PC Watch 2018

It's long past time that the hotbed of resistance to, well, everything, that is After Hours had an entire thread dedicated to the latest politically correct attempts at being "inclusive" - if only to free up all the other threads.

I think this is a worthy candidate for top prize today:BBC: School pencil cases banned to stop 'stigma'

A school has banned pencil cases in a bid to stop pupils from poor families being stigmatised.

St Wilfrid's Primary School in Blyth, Northumberland, said it had taken steps to get rid of any "designer goods".

Head teacher Pauline Johnstone said pencil cases have been banned "so there's no comparison on the tables and children are learning".

St Wilfrid's was among more than 100 schools in a project to stop poorer pupils being stigmatised.

After working with charity Children North East, the school has begun providing stationery and has cut down on the number of dress-up and fundraising days.

"There was a culture within the school, within pupils, that noticed those children who were never in on PE days for example," Ms Johnstone said.

"Part of our uniform policy is a standard backpack so we don't have any designer goods."

She said some parents complained about having to buy certain bags but enough time was left before the rule was fully enforced.

The Poverty Proofing the School Day project, led by Children North East, encouraged teachers to look at ways in which some pupils might be unwittingly excluded.

Schools said it has led to higher attendance and better results.

The charity also said "dress-up" days or conversations about "what we did at the weekend" can also penalise those from low-income backgrounds.

It said schools also found more discreet ways of distributing free school uniforms as parents and children were reluctant to approach them directly...

Also, staying on the school theme, the justification for this ban on teachers using red pens to mark homework is impressive: Teachers shouldn't use red coloured pens to mark homework 'because it's like shouting and upsets pupils'

OldMrBrennan83

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ceadaoin.

I don't know, I can kind of see the point. It must be hard for kids whose parents can't afford the latest fashionable school accessories or dress up outfits to be singled out like that. Im not in the UK but this year my daughter's school has had about 5 dress up and pyjama days, loads of class parties where everyone contributes money, field trips, fundraisers etc. It all adds up. I can see how hard that would be for low income parents. If all the kids are on a level playing field due to these measures, I don't see the problem.

The red pen thing though is bonkers

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Shame we already have a discussion on this.

SEPT 23 1989

I only learned from my mistakes