Maunu primary sock height row enters third week, PTA chair now measuring ankles
The policy says 'mid-calf'. One mum reckons that's a range. The chair reckons it's a line.
A dispute over sock height at a Maunu primary school has entered its third week, with the PTA chair now personally measuring pupils' ankles at the school gate. She's using a ruler she brought from home.
The policy, updated in February, requires socks to sit at "mid-calf". Parents were told this meant mid-calf. It has since emerged that mid-calf, as a concept, is doing a lot of work.
Rachel Vukovich, whose seven-year-old was pulled aside on Tuesday, said the whole thing was buggered. "Mid-calf on a kid who's had a growth spurt isn't mid-calf on one who hasn't. Are we measuring the sock or the leg? Nobody can tell me."
PTA chair Denise Fothergill, contacted at the gate on Wednesday while holding the ruler, said the standard was "quite clear to anyone who reads the newsletter". Asked what mid-calf meant in centimetres, Ms Fothergill said she'd "know it when she saw it".
A second parent, Hemi Rawiri, said his daughter had rolled her socks down out of spite and been sent to the office. "She's eight. She's got opinions now. That's on the school."
The principal has declined to intervene, calling it "a community conversation". The ruler will be at the gate again Monday.
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Reader Letters
Trev_Hornby
This is a bloody pisstake. Measuring socks at the gate? Ridiculous.
Kenny_L
Glad I've got grandchildren now, not kids at school. Things were simpler back in my day. We wore what we wanted as long as it was clean and presentable. No one cared about sock heights, just getting through the day without too much fuss.
couchgremlin
Mate, “mid-calf” in centimetres? Just use common sense.
ConspiratorColin
I'd be worried too if rulers start becoming the new standard for everything. Next thing you know they'll be weighing backpacks for accuracy...
SandraMcKenzie
Stink one for the kids. They deserve better than this madness.
MumOf3
Sandra, no one cares until it's their kid being told off. Then it's a big deal.
wayne1987
Lol.
NanaJo67
Sock patrol? What's next, nose hair check-ups?
tired_in_riccarton
Honestly, just let kids be kids. They have enough to worry about.
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