Teaching union calls for skirt ban explanation

Teaching union calls for skirt ban explanation

Earlier this month the National Education Union openly criticised the uniform policy adopted by three States schools – Hautlieu, Grainville and Haute Vallée – due to the fact they have removed skirts from their dress code.

The union believes that girls should have the right to wear clothes that are worn routinely in wider society.

A States spokeswoman said at the time that Grainville school introduced its ban because they had an ‘active curriculum’ and trousers were more ‘comfortable and practical’ for students.

And Nick Falle, the headmaster of Hautlieu School, has now said that ‘social pressure’ on girls to wear skirts was a factor in their decision.

‘The uniform for students changed a few years ago for all students in Years 10 and 11 to wear trousers as part of a suit,’ he said.

‘Suits were a popular choice for students in this age group at that time. We also felt that skirts were not always practical and that there was some social pressure to wear skirts, even though trousers were also an option.

‘This is something that some students discussed with us. We naturally review all school processes on an ongoing basis. We will continue to keep reviewing our practice, working with students and parents in the new academic year.’

Haute Vallée has not provided an explanation for its skirt ban.

Brendan Carolan, the NEU’s Jersey president, said that he believed that none of the schools were providing an honest explanation about why they have adopted the policy, however.

‘The “social pressure” to wear skirts from Hautlieu and an “active curriculum” from Grainville both represent very lame reasons,’ he said.

‘Where is the evidence of social pressure? Isn’t part of a school’s role to help students cope with social pressures and often have the strength to ignore them and act contrary to them?

‘If girls have obesity or body image issues, evidence suggest they actually feel happier in dresses and skirts, as finding appropriately fitted and well cut trousers is sometimes very difficult.

‘Just ask the female police officers to comment on the problem they find with standard-issue uniform trousers that are not tailored well for the female shape.’

He added: ‘The active curriculum and practical issues are also nonsense. Do all the other schools that allow skirts have inactive and non-practical curriculums?’

Mr Carolan said, however, that he did broadly agree with the view of Education Minister Tracey Vallois that pupils should have some input into what uniform they wear.

Reasons which have been cited by commentators for the skirt bans in schools have included teachers struggling to deal with inappropriately dressed or behaving students, concerns over how to accommodate transgender pupils and the prevention of the growing trend of up-skirting – the taking of photographs up girls’ skirts.

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