Let them wear pants
IT was easy for readers to get their trousers in a twist over the idea young women attending Invercargill’s James Hargest College had to see a guidance counsellor if they wanted to break out of the traditional female uniform.
Granted, it does sound ridiculous. Why would anyone think that wanting to wear shorts rather than the official girls’ uniform meant any pupil would require counselling?
What century are we in, some people asked, when girls wanting to wear shorts or trousers to school can create such a stir?
Older women readers might have taken a brief walk down memory lane, perhaps recalling the uniform hemmeasuring days of the miniskirt era when schools tried to tamp down any rebellion by insisting hems could not be more than two and ahalf inches (6.35cm) above the ground when kneeling. Some might remember bloomer inspections, required to ensure they were of the apple-catching variety, the correct colour and not remotely sexy. These young ‘uns don’t know they are born, not having to wear hats and gloves with their uniform or cope with the discomfort of stockings and suspenders, they might say. It would be best not to get those old pupils started on having to wear rompers for PE.
The situation at James Hargest was not as silly as it seemed. The existing rules do not allow girls to wear shorts or trousers, but the issue of a genderneutral uniform is before the board of trustees and is expected to get the green light and be introduced by the end of the school year.
Until that happens, if girls want to wear the boys’ shorts, they are allowed to, although it seems they must seek permission for this since it is contrary to the current uniform policy.
Only a few girls are interested in wearing the shorts at this time, apparently, but one of those who did get permission attracted some negative attention from other pupils. School principal Andy Wood has been quoted as saying it was quite hurtful and ‘‘it surprised us, so we thought, nah, we have to look after people and make sure that they’re prepared for that possibility’’.
The idea was that the guidance counsellor touch base with the girls wanting to wear shorts and keep in contact with them so if they did strike issues with other pupils then that could be dealt with.
“The whole thing isn’t about whether girls should wear shorts or not; it’s about looking after girls who say they want to be different from what the current rules are, and supporting them until the official rules change,” Mr Wood told the Spinoff website.
It seems odd that many schools are taking so long to allow girls to wear trousers or shorts or indeed for boys to wear skirts or kilts.
Last year, we reported on St Francis Xavier School pupil Kayleigh Dryden (7) who gained permission to wear shorts in summer after writing to the school board of trustees. A few years ago, Dunedin North Intermediate made the headlines when it agreed pupils could choose their uniform, regardless of gender.
What is also surprising is that many junior secondary school boy pupils remain saddled with the ignominy of wearing shorts with long woollen socks, something none of them would choose to do in civilian life.
It is distressing that those formative experiences clearly scar some men for life, making them cling to that fashion crime, walk shorts (as opposed to shorts you cannot walk in) with long socks, in their later years. Maybe it is time the boys rebelled too.