STOMPer Seng Kang was puzzled by the fact that a principal refused to allow pre-schoolers to wear sweaters to a theatre because she felt that they would spoil her uniform.

The STOMPer said:

"Today, I helped my sister send my nephew to school and I was quite amused by what I saw. The pre-schoolers were going on a school excursion to watch a show. Some kids wore sweaters but at the school entrance, many parents were asked to bring back the sweaters.

"Then one mother got scolded by the principal for letting her child wear arm warmers (sock-like sleeves which protect the hands from the sun or keep you warm). It was not pulled down, so it actually could not be seen.

"It was only seen when the principal pulled up the sleeve of the uniform. The mother explained that the school does not allow kids to bring sweaters, so she got her child to wear the arm warmers to keep warm.

"What I heard next from the principal was quite shocking. The principal was shouting 'Don’t come and spoil my uniform' repeatedly, while the mother tried to explain that she had brought her kid to the theatre before so she knew that her child would need a sweater.

"After that, another mother also had to explain to another teacher why her daughter needed the sweater at the entrance. (the Principal had gone in after her earlier argument). The Principal's behaviour and rules were really amusing, especially for young pre-schoolers.

"I don’t see anything wrong with children wearing sweaters to watch a show. The welfare of a child should come first, rather than worrying about the image of the school uniform being 'spoilt' by sweaters or caps worn by students.

"It seems that during one excursion, they had also refused to let the kids bring caps to an outdoor excursion. Those who managed to bring it in to school (when parents insisted), had to leave their caps in school when they went for excursion.

"Is there a need to be so uptight over a sweater or cap? Just because it will spoil the image of the school uniform?"