Mum blasts daughter's school over 'ridiculous' rule banning girls from PE

A mum has slammed a school for banning girls from PE and other activities if they have pierced ears - as she says the rules are 'ridiculous', and even some at the school agree with her

A mum has slammed her daughter's school over what she calls a 'dumb' rule regarding children with pierced ears. In a detailed post shared on Reddit, the frustrated parent explained the 'strict' rules set by the school.

It prohibits girls from participating in certain activities when they wear stud earrings, including not allowing them to join in PE or play with particular playground equipment. While acknowledging the safety concerns, the mum believes the policy is excessive for those "wearing small studs".

She said: "My daughter got her ears pierced at the start of the school holidays, and she did so knowing she would have to take them out for PE at school, and wouldn't be allowed to play with certain things at playtime due to the school rules.

"They can wear a single pair of small studs to school, but not for PE or if they want to play with any of the playground games at playtime. Last year they put a climbing frame in the playground and apparently when it was time to play on that, girls with pierced ears had to stay inside."

There seems to be a lack of consensus at the school regarding the enforcement of this rule. Some staff members, such as the dinner ladies, appear more flexible.

The mum added: "When she's been back this week, one of the dinner ladies asked if she wanted a go with the skipping ropes (remembering how much she loved doing it from the summer term) and my daughter said she couldn't now because she had her ears pierced so she was happy to watch. But the dinner lady said it didn't matter, and let her do it anyway. She proudly told me how she did 34 skips.

"I was a bit annoyed because I've spent all summer making sure she knew she wouldn't be able to, as per the school's rules, and then she was allowed anyway."

The mother also revealed that another student was barred from participating in a PE class due to her T-shirt having small frills on the sleeve. She continued: "I don't remember rules being this strict when I was at school. But, then again, the extent of my daily routine was badly blended Dream Matte Mousse foundation! Nothing like the false lashes, false nails etc. that teens wear today."

One user responded to her post saying: "The only thing that drives me mad is the 'You can't put sugary things in the lunch box' rule while also having chocolate brownie, cake and ice cream on the school dinner menu."

Another user chimed in: "I think if you set rules then they need to be enforced. However, I think that a great deal of thought needs to go in to developing the rules to make sure they are sensible and balance children's autonomy with their place in the school community/ someone who the school is legally responsible for while they are there."

A third warned: "At the most serious end I think it's too easy to sleep walk in to discrimination - an Afro being deemed distracting or unprofessional for example when it's literally the natural state of someone's hair."

While a fourth commented: "Mine are in primary and the rules are pretty reasonable. However, it drives me nuts when parents do the 'I'm going to break the rules and let the teacher enforce them, rather than upset my kid before school'."

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