Uniform school shoes.

[kengillard]

What you think about this?   My  granddaughter's leather school shoes fell to bits from walking home in the rain.   Mum bought her a cheap pair of black canvas ones  which was all she could afford that week.

Now here's the whinge I have.   The school made her take them off, walk around bare foot and walk home from school with no shoes on!!:-(X-(

Does this constitute child abuse??  Psychological I mean.

[kengillard]

by the way...she now has a pair of sturdy, leather upper and sole etc. lace up black school shoes...unfortunately I think they're a bit big.........:^O  however, nothing a pair of inner soles wont fix....hope she doesn't get blisters!

[**meep**]

Well then, no case of psychological child abuse as far as having to walk home with no shoes.  That's good to know.  I would still be interested to know what she was required to do during school hours with no shoes.   If she wasn't allowed to participate in 'risky' activities, that's not so bad I guess.

[shepherdsrule]

It is disgusting - a parent couldn't afford the correct shoes, the child is humiliated, the school has a lot to answer for IMO. Perhaps the mother should do what my wife did once, go to the school and explain she is more than happy to outfit her daughter in the correct shoes, and when should she expect to see the money she needs to do that from the school coffer's as she sure as hell doesn't have it.

[katydidthat]

Gillie, I absolutely respect your right (and your DD's right) to do nothing ... but, I would imagine that the school's management would be (rightly) appalled at what happened.  

I sent in a big complaint to my son's old school ... and had it seriously considered and resolved at a senior level.  

Like every organisation, there are bad apples ... sometimes they need to be exposed for the good of all. 

[kengillard]

you're probably right Katy.  This is a very well respected Highschool with people trying to get into the 'catchment' area. Could have something to do with it?  A bit of arrogance maybe?

[twinkles**stars]

if the parent had supplied the girl with a note explaining the reason for such foot wear there would have been no problem.....she would have been issued a uniform pass

[cherples]

Sounds like a pile of BS to me. I'd be calling the school for their version of the story before rushing off to seek legal advice or contacting ACA based on the testimonial of a 14yo girl.

Me too.

[kengillard]

pfft

[lady*em]

Why wouldn't any parent put in a formal complaint to the school about such a glaring breach of OHS?  Why would bringing the school to task for the humiliation as well as the compromise to the safety of the student, have any effect whatsoever on the way the child is treated in future?

Of course the mother should be front and centre in the Principal's office tomorrow, along with the offending teacher and the student, and demand a reasonable explanation.  At that time, a formal letter asking for an explanation for their actions should be handed to the Principal.  A cc of this letter needs to be forwarded to the Education dept. 

You do have the right to do that you know.  Parents must advocate for their child.  If this story is correct, then an apology is merited to the child, then an explanation as to why this action was taken should be provided, preferably in writing.  Then further explanation provided by the Education dept.

Of course, should the child have not had correct uniform for a legitimate reason, then a simple letter to the school explaining the circumstances, along with a timeframe for rectification, would surely have prevented this entire thing. 

[kengillard]

mother has called the teacher involved... and she confirmed that the shoes were confiscated during school hours.   .............Please read the whole thread?