Poll: Do you support banning school jackets in the classroom?
High school students are too cold to learn because they have to remove their jackets in class, parents say.
The students, at Auckland’s Mount Albert Grammar School, are prohibited from wearing their jackets – which are optional to buy as part of their school uniform and cost $98 – inside.
Stuff understands this is because of the rustling noise the jacket makes, which has been deemed distracting in class, but was unable to reach the board of trustees for confirmation.
Instead, the students are allowed to wear a jersey, which costs $98, or a cardigan, which costs $120, in class.
Parent Tracy Kelly-Hunt said the rule is depriving children of their basic need of warmth, reflected in Maslow's hierachy of needs.
“According to my daughter most of the older rooms are cold – a new TV is bought but not heating."
The woollen school jumper is uncomfortable and itchy to wear, said the social work student at Auckland University.
Kelly-Hunt said the uniform was so expensive she had to buy it secondhand, and other parents had to borrow money from the Ministry of Social Development to pay for it.
“Why are they charging that amount for a uniform and our kids have got to take that jacket off and be cold in the classroom, and they’re not going to learn anything?”
Fellow parent Emily Hall said her 15-year-old son does not wear a jacket to school because of the rule.
He has no locker and his bag is always full, so he has nowhere to put a jacket, she said.
“As a parent, I am really annoyed that I spent a lot of money for a jacket he does not feel he can wear.”
Hall said she finds it insulting that students are having their clothing micro-managed.
Deputy head boy Tali Meavale said students have to remove their jackets because on rainy days, the clothing could be wet and damp, leading to them getting sick.
There are also problems with students sweating in their jackets at lunchtime, making them smell, he said.
Teachers in the small number of classrooms that aren’t heated are lenient, and “allow students to wear their jackets for half the period”, the 17-year-old said.
“We offer jerseys here at MAGS as well as scarves, and I understand some students can’t afford it, but we also offer help for these students.”
Mount Albert Grammar School principal Patrick Drumm said he had not received any complaints about the jackets.
The uniform was approved by the board of trustees and had not changed for many years, he said.
“Certainly if it's a serious enough issue, I'd expect and welcome parents to make contact through the normal processes.”
In June 2020, West Auckland’s Avondale College changed its policy to allow students to wear their outdoor jackets inside the classroom.
*Please put NFP if you do not want your comments used by Stuff.
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5.7% Yes
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90.6% No
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1.9% Neutral
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1.9% Unsure- it's a complex issue.
Poll: Should employees be able to work from home?
At the post-Cabinet press conference, the National Party asserted they want public sector staff to return to the office. This has opened a conversation about other sectors in New Zealand who have adopted working from home (WFH).
Where possible, do you think employees should be able to work from home? Vote below and share your thoughts in the comments.
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70.3% Yes
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26.7% No
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3% Other - I'll share below
Cost of living relief for parents
More cost-of-living relief kicks in from Tuesday, targeted at parents and caregivers with young kids in childcare.
Family Boost lets eligible families claim back up to 25 per cent of their childcare costs, to a maximum of $975 every three months. The first quarterly payments can start being claimed from October 1.
We know it’s tough for Kiwis right now and National is proud to be delivering relief for childcare costs, on top of the tax relief that started landing in Kiwis’ pockets from the end of July.
So if you or someone you know has young kids in childcare, make sure you check out the IRD website for details about eligibility and how to make a claim.
But we also know the only way we can afford to support Kiwis with the cost of living is by rebuilding the economy – with more opportunities for growth and investment.
That’s why it was so exciting that, after just four months of negotiations, National Party Minister Todd McClay signed the dotted line this week on a new trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates.
It’s a perfect example of what can be achieved when we go out and hustle on the world stage – unleashing new markets for trade and investment so Kiwis can do the business.
It’s awesome news for farmers and growers – the agreement will scrap duties on 98.5 per cent of our exports to the UAE immediately when it comes into effect: meaning more cash in their pocket, when their product moves offshore.
Federated Farmers summed it up well by saying "This agreement will take millions of dollars that would have been charged in tariffs and pump them directly into our rural communities.”
We promised to work at pace to rebuild our economy and completing New Zealand’s fastest-ever trade agreement negotiations is a great example of how we’re doing exactly that.
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NATIONAL party website
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Auckland School Holiday Events
Are you on school holiday duty? Here's some activities to get out of the house for! Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments below.
Sat, 28 Sept: Wild Robot Wonders at the Sky @ Sky Tower
Sat, 28 Sept: Starry Storytime @ Stardome Observatory
Sun, 29 Sept: The Block Dance party @ Aotea Square
Mon, 30 Sept: Cornwall Park Trading Cards @ Huia Lodge Discovery Hub
Mon, 30 Sept: Treasure Hunt @ Corban Estate Arts Centre, Henderson
Tues, 1 Oct: Dance-o-Mat @ Aotea Square
Tues 1 Oct: Rainbow Scultpure @ Aotea Square
Tues 1 Oct: Squiggla workshops @ Pah Homestead
Wed, 2 Oct: Night at the Museum: Time Warp @ Auckland Museum
Wed, 2 Oct: Steampunk a hat @ Northcote Library
Wed, 2 Oct: Make a Wind Vane @ Highwic, Epsom
Thurs, 3 Oct: Film: Peter Rabbit @ Uxbridge, Howick
Thurs, 3 Oct: Back to the Future Scavenger Hunt @ Northcote Library
Fri, 4 Oct: Starry Storytime @ Stardome Observatory
Fri, 4 Oct: The Wonky Donkey Show @ Uxbridge, Howick
Fri, 4 Oct: StarJam performance & games @ Aotea Square
Sat, 5 Oct: Flight Birds Club @ NZ Maritime Museum
Sun, 6 Oct: Make it Loud workshops @ Motat
Mon, 7 Oct: Roving the Red Planet: Robotics session @ Stardome Observatory
Tues, 8 Oct: Theatre: Peter Pan @ ASB Waterfront Theatre
Wed, 9 Oct: Theatre: Mrs Wishy Washy @ The PumpHouse Theatre
Thurs, 10 Oct: Film: Lilo & Stitch @ Uxbridge, Howick
Fri, 11 Oct: Starry Storytime @ Stardome Observatory
Fri, 11 Oct: Wilbur the Big, Not So Bad Wolf @ TAPAC, Western Springs
Sat, 12 Oct: Make butter for fairy bread @ Northcote Library
Sun, 13 Oct: Nature Play @ Myers Park
Sun, 13 Oct: K-Pop Free Dance Party @ Aotea Square
Sun, 13 Oct: Family Games Afternoon @ Mount Roskill Library
Click on your local library to see its upcoming school holiday events:
Albany Village Library, Central City Library, Waiheke Library, Mangere Bridge Library,Warkworth Library, Epsom Library, Botany Library, Highland Park Library, East Coast Bays Library, St Heliers Library, Onehunga LIbrary, Glen Eden Library, Birkenhead Library, Avondale Library, Otahuhu Library, Glenfield Library, Devonport Library, Titirangi Library, Papatoetoe Library, Wellsford Library, Waitakere Central Library, Parnell Library, Manurewa Library, Clendon Library, Takanini Library, Grey Lynn Library, New Lynn Library, Blockhouse Bay Library, Mount Roskill Library. See all Libraries here.
What else is there to do?
Butterfly Creek
Motat
Auckland Zoo
Howick Historical Village
Auckland Art Gallery
Stardome Observatory
Snowplanet
Rainbow's End
Scultptureum
Thrillzone
Kiwi Valley Farm Park
Aotea Square Ice Rink
Got more ideas? Share them below!
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