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: Have you had a pen pal?
With the invention of the internet and mobile phone communication, pen pals seem to be a thing of the past but it was a common practice at one point.
Did you have a pen pal? Where did you meet them? Share below!
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66.7% Yes
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33.2% No
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0.1% Other - I'll share below!
Let's get social
Tell us what groups you'd like to see in your area...(walking groups, coffee meet-ups, swing dancing, a family tree group - anything at all!)
Or if you are already in a great group, share it here for others to get involved.
Latest scams to look out for 👀
Neighbourly hopes to keep you safe by keeping you informed of the latest scams circulating. This week, we are sharing two common text message scams:
NZTA / Waka Kotahi scam:
- The scam is a text message saying it's from New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and it encourages the recipient to pay an overdue road toll by visiting a fake website, threatening to take the matter to court within 15 days if they don’t pay up.
- The aim is to trick people into giving away their personal details or pay them money.
- While it is not the first time toll payments have been utilised by scammers, the threat of court action could see more people fall victim.
- The sender will either be a unknown phone number or unknown email address.
Want to report one of these scams? Do so, on Netsafe
NZ Post scam:
- This scam arrives by test message and says it's from NZ Post.
- The premise is that delivery of your parcel was unsuccessful so in order to rearrange delivery. you must click on a link to give your correct address.
- The aim is to trick people into giving away their personal details or pay them money.
- NZ Post advises people not to click the link, but to report the message to the Department of Internal Affairs by forwarding it to 7726.
Think you may have fallen prey to a scam? Get in touch with Netsafe or contact your bank if it involved your bank details.
Remember, if you didn't expect the message and you are now asked to share personal details or money, then stop contact and seek advice elsewhere.
Feel free to share any below that you've encountered recently. This may help others across the country be aware.
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