p49 school:Layout 1 16/06/2009 13:26 Page 49
SCHOOLWEAR ASSOCIATION
The knotty
collar
question of clip
the
on ties
market
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David Burgess,
Chairman of The
As with the entire Rowlinson range
Schoolwear Association,
all garments are Oeko-Tex certified;
argues the case for clip-on
they have been produced in an
ethical and responsible way, and
ties as the smarter – and are suitable for further
safer – uniform option
personalisation with our
speedy embroidery service.
A
strange thing happens to you when
you become a parent. From the
moment that baby first opens its eyes
and looks at you or curls its tiny hand around your finger you feel
something shift inside you. From that moment on there is nothing you
would not do, no length to which you would not go to keep that child safe.
Your own personal security will forever more come second. Apart from that
occasional moment when they hit puberty perhaps…
I know this is not just me. I have consulted friends, colleagues, relatives and
many soaps and films, which is why I find the rash of “health and safety
gone mad” comments in response to our findings about the increase of clip-
on ties in schools absolutely preposterous. While the vast majority of people
who have read about this have been completely supportive of the move,
health and safety has long since been an easy target for serial complainers.
“I used to eat mud and it never did me any harm”. “I used to walk to
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school on my own at the age of four and I was never abducted”.
We have all heard these types of comments a million times. t

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The fact of the matter is that last month we consulted our members and
found that 25 schools a week are changing their school tie and, of these
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40% are switching to clip-ons. The main reason is to ensure uniformity. I
have read a few comments online about how this is stifling creativity among
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our children but quite frankly the point of a school uniform is to be…well,

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uniform. Fat knots, short tails, back to front tails all defeat the purpose but
are not possible with a clip-on – result, the uniform instantly looks smarter.
The other reason is of course health and safety, and why should this not be?
Despite our inbuilt need to protect our offspring, once we become confident
parents we allow them to push the boundaries, take risks. We are very
aware of our own child’s needs and limitations so we are always conscious
of how much leeway we can give them.
But what about when you are responsible for the children of a friend? How
terrible would you feel handing them back
at the end of the day with a cut knee and
teary eyes? Now multiply this feeling by
hundreds, sometimes thousands, and you
are getting close to the daily responsibility
held by a school and its staff.
Schools, and indeed the school uniform
retailers who supply them, should not be
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lambasted for this small move towards
making life that little bit safer for our
children. However, if these schools must
For further information please visit
be criticised, how much better to be
www.rowlinson-knitwear.com
criticised for being too conscious of its
or call customer care on 0161 477 7791
pupils’ safety than for being negligent.
Visit www.schoolwearassociation.co.uk
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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