This school has banned pencil cases

[gasp] gillybob - no you may not say that!

Maybe there's a life lesson here for children - work hard at school, pass your exams, get a good job then you too can have a good standard of living.
JenniferEccles that is one thing that spurred me on when I was young - although some would say that was a materialistic attitude.

This is the Nanny State at it’s most ridiculous.

If these children can’t cope with others having a better/worse item at primary level. What happens when it all changes to, as it does in secondary school to anything goes?

Perhaps, as one poster suggested, having cheap but nice pencil cases for sale stamped with a school logo or similar would be a good idea; they could be subsidised by fundraising.
Those who bought one could be seen as supporting the school whereas those with posh Smiggle ones or similar would not be.

Agus it is being applied in some secondary schools as well and the pupils have welcomed it.
There's a lot of "it wasn't like that in my day" on here. I think people have short memories. Even the uniform in my grammar school had levels of poshness. You could tell the most expensive version, it was a slight shade darker, then there was the cheaper shop bought, and the poorest amongst us had hand knitted jumpers.
I suppose if what you want children to aspire to is who can buy the best tat it may spur some of them on. Personally I will stick with them pursuing their aims and dreams, and making the best of their skills and talents, which may, or may not, be financially rewarding.

I suppose if what you want children to aspire to is who can buy the best tat it may spur some of them on.
That wasn't what I meant at all when I said that it spurred me on trisher
It spurred me on to one day be able to have a car to take DP out and a telephone at my home and to be able to provide DP with a telephone so that we could keep in touch with them.

I suppose if what you want children to aspire to is who can buy the best tat it may spur some of them on. Personally I will stick with them pursuing their aims and dreams, and making the best of their skills and talents, which may, or may not, be financially rewarding.
I assume that is in reply to posts by JenniferEccles and me.
It's all very well pursuing dreams - that doesn't always pay the bills.

One persons “tat” is another persons treasure trisher . My DGD loves her stationary it is her little “thing” it’s not fair to call her special things “tat” ?

My DGC absolutely do pursue their dreams trisher and they are all extremely talented in their chosen sports, one is more talented than I would ever share on this forum for fear of being branded a brag .

I wouldn't call my house, my car, my phone tat.
That's what spurred me on.

I didn't just say "dreams" Jalima1108 I said "aims and dreams". They may choose to do something which is very worthy but doesn't pay a huge salary. The point is that their ambitions should not be purely financial but should reflect the fact that satisfaction can be found doing a job you enjoy, well.
Did I call your GD's things "tat" gillybob? I think you have chosen to interpret my post as saying that which must say something about how you really view your GD's possessions.

Pathetic and nasty trisher but hey ho !

I suppose if what you want children to aspire to is who can buy the best tat it may spur some of them on.

Did I call your GD’s things ”tat” gillybob ?

Well considering we were talking about pencil cases and the likes and I said my DGD loves her stationary etc.

Yes you kind of did trisher

You chose to read my post as such gillybob, but even so if you considered it personal I apologise.
Just one word of warning if as you say these are your DGD's "treasures" be carefull about sending them into school. I have so many times had to spend time after school searching for a lost "treasure", which shouldn't have been in school in the first place, but which has vanished somewhere in the classroom, corridor, hall or cloakroom never to be found. And had to hand a crying child a paper hankie, give a hug and reassure him/her that it might turn up or someone might hand it in (it rarely did).

You are splitting hairs trisher.

I'm sure you know perfectly well what I and others mean when we say children should be encouraged to work hard at school, get qualifications which would lead to a good job and a comfortable lifestyle. No-one is talking about buying 'tat', but a home, an interesting career and to be self supportive, earning money and not sponging off the state.

THAT is what I wanted for myself and my children.

They don't have to give up their dreams, whatever they may be, but it is good to have some qualifications too in case the dreams never come true.

I suppose mine were not 'dreams' - more mundane goals.

Re this rule being applied at secondary level beggars belief.

Both DDs had a Saturday job during final years at secondary and quite frankly it was no ones business what they pur hased with their own money.

DDs attended my old school which had a strict uniform policy but even that was relaxed in final years. We also had buy and sell secondhand uniform days at the end of term and no one batted an eyelid at buying of wearing what was needed.

We also had buy and sell secondhand uniform days at the end of term and no one batted an eyelid at buying of wearing what was needed.
and it was often the 'better-off' parents who were most eager to buy the second-hand uniform.
I remember helping at a sale once and someone bought my DD's old (but cared-for) uniform and then realising that she was an actress on the telly.

Bullying and teasing in schools is a real problem.
I certainly think that it’s down to parents to bring their children up not to bully others and not to value themselves on the logo of an item or clothing bought.
My 3 DD went to a secondary school in a leafy suburb but the bulling was rife? if your parents didn’t have “the right car” or you didn’t wear the latest branded coat or shoes and it was worse on mufti days? because then your whole outfit was judged and you were bullied for being “ a pov”? which my eldest DD assured me stood for poor person!

The whole point of the policy is to make children feel more equal at school, both primary and secondary. This “poverty proofing” resulted in less truancy, less bullying, better behaviour and better results.
Surely worth sacrificing a designer pencil case for.

I never gave cars much thought but when DS announced he was upgrading his car GD told him he could now take her to school

But what will they ban after the designer pencil case mostly harmless ?

There have always been and will always be bullies . Banning pencil cases will not stop that .

Very few children at my DGC’s primary ever taken by any car let alone a fancy one . My DGC are possibly one of a handful (when we can that is) .

Every week there seems to be another new phrase invented for us to get our heads around.

I see now it's 'poverty proofing' !!

I wonder who thought that one up?!!

I think schools should provide a level and equal playing field (not literally) as far as possible.
Nothing wrong at all with what people wear or have, out of school time, but it makes sense to me to limit what is bought to school.
"In my day" mums used to make our p.e kits out of an old curtain.
I think making the basics all the same is reasonable.

I do think the attitudes of some posting on here show how thinking about schools has changed and the things teachers now have to put up with. Once if a school banned something it was banned-end of-no questions asked. It was a school rule and you stuck to it. Now everyone questions and wants their child excused. At best it means there is debate which may be healthy, but at the worst it shows how teachers are no longer repected, and for some parents that means it is OK to harangue and even threaten them. I wonder if schools would be better places if parents stopped questioning every rule?