We are all familiar with school dress codes. Don’t wear anything too sexy. No hats in school. No profanities on t-shirts. School officials at her daughters’ school do not want their students wearing name-brand shoes in the classroom. The new rule has gotten one mom, whose daughters have been wearing Vivienne Westwood shoes to school, hot under the collar.
New School Rules
Kelly, who was identified by her first name only, called Yorkshire’s Wolfreton School’s new rule “ridiculous”. She has always sent her daughter and stepdaughter, who are in 6th and 10th grade equivalents, to school wearing Vivienne Westwood Melissa flats which retail for over $100. But when they showed up in the shoes for the new school year, they were threatened with detention.
“It is just ridiculous- the Vivienne Westwood shoes are just plain black shoes, they’re comfortable and they’re good quality so they last a long time,” said Kelly.
“I know schools want kids to dress smartly, but I would consider these shoes smart.”
She also mentioned that her son goes to a school with the same rule in place. She is forced to spend more money replacing his sneakers every few months.
Other Branded Items Allowed
The outraged mom pointed out that the school does not allow name-brand shoes. But designer coats and bags are okay.
“Why does my daughter in branded shoes but a Primark bag and coat deserve to be punished, but other kids can walk around with designer bags and coats but unbranded shoes? It’s hypocritical,” she said.
Waste of Time
The school has spent time inspecting kids’ uniforms. They also scheduled an assembly to remind students of the new dress code rules.
“(It was) a huge waste of learning time,” the mother told the press.
She feels the school would be better off focusing on “bullying, smoking, and trouble-causing” than name-brand shoes.
Children Shouldn’t Be Punished for Parent’s Actions
Kelly also stated that kids shouldn’t be punished if their parents cannot buy them different shoes right away.
“I have told my children not to go to detention, and I am happy to be pulled into meetings because I won’t be buying them new shoes,” she said.
The School’s Response
Wolfreton said it gave parents plenty of time to get ready for the new school year and up to date on dress codes.
They said they warned parents about the new rules in July “before the summer holidays” and there was “clear communication of our expectations with regards to uniform for September.”
“We always encourage any parents with specific concerns to get in touch with the school directly, so that we can work in partnership to resolve any issues.”
But Kelly defended her stance saying, “It’s a huge waste of learning time. I’m not sure how which brand of shoes you wear affects your ability to learn.”