happened last year during field day on a few days before school got out, a kid got busted for having vodka in the 7th grade.

I think you just showed us why this rule is stupid.

 

[hereyago]

I think you just showed us why this rule is stupid.

I didn't make the rules, thank you.lol It does prevent from bringing in Jack and what not. So it won't prevent moonshine or vodka. but you know if they weren't allowed any bottles, there would be outraged parents because their kid shouldnt have to use the water fountain.

 

[jrmasm]

I didn't make the rules, thank you.lol It does prevent from bringing in Jack and what not. So it won't prevent moonshine or vodka. but you know if they weren't allowed any bottles, there would be outraged parents because their kid shouldnt have to use the water fountain.

I know you didn't make the rules! But you started saying it wasn't stupid and the showed how it was.

My DD started taking a water bottle in elementary. It was a required item for school.

 

[marcyinPA]

DS12 is in middle school (7th grade). They do not allow drop offs of any kind. No forgotten homework, books, instruments, gym clothes, etc. While I understand WHY, and I do agree with the sink or swim on those things, and hopefully the lessons learned, they also do not allow drop offs of lunch or lunch money.

I have a HUGE problem with that. If your child does not have money in their lunch account, and they forget their lunch, they will not get ANYTHING to eat. They do not get a sandwich, or crackers, or anything. They don't get three strikes. You forget even one time, and you are S.O.L. I don't know how this is going to teach them any kind of lesson- except that they will be hungry and will not be able to focus on school lessons that day.

I did strong arm my way into the office once last year, and the secretary made me feel like garbage for dropping of my DS's forgotten lunch. It only happened one time. I told her there was no way I was letting my kid starve for the day. If he forgot his homework, then he would have to deal with those consequences. But I won't let him go hungry all day.

 

[NotUrsula]

DD's school has the same rules about the water bottle: this isn't a really stupid rule: they don't want kids to bring in Jack Daniels, Rum,etc and hiding it in the water bottle, however, I don't think they thought about if a kid brings in Vodka since it is clear.-this actually happened last year during field day on a few days before school got out, a kid got busted for having vodka in the 7th grade.

The backpacks not being able to be carried all day thing: This has always been a thing at DD's schools. Backpacks can carry weapons,etc. She is in middle school now, they also get a few locker breaks,so it is like high school. In the morning, get your first few subjects materials, after lunch get a locker break then get the last few classes materials.

Hoodies: that is more for safety issue to.

Schools wanting clear backpacks, safety reason.

I think the shootings at Columbine really changed how schools have certain rules. In DD"s schools, as soon as you get in the school, go to your locker put your coat away, no coats allowed in class.

People need to think about some of these rules: I think if there weren't some of the rules in place and something happened, the same people would wonder why a rule wasn't in place. generally speaking.

This reminds me of the TSA rules, completely reactive.

Someone who wants to bring a weapon in can still do so, even with those rules. An adult-sized male can hide a long gun in a pant leg, and a handgun stuck in the back of your trousers under a sweater or strapped to your calf will still be hidden even if you have those rules, unless you also have metal detectors. Same deal for a knife in a sock.

What "safety" interest is served by not allowing hoodies? If you want to choke someone by the neck of a shirt you still can.

 

[hereyago]

I know you didn't make the rules! But you started saying it wasn't stupid and the showed how it was.

My DD started taking a water bottle in elementary. It was a required item for school.

No I wrote that it wasn't really THAT stupid. Their thinking is no one can smuggle in Jack, Scotch, Rum. So if it prevents that then that is good, but on the other hand vodka does blend in well, I can't see a size of my DD's school being able to take all sorts of water breaks and the parents (some of them) would be all upset, like the ones who make their own pick up lane in the parking lot when there is a real one in front of the school so their pumpkin won't have to wait or walk lol.

 

[mamacatnv]

The clear bottle rule is new at my DD's high school this year. And liquid has to be clear as well. Guess vodka is ok then.

The local high end (spendy) Catholic high school does not allow water bottles of any kind because the kids were drinking vodka out of them.

DS12 is in middle school (7th grade). They do not allow drop offs of any kind. No forgotten homework, books, instruments, gym clothes, etc. While I understand WHY, and I do agree with the sink or swim on those things, and hopefully the lessons learned, they also do not allow drop offs of lunch or lunch money.

I have a HUGE problem with that. If your child does not have money in their lunch account, and they forget their lunch, they will not get ANYTHING to eat. They do not get a sandwich, or crackers, or anything. They don't get three strikes. You forget even one time, and you are S.O.L. I don't know how this is going to teach them any kind of lesson- except that they will be hungry and will not be able to focus on school lessons that day.

I did strong arm my way into the office once last year, and the secretary made me feel like garbage for dropping of my DS's forgotten lunch. It only happened one time. I told her there was no way I was letting my kid starve for the day. If he forgot his homework, then he would have to deal with those consequences. But I won't let him go hungry all day.

I have a middle schooler, I really can't stand when parents do exactly what you did here. You think the rules don't apply to you and that bugs me.
A 12/13 year old is not going to "starve" over one missed lunch and I am sure that the loss of a meal will help him to remember his stuff.

My DD's school does not have a no drop off policy but I certainly do. She would have had to bum a snack from her friends, I'm not going to drive into town and take her the lunch that she forgot.

Secondly, kids that age share with each other, I would hazard to guess that your son could have bummed a few snacks from his friends.

DD attends a Charter School - we really don't have any useless rules. I her school, its awesome!

 

[jrmasm]

No I wrote that it wasn't really THAT stupid. Their thinking is no one can smuggle in Jack, Scotch, Rum. So if it prevents that then that is good, but on the other hand vodka does blend in well, I can't see a size of my DD's school being able to take all sorts of water breaks and the parents (some of them) would be all upset, like the ones who make their own pick up lane in the parking lot when there is a real one in front of the school so their pumpkin won't have to wait or walk lol.

And we disagree based on the rest of your comments about clear alcohol. That is exactly why the rule is completely stupid.

 

[jrmasm]

The local high end (spendy) Catholic high school does not allow water bottles of any kind because the kids were drinking vodka out of them.

I wouldn't have a problem with that. Like I said the reason she started taking them was because the school REQUIRED them.