Too old to wear knee socks to school?

[Experienced mother]

This is getting too complicated. Keep girls in white socks until they leave school. Kathryn

Well said Kathryn. It would make life a lot simpler for everyone especially the parents. Enforce white socks and the same uniform for all girls including sixth formers. When they are still at school they are schoolgirls and should wear schoolgirl uniform and not look like young adults. Its particularly ridiculous allowing girls of 12, 13 or 14 to wear tights when they are still children.

[kathryn17]

This is getting too complicated. Keep girls in white socks until they leave school. Kathryn

Well said Kathryn. It would make life a lot simpler for everyone especially the parents. Enforce white socks and the same uniform for all girls including sixth formers. When they are still at school they are schoolgirls and should wear schoolgirl uniform and not look like young adults. Its particularly ridiculous allowing girls of 12, 13 or 14 to wear tights when they are still children.

I did not just mean when in school uniform.

[Experienced Mother]

This is getting too complicated. Keep girls in white socks until they leave school. Kathryn

Well said Kathryn. It would make life a lot simpler for everyone especially the parents. Enforce white socks and the same uniform for all girls including sixth formers. When they are still at school they are schoolgirls and should wear schoolgirl uniform and not look like young adults. Its particularly ridiculous allowing girls of 12, 13 or 14 to wear tights when they are still children.

I did not just mean when in school uniform.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. Personally I would like to see girls remain in white socks both in and out of school and perhaps if they had to wear white socks for school it would be easier for parents to impose them at all other times. Mind you this would mean that if a girl leaves school at 16 she then is allowed to wear tights but a girl of 19 who is still at school stays in socks. Could there be a general rule that ALL girls had to wear white socks until they were 18 or 19?

When I worked in an insurance office in the 1970s there were two girls working as office juniors who came to work every day in white knee socks and flat heeled strap shoes until they were 18. They had both left school at 16 but their parents made them wear socks until 18. The company did not allow women to wear trousers but that is another story.

[1970s Kid]

Experienced mother wrote

When I worked in an insurance office in the 1970s there were two girls working as office juniors who came to work every day in white knee socks and flat heeled strap shoes until they were 18. They had both left school at 16 but their parents made them wear socks until 18. The company did not allow women to wear trousers but that is another story

.

In the early 1970’s you didn’t have the Sex Discrimination or Equal Pay Acts so these two office juniors were probably on very little money, and would have likely had to hand over a significant amount of their earnings to their parents for board.

Were there other officer juniors under the age of 18 who could wear tights, and how did these two girls feel about having to wear socks? Do you think colleagues treated them differently because they were wearing socks? From my memories of the 1970’s it was quite common for young girls to wear shorter skirts than their mothers, and grown ups in general. How did their clothes compare to everyone else in the office? And finally when the older of the two girls turned 18, how long did the younger girl have to wait before she turned 18?

The parent’s must have been concerned that as their daughters were in an adult environment they would try grown up things like going to the pub, smoking or even getting into a relationship before they felt they were ready. How times have changed!

[Experienced Mother]

In the early 1970’s you didn’t have the Sex Discrimination or Equal Pay Acts so these two office juniors were probably on very little money, and would have likely had to hand over a significant amount of their earnings to their parents for board.

Were there other officer juniors under the age of 18 who could wear tights, and how did these two girls feel about having to wear socks? Do you think colleagues treated them differently because they were wearing socks? From my memories of the 1970’s it was quite common for young girls to wear shorter skirts than their mothers, and grown ups in general. How did their clothes compare to everyone else in the office? And finally when the older of the two girls turned 18, how long did the younger girl have to wait before she turned 18?

The parent’s must have been concerned that as their daughters were in an adult environment they would try grown up things like going to the pub, smoking or even getting into a relationship before they felt they were ready. How times have changed!

I don’t know what the girls earned but it was likely a pittance and after paying their parents for housekeeping there would have been very little money left for clothes. They both always wore knee length dresses and skirts and granny-type blouses which seemed very conservative and old fashioned in the 1970s when nearly all young girls wore short mini skirts and skimpy tops. I suspect that their parents bought their clothes and the girls had no choice in the matter. I heard from a colleague that neither girl was allowed makeup and they certainly never wore any. They looked younger than their years and neither could have been served in a pub or been able to buy cigarettes which maybe were two of the reasons their parents dressed them this way. They both had to go straight home after work and were not allowed to stay out.

Interestingly there were two other female office juniors of a similar age who wore tights, high heels and make up and looked much older. This could not have gone unnoticed by the two girls in white knee socks who were never teased (we were all far too polite) but we ladies would often comment, sympathetically, on their appearance behind their backs. The older girl had to wait until she was almost 19 before she was allowed tights while her colleague who was six months younger was allowed them on her 18th birthday so the older one remained in white socks for about four months longer which must have added to her discomfiture.

I have of other cases where girls in their late teens were kept in white socks by their parents even though they were working.

[The Colonel]

As I've asked before, does it really matter?

Surely it is easier to let them wear what they want?

Any school that is that bothered, rather than concentrating on educating is evidently not a great school.

Can someone please answer - since as a father of boys (so far at least) I don't understand what the fuss is about? Can someone explain?

[1970s Kid]

The Colonel wrote

As I've asked before, does it really matter?

Surely it is easier to let them wear what they want?

Any school that is that bothered, rather than concentrating on educating is evidently not a great school.

Can someone please answer - since as a father of boys (so far at least) I don't understand what the fuss is about? Can someone explain?

The Colonel, what the post is about is a minority of parents who want to impose a particular standard of dress on their daughters, namely white socks, which have juvenile associations. As a father would you want to make your sons, particularly if they were teenagers, to wear short trousers in an environment where all their peers are in long trousers? How do you think your sons would react to such treatment and how would they be perceived by others? The originator of this thread expressed concerns about a girl who was made to wear socks, and various posters have put in their advice and thoughts on the matter. It might sound unimportant but there are probably many girls and women whose teenage years have been blighted by parents have made their daughters wear white socks.

Just think what damage could be done to a girl’s self confidence if she finds she is the only one, or one of a few, who are made look different and be dressed like a young child. The two office juniors mentioned by Experienced Mother must have gone through hell, and I would not be surprised if they struggled to progress their careers with the Insurance Company, in comparison to their tights wearing co-workers. Hopefully these two young women, who must now be approaching retirement age, have had fulfilling careers and marriages. Such treatment on children and young people can leave a lifetime impression. That is why this thread is not trivial

[The Colonel]

The Colonel wrote

As I've asked before, does it really matter?

Surely it is easier to let them wear what they want?

Any school that is that bothered, rather than concentrating on educating is evidently not a great school.

Can someone please answer - since as a father of boys (so far at least) I don't understand what the fuss is about? Can someone explain?

The Colonel, what the post is about is a minority of parents who want to impose a particular standard of dress on their daughters, namely white socks, which have juvenile associations. As a father would you want to make your sons, particularly if they were teenagers, to wear short trousers in an environment where all their peers are in long trousers? How do you think your sons would react to such treatment and how would they be perceived by others? The originator of this thread expressed concerns about a girl who was made to wear socks, and various posters have put in their advice and thoughts on the matter. It might sound unimportant but there are probably many girls and women whose teenage years have been blighted by parents have made their daughters wear white socks.

Just think what damage could be done to a girl’s self confidence if she finds she is the only one, or one of a few, who are made look different and be dressed like a young child. The two office juniors mentioned by Experienced Mother must have gone through hell, and I would not be surprised if they struggled to progress their careers with the Insurance Company, in comparison to their tights wearing co-workers. Hopefully these two young women, who must now be approaching retirement age, have had fulfilling careers and marriages. Such treatment on children and young people can leave a lifetime impression. That is why this thread is not trivial

I did not say the topic was trival. I did say: why not let them wear what they want?

I do believe this to be the best option. There is no way that my teenage sons would wear shorts to school ever - even if I wanted them too! The exception of that is my 6 year old who does to primary school, but he is little.

My two eldest sons (18 and 16) have/do wear the wrong colour socks to school on a regular basis - if not the vast majority of the time. I don't see it is a big issue, I don't see any reason to compel them to do otherwise, and I think it is petty.

Let the kids wear what they want. That is what I say. Schools are far too regulated and I think it is much better for kids to be comfortable with what they are wearing and who they are as an individual.

[Experienced Mother]

I think it would be an exaggeration to say that the two teenage girls in my office went through hell having to wear white knee socks until they were 18. They may have felt a little self conscious but they were never teased and most of us felt slightly sorry for them having to still wear socks instead of more grown up tights. I don’t think it left them damaged and remember that this was the 1970s when it was more common to see teenage girls in white socks than it is now.

I agree with 1970s Kid that it is an important issue especially for the girl who has to remain in white socks after all her classmates and friends have gone into tights. But I also believe that parents have a right to decide how their children should dress both for school (subject to the uniform regulations) and elsewhere. A good parent will always consider the feelings of their offspring but ultimately it is for the parent to decide. Personally I don’t feel 14, 15 or even 16 is too old to wear white socks despite the freedom of dress than young people have these days compared to thirty or forty years ago. If I were bringing up children again I would be tempted to apply this rule.

[another opinion]

I have been following this thread for some time and would like to add my thoughts.

I am married and have 2 daughters 13 and 9. They both wear knee socks to school. Although they have the option to wear tights I have never purchased school tights for them and they haven't asked to wear them. I will continue to buy knee socks up to the age of 16.

They are rather immature for their age and in a way I prefer this. I want them to enjoy their childhood without the pressures of teenage fashion. As they have little interest in clothes I usually choose their clothes, although most of the time they rotate from wearing jodphurs or ballet costumes.

I see a few people see this as a silly matter, but I disagree. Both my husband and I want to keep them away from the fashions and pressures that many teenage girls are subject to. When you see girls in knee socks they can be identifed as young girls not young women.

I know everyone is different but I see no reason why parents can't dress their children in clothes that are more suited to their age.

Abi

[1970s Kid]

Experienced Mother, what I find surprising about these two Office Juniors is would it have not been that difficult to have changed into tights on the way to work, or even go bare legged (no socks or tights)? Surely their parents would have been none the wiser?

[Experienced Mother]

Experienced Mother, what I find surprising about these two Office Juniors is would it have not been that difficult to have changed into tights on the way to work, or even go bare legged (no socks or tights)? Surely their parents would have been none the wiser?

Well maybe the fact that neither girl did so is evidence that they did not find wearing white knee socks for work that much of a burden. Conversely, one could construe from this that both girls were so much under the control of their parents that they would not have dared disobey them in this way as maybe the parents would have found out. I don't know. I certainly never suggested such a course of action to either girl and I am not aware that any of my colleagues did so. It would have been seen as interfering with parental authority and therefore unacceptable. It was not for us to encourage the girls to be deliberately disobedient and if I had been one of their parents I would have rightly been extremely angry if this had occurred.

[Experienced Mother]

I have been following this thread for some time and would like to add my thoughts.

I am married and have 2 daughters 13 and 9. They both wear knee socks to school. Although they have the option to wear tights I have never purchased school tights for them and they haven't asked to wear them. I will continue to buy knee socks up to the age of 16.

They are rather immature for their age and in a way I prefer this. I want them to enjoy their childhood without the pressures of teenage fashion. As they have little interest in clothes I usually choose their clothes, although most of the time they rotate from wearing jodphurs or ballet costumes.

I see a few people see this as a silly matter, but I disagree. Both my husband and I want to keep them away from the fashions and pressures that many teenage girls are subject to. When you see girls in knee socks they can be identifed as young girls not young women.

I know everyone is different but I see no reason why parents can't dress their children in clothes that are more suited to their age.

Abi

Abi,

Well said. I have to agree as it makes so much sense. I wish other parents felt the same way. I hate seeing girls of ten to fourteen or slightly older wearing earrings and other jewellery and make up. They look like sex objects. It is not right. Let them be children.

[Rex46]

I have a 17 year old daughter who has worn black tights for school as part of her uniform since she was 12. My wife and I considered that tights at 12 was far too young and that we would continue to have her wear white socks all the time away from school, white knee socks in the colder weather and white ankle socks in the warmer months. She continues to wear white socks and changes into them as soon as she arrives home from school with my wife locking her tights away until the next school day. We have now decided that she will remain in white socks until she leaves school at 18, hopefully to attend university.

Aside from having to wear white socks we impose a fairly strict dress code. Trousers and shorts are banned and she is only allowed to wear skirts and dresses of a respectable length with flat heeled shoes. High heels, jewellery and makeup are never allowed. She must also be in bed with lights out at 9pm although for good behaviour she is allowed to remain up until 10pm on Saturday evening. Aside from attending school and running local errands she is not allowed to leave the house unless accompanied by us or another responsible adult. Her time on the computer and watching TV is strictly limited so as not to affect her school work. Naturally cigarettes and alcohol are completely forbidden.

We have found that this regime works extremely well. She is academically accomplished (she did extremely well in her GCSEs), obedient, and a happy young girl. My wife and I sincerely believe we would not have achieved this without the imposition of proper rules. Children (and I include teenagers) need authority and direction which is sadly lacking today. I would commend the way we treat our daughter to other parents.

[Jenny-Knowles]

I have a 17 year old daughter who has worn black tights for school as part of her uniform since she was 12. My wife and I considered that tights at 12 was far too young and that we would continue to have her wear white socks all the time away from school, white knee socks in the colder weather and white ankle socks in the warmer months. She continues to wear white socks and changes into them as soon as she arrives home from school with my wife locking her tights away until the next school day. We have now decided that she will remain in white socks until she leaves school at 18, hopefully to attend university.

Aside from having to wear white socks we impose a fairly strict dress code. Trousers and shorts are banned and she is only allowed to wear skirts and dresses of a respectable length with flat heeled shoes. High heels, jewellery and makeup are never allowed. She must also be in bed with lights out at 9pm although for good behaviour she is allowed to remain up until 10pm on Saturday evening. Aside from attending school and running local errands she is not allowed to leave the house unless accompanied by us or another responsible adult. Her time on the computer and watching TV is strictly limited so as not to affect her school work. Naturally cigarettes and alcohol are completely forbidden.

We have found that this regime works extremely well. She is academically accomplished (she did extremely well in her GCSEs), obedient, and a happy young girl. My wife and I sincerely believe we would not have achieved this without the imposition of proper rules. Children (and I include teenagers) need authority and direction which is sadly lacking today. I would commend the way we treat our daughter to other parents.

Does your daughter ever complain about taking off her school tights and changing into knee socks? I kow that my daugheter would.

What about hair styles etc. Does she have a choice about this is this is restricted. Does she ever ask to wear jeans?

Excuse me for the questions, I am just interested in this different way of parenting. If it gets good results in final year exams and she is obedient and happy then it's a good thing.