Unreasonable school rules

muddypaws

lazygal wrote: »

Did anyone's parents ever challenge the rules? Mine did, and I admire them for it. I can't imagine letting my child have to suffer because of some I'll conceived rule that makes no sense.

Yes I did for my son. There was no canteen or any provision for food in the school, not even a room for them to sit in and eat sandwiches. Pupils who lived in the town (very, very small town) or who had relatives that did, were allowed out at lunchtime, presumably to go home, but most would go to Gala or Centra for food, as you wouldn't have time in the 30 minute lunch break to walk home, eat lunch and walk back. We lived about 3 miles from the school, no relatives in the town, but I wrote a letter, saying that I gave permission for him to go out at lunchtime and get something hot to eat. If no pupils had been allowed out at lunchtime, then fair enough, but I felt it was wrong for some to be allowed out, with the school knowing they weren't going home, but others not to be allowed. The school refused to let my son out, even with my permission. They were allowed out once they got to senior cycle, but then, when he got to that age, they said it was only the last year that they were actually allowed out. :rolleyes:

I would give him money for his lunch, and if the school phoned me to say he'd been caught out of school, would tell them that he had my permission to be out, they would say he wasn't allowed, I would say he was, and it just went on.

Ave Sodalis

lazygal wrote: »

Did anyone's parents ever challenge the rules? Mine did, and I admire them for it. I can't imagine letting my child have to suffer because of some I'll conceived rule that makes no sense.

Yup, when Mum was in school, girls weren't allowed to do Metalwork. My mother wanted to do Metalwork so staged a protest in the middle of the main part of the school. She was the first of the girls to do Metalwork in the school

In our primary school, we weren't allowed to run either. Fair enough, some might think, the risk of a kid falling and all that. However, there was not only an entire double football pitch, but also a grass area the size of another football pitch at the front of the school. Students aren't allowed on either of them, except the pitches during sports day. There was also a lot of rules brought into that school because of our class. First, it was no group games (we used to play bulldog but one person told the teacher they weren't allowed to join, even though they were), then it was no lollipops, then it was no crisps, then it was staying in seats during break times inside (one lad threw a stone through the staffroom door window), and there was a whole host of other rules that I can't remember that were brought in because of us. School was run like military training (bar the exercise).

Secondary school wasn't too bad. They went nuts with the school jacket and shoes enforcement during my second year. New principle. Junior cycle years weren't allowed the 100m to the nearest shop. We didn't have anything about doors though...

The_Valeyard

muddypaws wrote: »

Yes I did for my son. There was no canteen or any provision for food in the school, not even a room for them to sit in and eat sandwiches. Pupils who lived in the town (very, very small town) or who had relatives that did, were allowed out at lunchtime, presumably to go home, but most would go to Gala or Centra for food, as you wouldn't have time in the 30 minute lunch break to walk home, eat lunch and walk back. We lived about 3 miles from the school, no relatives in the town, but I wrote a letter, saying that I gave permission for him to go out at lunchtime and get something hot to eat. If no pupils had been allowed out at lunchtime, then fair enough, but I felt it was wrong for some to be allowed out, with the school knowing they weren't going home, but others not to be allowed. The school refused to let my son out, even with my permission. They were allowed out once they got to senior cycle, but then, when he got to that age, they said it was only the last year that they were actually allowed out. :rolleyes:

I would give him money for his lunch, and if the school phoned me to say he'd been caught out of school, would tell them that he had my permission to be out, they would say he wasn't allowed, I would say he was, and it just went on.

You rebel :rolleyes: if something happened to your son I'm sure all of a sudden it would be the schools fault.

Polka_Dot

Nothing unreasonable really. They introduced a one way system in my old secondary school just before we left, trialing it out before the next year I suppose. It was pretty inconvenient as a lot of classrooms were between floors so you'd have to go a really roundabout way to get to certain classes. Most of the teachers didn't even like it. A friend of mine was leaving school late one day after finishing up some after school activity and got given out to for going the wrong way in the one way system even though it was about 6pm and nobody was around. Probably would have annoyed me more if it had been properly in place at the time.

They were pretty strict on uniform, black shoes, school jacket, etc. There was a specific school scarf but I got away with not wearing it as I'm allergic to wool. That one wasn't too strictly enforced though.

The Adversary

Interesting thread.

The only ones I can think of were individual teachers with OCD pushing it onto everyone with ridiculous rules.

Worksheets in red folder, essays in blue folder. No writing in black pen only blue, headings have to be in red ink or they would refuse to correct them or dock you marks and so on.

One lad forced everyone to write the date the american way for some reason. I'm an incredibly messy individual and people fussing and nitpicking over minor details annoys me to no end. Constantly getting picked up on it.

Chattastrophe!

muddypaws wrote: »

Yes I did for my son. There was no canteen or any provision for food in the school, not even a room for them to sit in and eat sandwiches. Pupils who lived in the town (very, very small town) or who had relatives that did, were allowed out at lunchtime, presumably to go home, but most would go to Gala or Centra for food, as you wouldn't have time in the 30 minute lunch break to walk home, eat lunch and walk back. We lived about 3 miles from the school, no relatives in the town, but I wrote a letter, saying that I gave permission for him to go out at lunchtime and get something hot to eat. If no pupils had been allowed out at lunchtime, then fair enough, but I felt it was wrong for some to be allowed out, with the school knowing they weren't going home, but others not to be allowed. The school refused to let my son out, even with my permission. They were allowed out once they got to senior cycle, but then, when he got to that age, they said it was only the last year that they were actually allowed out. :rolleyes:

I would give him money for his lunch, and if the school phoned me to say he'd been caught out of school, would tell them that he had my permission to be out, they would say he wasn't allowed, I would say he was, and it just went on.

Would you not just have bought stuff for him to make a packed lunch for himself every day? I'm sure the deli food would be grand as an occasional treat, but I can't imagine allowing a kid to eat that stuff on a regular basis! Besides, it must have cost a fortune!

liz lemoncello

miss no stars wrote: »

..... I guess you could say I was marked from early on and was always watched. If I was starting to limp there was usually a year head or vice principal who'd appear and remind me of the school rules ....

You poor thing. That sounds really nasty.

cloud493

Chattastrophe! wrote: »

Would you not just have bought stuff for him to make a packed lunch for himself every day? I'm sure the deli food would be grand as an occasional treat, but I can't imagine allowing a kid to eat that stuff on a regular basis! Besides, it must have cost a fortune!

Lot of kids do that though, least round here. The queues outside the chippy and the spar and the sandwich shop at school lunchtime is ridiculous.

Mickey H

Buona Fortuna wrote: »

The main corridor ran past the posh front entrance. There was a foyer there with all the awards and cups, the school charter and motto (from 1552) in a display case.

Only masters and sixth formers were allowed to use it. Everyone else had to walk the long way round the whole school.

Anyone caught got a good dose of "never did me any harm".

Did the also practise Fagging in your school?

suicide_circus

We were banned from jocking eachother in the queue for the canteen.

pajor

The Singing Beard wrote: »

In my school, the front door was for staff and visitors only, if a teacher caught you going in this door, you had to go back out the front door, around the school and in the back or side door.

Wearing any coats other than the €80 school coat was forbidden. If you were even seen by staff on the way to school with it on, they'd find you and take it from you. If if was a cold day, tough.

Had both of these rules in my school, never understood it. :mad:

Especially the coats, which were so uncomfortable. And smelled awful in the rain.

nala_rinaldo

all of them school rules are pretty pointless. i’m not good at following rules. because they are usually for someone. that’s why they are pointless. and what annoyed me no teacher cared about and if they did they didn’t achieve anything about it. teachers go to school for money so they don’t really care about students.
and i think those schools where only men or only women go to are really fascist. that’s why there are so many gays in europe.

Chattastrophe!

nala_rinaldo wrote: »

all of them school rules are pretty pointless. i’m not good at following rules. because they are usually for someone. that’s why they are pointless. and what annoyed me no teacher cared about and if they did they didn’t achieve anything about it. teachers go to school for money so they don’t really care about students.
and i think those schools where only men or only women go to are really fascist. that’s why there are so many gays in europe.

wat

CrazyRabbit

An ex-friend has a son whose primary school forbids all physical contact between students. I guess it's to stop them from sexually assaulting and raping each other. Can't trust those damn 8 year olds!

Cienciano

I was in a CBS, we had a no long hair rule but the standard answer that the brothers hated was "but jesus had long hair".

lazygal wrote: »

Did anyone's parents ever challenge the rules? Mine did, and I admire them for it. I can't imagine letting my child have to suffer because of some I'll conceived rule that makes no sense.

The thing is, most of the rules aren't actually that unreasonable. The non perscription drug one is the only one worth challenging over imho. Maybe being late if it's not your fault.

From reading on reddit, the standard rule in America that seems crazy is if someone starts a fight you have to stand there and take it or else you're equally responsible and will get punished the same

YellowFeather

Chattastrophe! wrote: »

When tamagatchis were in fashion, one particular teacher used to love confiscating them and feeding them just enough to keep them alive, but sick and hungry and unhappy. Funny looking back, but kind of sadistic too!

I'm sorry, but that's actually fcuking hilarious. :pac: What. Would they show you your half dead pet every now and again to keep you in line??

freshpopcorn

Chattastrophe! wrote: »

Would you not just have bought stuff for him to make a packed lunch for himself every day? I'm sure the deli food would be grand as an occasional treat, but I can't imagine allowing a kid to eat that stuff on a regular basis! Besides, it must have cost a fortune!

Where I went to secondary school. The C.B.S, the Convent and the tech all went down to the local deli counters for lunch. There was only a few odd balls that brought mammy's packed lunch and they tended to be the most unhealthy!

Chattastrophe!

YellowFeather wrote: »

I'm sorry, but that's actually fcuking hilarious. :pac: What. Would they show you your half dead pet every now and again to keep you in line??

Worse. He had a glass cabinet in the classroom full of dead/dying tamagatchis. I guess it was meant to serve as a warning to the rest of us! It was like a matter of pride to him, how long he could keep them just-about-alive. It was hilarious alright, but slightly messed up!

Un Croissant

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Where I went to secondary school. The C.B.S, the Convent and the tech all went down to the local deli counters for lunch. There was only a few odd balls that brought mammy's packed lunch and they tended to be the most unhealthy!

Coming from someone who ate out every lunch in secondary, I can't see how the home lunches were worse. Unless mammy was soaking the sandwiches in her píss overnight and sent you off with a bottle of vinegar to drink.

Schwiiing

I have a theory that schools aren't only to educate but to produce nice obedient little citizens who are too scared to question authority and the bull**** ideas and actions of those in authority.

The Singing Beard

Even the over18's needed a note to excuse any absences from school or to leave early or arrive late.

jimgoose

Chattastrophe! wrote: »

Worse. He had a glass cabinet in the classroom full of dead/dying tamagatchis. I guess it was meant to serve as a warning to the rest of us! It was like a matter of pride to him, how long he could keep them just-about-alive. It was hilarious alright, but slightly messed up!

You know those things are computer programs, right??

languagenerd

We weren't allowed wear the school tracksuit into school. Even if PE was your first class at 8:45am, you'd have get up in the morning, put on your uniform to walk into the building and get changed in your classroom before school. It made absolutely no sense to have to get dressed twice in the space of an hour...

We also had to buy either a school coat/fleece and the school scarf, no others coats and scarves allowed - but you weren't allowed wear them inside the building. Even in winter, when it was freezing, you weren't allowed have the crested school fleece or the school scarf on over your jumper.

They actually had uniform police sitting at the door to check you out as you walked in and give you demerits/detention for transgressions. Never understood why it mattered so much!

BeerWolf

Getting detentions that were held on SATURDAY... bah!

BeatNikDub

You weren't allowed wear more than one ring.
Girls shoes could be no more than one inch high.

Girls were frequently lined up and shoes were checked, all jewelry and your face too for any make up.

UGH

rainbow kirby

Worst one was that my school used to try and force as many girls for whom English was a second language into LCA - without telling them that it would make it pretty much impossible for them to get into college. I know one girl (a Rwandan-born refugee) ended up doing the established Leaving Cert at 21 while working to get into nursing as a result of this.

KungPao

If we were 1 minute late, our Gestapo principal would stop us all, make us queue up outside for up to 15 minutes, to interrogate us and stamp our journals with what they called a "yellow card"...basically a very bad note that is recorded our "file" and must be signed by tutor/year head.

So, because I stopped to tie my shoe laces or some other ****, and thus I am 1 minute late, you are making me be 15+ minutes late for my class. Nice plan, dip****.

FortuneChip

jimgoose wrote: »

You know those things are computer programs, right??

We all know that now!!!
But back then?

Although I don't know what I'm saying. My tamagatchis were usually unhappy after I tried to give them a sip of a water bottle in ass.

The Singing Beard

rainbow kirby wrote: »

Worst one was that my school used to try and force as many girls for whom English was a second language into LCA - without telling them that it would make it pretty much impossible for them to get into college. I know one girl (a Rwandan-born refugee) ended up doing the established Leaving Cert at 21 while working to get into nursing as a result of this.

Simply scum.

That poor lady.

SEPT 23 1989

No smoking pipes in the classroom