Saturday 11 September 2010

A Principled Principal




The headmaster of a school in Sutton, Surrey, sent home dozens of pupils on Thursday morning.

Headmaster of Bishopsfor Arts College, Andrew Barker, said parents had been reminded of the rules twice in recent weeks that their children had to adhere to the rules regarding school uniform, yet 160 arrived yesterday morning dressed incorrectly. About 30 of them were then sent home, after the school telephone their parents to ensure they could be looked after, while others were told to work separately to pupils who were dressed properly.

"The majority of students (pupils) are in lessons and getting on with learning. We are aiming to get it right from the start. It's a smart but reasonable level of dress so they can take pride in their learning and themselves."

He also stated that any who were missing uniform because of hardship or shop shortages were told to bring a letter from a parent the next day explaining the situation. One mother complained that changes in recent years were expensive to keep up and her daughter had not been warned of the inspection. It doesn't seem she wrote a letter of complaint.

I'm right behind the principal Mr Barker. He has run the school for the past five years and is respected for the way he has improved standards and grades at the school. Good for him and I hope he continues to enforce the school rules until every child understands the discipline of wearing the same as the other 649 on the school roll.

As an aside why is it called a college when it's a school and why does the Head call children students and not pupils? Part of the politically correct decade I presume.


18 comments:

Joe Public said...

"As an aside why is it called a college when it's a school and why does the Head call children students and not pupils?"

Could it be because the 'Head' has the title 'Principal' when he's actually a Manager?

subrosa said...

In the article he's actually called the 'headteacher' Joe.

I'm so confused these days. Headmaster/mistress seems to have disappeared. Rector hangs on here by a tack and Principal now only belongs to private schools.

You're possibly correct. He's a manager.

Unknown said...

Head of local Berwick County High School also acted re short short skirts but seems to have confused parents he was on a rape prevention scenario. Most comments were that he should be sacked but there is opposition. Some skirts were more of a pelmet!

Oldrightie said...

Short, inappropriate skirts are summed up by the old adage, "Give them an inch....". Good for this Head Teacher. More please.

Anonymous said...

As you might expect I disagree with you on this SR.

But it’s strange that I was thinking about writing a piece on school uniforms only yesterday so, I’ll do my piece later today and we can compare.

I think we need to do something about uniforms. But what.... I’m not sure.

Scotsfox said...

I usually agree with virtually everything you write about - but not this one. The rubbish talked about school uniform always amazes me. Schools use them to be able to claim to have a bullying policy (when they don't) and I fail to see what the benefits are other than to the manufacturers of the kit.

JuliaM said...

Isn't it sad that the first instinct of some of the parents was to whine and complain? I'm beginning to wonder why anyone would want to go into teaching - everyone involved in the business seems to be a child!

subrosa said...

What is wrong with parents these days John when they can't see the benefits of school uniform? I mean it costs so little compared with 50 years ago and compared with designer clothing.

subrosa said...

Ah OR it must be our age but I'd like to think it's our common sense.

subrosa said...

I don't expect everyone to agree Tris. Not unless they've seen the distress caused to a hard working single mother whose daughter attended a school where uniform wasn't compulsory. That woman landed herself in debt trying to ensure her daughter wore the same clothing as her peers. Another uniform of sorts, but a very expensive one.

Demetrius said...

At the Elementary School that I was privileged to attend I dare not put into type what the teachers called the pupils or the pupils called the teachers.

subrosa said...

Boorach, you don't see the benefits of all children looking equal? You'd rather see the children from well off families sporting designer clothing and poorer families getting into debt trying to keep up?

What happens when they go to work and have to wear any form of uniform? Even building society staff have informs. Will they say no I don't like them.

If a child can't learn to take a pride in their school by wearing the uniform then really all's lost.

subrosa said...

I'd hate to be in teaching these days Julia. I'm afraid I'm too outspoken and may tell some parents to grow up.

Any school with any pride in its pupils and achievements has uniform. It's the first lesson in equality for some and says money doesn't buy everything in this modern society.

Joe Public said...

Another issue, besides the uniformity, is the insistence that kids (& their parents) obey instructions.

Or suffer the consequences.

Dick Puddlecote said...

If personal responsibility in adults is desired, surely the idea of discipline must be instilled in children first. That's how I've always seen it anyway. Following a school's uniform policy isn't too much of an authoritarian ask, is it? If a kid can only express their individuality through their clothes, they have a bit of a problem.

And don't most schools allow the final year pupils/students to wear their own clothes both as a rite of passage into adulthood, and as privilege which has been earned?

I'm a libertarian, but I don't see anything wrong with a school uniform, TBH.

subrosa said...

That's what was called the norm in my day Demetrius. I'm sure it continues today although the PC lot will be listening.

subrosa said...

But Joe, in today's society some think consequences can be ignored, cured or solved by the state.

subrosa said...

Well said Dick. There's a bit of libertarian in me I hope (ok ok no laughter please), yet uniform allows all children to feel equal.

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