Mum slams 'dumb' school rule banning girls from playing with skipping ropes

A mum has sparked a debate about school rules after sharing how her daughter isn't allowed to play with skipping ropes at breaktime when wearing earrings - and she isn't the only one who thinks the rule is 'dumb'

A mum has hit out after hearing the 'dumb' rule at her daughter's school for girls with their ears pierced. She explained how the school has implemented 'strict' rules regarding piercings - and has banned girls from partaking in certain activities when wearing stud earrings.

While she understands the safety aspect, she believes the school has taken things one step too far considering they're only "wearing small studs". She said on Reddit: "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." She says not everyone at the school agrees with this rule, as some dinner ladies have been more lenient with it.

School uniform rules
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She 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." However, it's not only earrings the school has a problem with, as the mum shared how another young girl wasn't allowed to take part in a PE class because her T-shirt had small frills on the sleeve.

She added: "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."

Commenting on her post, one user said: "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 added: "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.

"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." A third user said: "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'."