MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update

Dae Peck entertains a packed Rose Hotel on Wednesday night, one of many highlights of Farmers Week

Headlines: Children to be canvassed in school uniform debate; Retail war steps up a gear with arrival of Sainsbury’s.

Children to be canvassed in school uniform debate

CHILDREN are to be surveyed for their opinions as the school uniform debate hots up among parents, teachers and education officials.

Members of the student council will poll their classmates from the Infant and Junior School (IJS) in the near future.

The move follows a meeting at the school on Monday, prompted by parents who wrote of their support for a compulsory school uniform in letters to school managers.

Among the audience were parents, teachers, headmaster of IJS Nick Barrett, acting Director of Education Richard Fogerty, school managers Justin McPhee, Leeann Harris and Catriona Jaffray, and councillors Andrea Clausen, Richard Stevens and Janet Robertson.

Those in favour of the move said children would benefit from the shared sense of identity that would be created by the introduction of a uniform, the potential reduction in bullying, and the practicality and cost effectiveness of school-issued clothing.

Those against were more vocal at the meeting, with one parent arguing he would hate to see school children become institutionalised: “The freedom and the sense of security the kids have about them is one of the best things about the Falklands.”

Other parents commented on the array of colours seen in the playground which would be missed if the introduction went ahead, and said they did not feel it was right to take the choice away from children.

The suggestion of canvassing children was well received, although school managers could not clarify when this might take place. Parents will also be consulted.

Mr Fogerty said no changes would be made without a significant majority consensus. He said at least 75-80 per cent of parents would have to agree before school uniforms could be officially introduced.

But if agreement was reached, there would be insufficient time to introduce a new uniform for the start of the new school year in September.

A show of hands at the meeting suggested the majority attending did not want uniforms introduced. Councillors were divided over their opinion, and the school managers also held wide ranging views. School-branded clothing is already available for children, consisting of a T-shirt, polo-shirt, hoodie and trousers.

Some parents said that although their children wanted to look smart, they were sometimes teased for wearing school-branded clothing – but they still believed in the right to choose.

If children were to wear uniforms, they argued, it was likely to meet less resistance due to the child’s desire to fit in.

Many parents opposed to compulsory uniform agreed that a coloured T-shirt with a logo to represent the different houses within the school could prove acceptable.

They believbed this would be particularly useful when worn at sporting events, and prove just as effective at providing a sense of unity.

Chair of the IJS and Camp Education School Managers Board, Justin McPhee said he was pleased so many people showed an interest in the issue.

Retail war steps up a gear with arrival of Sainsbury’s

THE war of Stanley’s retailers stepped up a gear this week with the arrival of Sainsbury’s products at the Seafish Chandlery.

Manager Neville Hayward said the introduction of around 200 Sainsbury’s lines at the Chandlery, for what will initially be a trial basis, was intended to be direct competition to the Waitrose lines stocked by the Falkland Islands Company in its West Store.

He said: “Sainsbury’s is a recognisable brand and we’ll see how we go.

“We know a lot of people shop at Sainsbury’s when they are away. If they want to suggest any new products for us to stock, we will see if we can get hold of them.”

Mr Hayward said customer feedback was key to the trial and he welcomed any comments.