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

[Conservative Hippie]

I had the stupidest rules in high school (class of 2000). Keep in mind this was a somewhat rural public school of about 400 students. Let's start with the dress code: We had the normal dress code rules regarding length of shorts and skirts, no strapless tops or tank tops, no facial jewelry, no unnatural hair colors, but we also had the rules of no jackets, sweaters, or any other type of outer garment. All outerwear must be removed as soon as you enter the building and stored in your locker. No shirts untucked - not even styles that are made to be untucked. If your pants/shorts had belt loops, a belt must be worn. Pockets on your pants/shorts must be visible at all times (this meant you couldn't tuck in a shirt and loosely blouse it over the tops of your pockets). All backpacks must be clear or mesh, but all backpacks must be stored in your locker. No bags except for purses for girls are allowed in classrooms (our purses were quite large!). You sat with your class for lunch, and we were frequently punished with "silent lunch" - no speaking. I cannot remember what was done to get us all given "silent lunch," but I remember it happening a lot. At graduation, we were all warned against throwing our caps. Anyone who threw their cap would not get a diploma. One very brave kid hid a beach ball under his robe and blew it up during the ceremony and tossed it in the air instead of his cap. He did not get his diploma.

 

[marcyinPA]

You really feel persecuted because someone called you out for flouting a rule you feel is bogus? Wow.

You can complain to the guidance counselor all you want. She or he doesn't set the rules. Go to the Principal, or the Superintendent, or the School Board. Find out why the rule exists. Get involved. Work to get the rule changed.

Don't just whine that it's a stupid rule.

And here I thought I was done! Nope.

I said persecute away because of her comment on mercy. I'm accustomed to the eye rolls when I use the words "mercy" and "grace". I know what the eye roll meant, and I just wanted to make it clear that she can say what she wants and it does not change my conviction on that.

I don't know about your school, but in ours, the guidance counselors work side by side with the administration. I guarantee that the voice of the parents has been heard. Don't assume that I'm just sitting around whining. Not true.

 

[marcyinPA]

I had the stupidest rules in high school (class of 2000). Keep in mind this was a somewhat rural public school of about 400 students. Let's start with the dress code: We had the normal dress code rules regarding length of shorts and skirts, no strapless tops or tank tops, no facial jewelry, no unnatural hair colors, but we also had the rules of no jackets, sweaters, or any other type of outer garment. All outerwear must be removed as soon as you enter the building and stored in your locker. No shirts untucked - not even styles that are made to be untucked. If your pants/shorts had belt loops, a belt must be worn. Pockets on your pants/shorts must be visible at all times (this meant you couldn't tuck in a shirt and loosely blouse it over the tops of your pockets). All backpacks must be clear or mesh, but all backpacks must be stored in your locker. No bags except for purses for girls are allowed in classrooms (our purses were quite large!). You sat with your class for lunch, and we were frequently punished with "silent lunch" - no speaking. I cannot remember what was done to get us all given "silent lunch," but I remember it happening a lot. At graduation, we were all warned against throwing our caps. Anyone who threw their cap would not get a diploma. One very brave kid hid a beach ball under his robe and blew it up during the ceremony and tossed it in the air instead of his cap. He did not get his diploma.

OMG...this happens in my DS12's middle school too! It's another rule that annoys me to no end. So the children have to sit and eat in silence, and then the teachers complain for the rest of the afternoon that the children are too chatty. Ummmm, did they consider that it might be because they weren't able to get it out of their systems at lunch? Seriously, would the teachers like to sit in the faculty room and not be allowed to converse with each other?!

In general, I am not a fan of blanket punishments...punishments that affect everyone when only a few caused the problem.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

OMG...this happens in my DS12's middle school too! It's another rule that annoys me to no end. So the children have to sit and eat in silence, and then the teachers complain for the rest of the afternoon that the children are too chatty. Ummmm, did they consider that it might be because they weren't able to get it out of their systems at lunch? Seriously, would the teachers like to sit in the faculty room and not be allowed to converse with each other?!

In general, I am not a fan of blanket punishments...punishments that affect everyone when only a few caused the problem.

I am trying to remember, and I think it would be something like being too loud in the halls during class changes or not quieting down fast enough at assemblies. I remember getting silent lunch for a week when I was a senior but I can't remember why.

 

[teacherforhi]

OMG...this happens in my DS12's middle school too! It's another rule that annoys me to no end. So the children have to sit and eat in silence, and then the teachers complain for the rest of the afternoon that the children are too chatty. Ummmm, did they consider that it might be because they weren't able to get it out of their systems at lunch? Seriously, would the teachers like to sit in the faculty room and not be allowed to converse with each other?!

In general, I am not a fan of blanket punishments...punishments that affect everyone when only a few caused the problem.

We have a whole team of students (around 100) who seemingly cannot talk at a normal voice level. They scream at each other from table to table and it's not just a few...it's the majority. They've been on silent lunch several times this year. It's one thing to expect the normal noise of that many people in the cafeteria, but when I can't hear the person next to me, but could participate in a conversation between a group of people five tables away, there's a problem.

For my class, I only give silent lunch when they've been too chatty in class. If you use my classtime to have conversations with your friends, then you lose conversation time at lunch.

 

[tvguy]

The only one that I thought was petty for this year was the banning of the feathers that the girls are having put into their hair. I mean I don't think a feather in the hair would interfere w/ learning?

Maybe allergies? Is your school one of the ones that bans peanut products?

 

[poohs_hunny]

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.

This one made me laugh. Really? A Ziploc bag? Maybe I should start doing that. It would certainly save me money compared to the Disney Dooneys I've become addicted to.

 

[HsvTeacher]

I had the stupidest rules in high school (class of 2000). Keep in mind this was a somewhat rural public school of about 400 students. Let's start with the dress code: We had the normal dress code rules regarding length of shorts and skirts, no strapless tops or tank tops, no facial jewelry, no unnatural hair colors, but we also had the rules of no jackets, sweaters, or any other type of outer garment. All outerwear must be removed as soon as you enter the building and stored in your locker. No shirts untucked - not even styles that are made to be untucked. If your pants/shorts had belt loops, a belt must be worn. Pockets on your pants/shorts must be visible at all times (this meant you couldn't tuck in a shirt and loosely blouse it over the tops of your pockets). All backpacks must be clear or mesh, but all backpacks must be stored in your locker. No bags except for purses for girls are allowed in classrooms (our purses were quite large!). You sat with your class for lunch, and we were frequently punished with "silent lunch" - no speaking. I cannot remember what was done to get us all given "silent lunch," but I remember it happening a lot. At graduation, we were all warned against throwing our caps. Anyone who threw their cap would not get a diploma. One very brave kid hid a beach ball under his robe and blew it up during the ceremony and tossed it in the air instead of his cap. He did not get his diploma.

Our principal will walk into the lunchroom and give the silent lunch punishment when there is too much noise. It always irritates me because it's the K-3 classes that are yelling and being too loud. My students are talking at a normal level, but we all still get punished as a whole.

 

[aprilgail2]

The only one that I thought was petty for this year was the banning of the feathers that the girls are having put into their hair. I mean I don't think a feather in the hair would interfere w/ learning?

Wow really?? Our kids cant have their hair dyed unnatural colors but they can havethe feathers in their hair!

If the feathers are like the ones DD & I had in our hair this summer they are in permanently with a crimp thing. We washed our hair with them & everything. They can't be removed without cutting them out or going to a salon & having them taken out.

Those are the kind my daughter has too- I actually have to take her to have them moved up this weekend- they have been in for a few months and her hair has grown a lot so they are now to far down!

All outerwear must be removed as soon as you enter the building and stored in your locker. No shirts untucked - not even styles that are made to be untucked. If your pants/shorts had belt loops, a belt must be worn.

Now that rule would be a problem at my daughters school since they are only allowed at their locker before school, after lunch/rec and at the end of the day---so if they don't walk around with their coats on the whole first half of the day they will be outside in 30 degree weather with no coat on!

 

[torinsmom]

If the feathers are like the ones DD & I had in our hair this summer they are in permanently with a crimp thing. We washed our hair with them & everything. They can't be removed without cutting them out or going to a salon & having them taken out.

Never seen what you are talking about. I guess it isn't a fad here yet.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Now that rule would be a problem at my daughters school since they are only allowed at their locker before school, after lunch/rec and at the end of the day---so if they don't walk around with their coats on the whole first half of the day they will be outside in 30 degree weather with no coat on!

A few of the girls used to bring blankets to class during the winter, but of course they had to make a rule about that too!

 

[mjantz]

Re: hair feathers. Below is a link to an example. Mine were a lot more subtle than these & my daughters were a little more bold than mine but not over the top IMO. I think it's silly to ban them but I personally think most hair-based school rules outside of a uniform school are silly.

Hair feathers

 

[Uuaww]

My school was easy, really only had 1 rule: no bandanas.

Oh and we had to pass through a metal detector each day.

They also banned school dances my junior/senior year except homecoming and prom because a few students were caught have sex on the dancefloor. Our dances were ummmm rowdy to say the least.

Seemed our school had bigger things to worry about than silly rules.

 

[DebIreland]

Re: hair feathers. Below is a link to an example. Mine were a lot more subtle than these & my daughters were a little more bold than mine but not over the top IMO. I think it's silly to ban them but I personally think most hair-based school rules outside of a uniform school are silly.

Hair feathers

Are they easy to put in? My 7yo daughter would love these! But I'm not too great with doing hair - I'm a tomboy! How easy is it to get them in?

 

[pacrosby]

Its not about inconvenience, its about the fact that I don't have a problem with the no lunch rule. Do you expect people to fight your battles even though they feel they aren't worth fighting for. What a strange thing to expect from others. If you feel the cause is worthy then by all means excercise your right to change it but please don't expect me to help you when its not a cause I feel needs to be changed. Thats not inconvenience sweetie, some people just don't see it your way

First of all, this whole discussion isn't JUST about the lunch but for the sake of brevity I will use that example...


You don't have a problem with this rule because it doesn't "inconvenience you"...that's the point. "Your" kid will manage either because he will take food from his friends, borrow money from someone, or just go hungry for alittle while....and you, and he, are ok with that. That's fine but.....not everyone feels that way. You argument, over and over again is essentailly that because it doesn't inconvience you, it 'shouldn't' inconvenience anyone else. And to use your own words....some people don't see it your way.

And I said nothing about wanting other people to fight 'my battles (but of course this isn't really my battle since we can do drop offs LOL). I said it can be an exercise in futlity to try and fight a rule once it's in place when there aren't enough people to support the change. Given that 1)MOST people are just followers anyway and will do whatever the school says because they say it, and 2) many others won't bother to fight something, no matter how stupid they may think it is, unless it personally effects them....it'd be quite the uphill battle to try and fight such a rule. It would seem you have no idea what it takes to try and change any 'rule', stupid or not.


And please, do not call me sweetie

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Are they easy to put in? My 7yo daughter would love these! But I'm not too great with doing hair - I'm a tomboy! How easy is it to get them in?

The sellers will put them in for you. Some hair salons or kiosks in the mall. You can also buy the feathers and supplies online and do it yourself. I haven't done it but it looks very simple and I'll bet there are videos online to show you how.

 

[mjantz]

Are they easy to put in? My 7yo daughter would love these! But I'm not too great with doing hair - I'm a tomboy! How easy is it to get them in?

You need to have them put in at a salon. They're not hard to get put in but the feathers can be expensive. For DD and I it was $50 for both of us to get ours. That included the feathers & having them put in.

 

[DebIreland]

The sellers will put them in for you. Some hair salons or kiosks in the mall. You can also buy the feathers and supplies online and do it yourself. I haven't done it but it looks very simple and I'll bet there are videos online to show you how.

You need to have them put in at a salon. They're not hard to get put in but the feathers can be expensive. For DD and I it was $50 for both of us to get ours. That included the feathers & having them put in.

Thank you both! They're really lovely. I might treat her to this when she's a little older. Thanks again guys.

 

[aprilgail2]

You need to have them put in at a salon. They're not hard to get put in but the feathers can be expensive. For DD and I it was $50 for both of us to get ours. That included the feathers & having them put in.

Where my daughter got hers they are 16.00 a feather and she got 4 so it was 64.00. At least it comes with lifetime "maintenance". You just go back and they will take them out and move them where ever you want them moved to. If they fall out they put them back in for free. Hers fell out less than a day after getting it- we went back and they redid them and they haven't fallen out since and its about 3 months now.

 

[herdtoDisney]

While most of my kids' school rules are sensible and understandable, I did run afoul of one for my 6th grade girl already. In our city, that grade goes to its own school (just that one grade). In elem, my dd's wear shorts or skorts in warm weather and then leggings or tights under them for cooler weather, to extend their use.

Well, the rule is no short shorts which I thought meant, not leg exposure. So dd wore long pant/leggins with shorts, which I thought of as pants, as she was covered to her shoes. But I got a call...it was a misunderstanding on my part and of course I agreed with the school. It was just that I didn't realize the change in rule from elem to middle school. Oddly, she could have worn the leggins/pant by themselves. But we decided that the combo will be for weekend wear only.