Polishing your kids shoes

[nicholab]

Have you bulled your kids shoes so they arrive and school looking smart with a military shine?

[mavhc]

No, mistaking school for the military is a bad idea

[nicholab]

You still want they to pass any uniform inspection.

[3s-gtech]

We got fleeced into doing that in the police. Pointless waste of time, makes you look like a dork.

 

Don’t make your kids look like dorks.

[nicholab]

We got fleeced into doing that in the police. Pointless waste of time, makes you look like a dork.

 

Don’t make your kids look like dorks.

 

What’s wrong with looking smart with properly polished shoes.

[andy_b]

Sounds like a terrible idea. How often do you see people with shoes polished to a military shine?

 

Don't make them (the children) stand out amongst their peers.

[elsiegee40]

There are bigger things to worry about than polished shoes unless the school hands out punishment for unpolished shoes. I doubt many/any do.

 

I always bought the easy liquid stuff that you just wipe on. Usually I did it myself occasionally, but encouraged the children to do it themselves for when it mattered which was usually Guide/Scout church parades

[FN-GM]

What’s wrong with looking smart with properly polished shoes.

 

You’re thinking like an adult. Not like a child….

[3s-gtech]

What’s wrong with looking smart with properly polished shoes.

 

Kids don’t want to stand out, especially for something that’s not cool.

 

They’ll get a nickname like ‘shoeshine’ that will stick.

 

Smart yes, but within reasonable bounds of uniform standards - school is not the military.

[Garacesh]

What’s wrong with looking smart with properly polished shoes.

 

Intrinsically? Nothing.

In context? Nobody else will be doing it.

 

It's different. Different is bad. Different gets you bullied.

It's awful, but that's the world we live in.

[Dos_Box]

I would clean mine every couple of weeks or so. Mainly to keep the dirt levels down and the waterproofing up. Never so often as it would stand out though.

Saying that, when I was in high school I badgered my parents for a pair of Doc Marten shoes, which I eventually got, on the proviso that I kept them clean, which I did every day. Shame I had a growth spurt not long after!

Edited September 18, 2023 by Dos_Box

[Roberto]

What’s wrong with looking smart with properly polished shoes.

 

If only there were other options besides "bulled to a shine that any sargeant major would be proud to use as a shaving mirror" and "filthy"...

[mavhc]

My parents told me to polish my shoes every week otherwise they'll leak, I tested their claim by not polishing them as an adult ever, Myth Busted.

 

Basically a waste of time, same with ironing, it's not 1900, we have modern materials.

[LeMarchand]

It's different. Different is bad. Different gets you bullied.

It's awful, but that's the world we live in.

 

HANG ON!!!

 

I thought it was only the older generations that treated people poorly because of differences and that "the kids" would never dream of such a thing. Do you mean they only support the "approved list" of differences? (not)

 

Polishing shoes: No kids, but I do any black shoes that are in the hall most Sundays; not to military standards but polish not only makes them look better, it's an aid to waterproofing and longevity.

[nicholab]

HANG ON!!!

 

I thought it was only the older generations that treated people poorly because of differences and that "the kids" would never dream of such a thing. Do you mean they only support the "approved list" of differences? (not)

 

Polishing shoes: No kids, but I do any black shoes that are in the hall most Sundays; not to military standards but polish not only makes them look better, it's an aid to waterproofing and longevity.

 

I used to polish my shoes every day in the first couple of years at school then at least once a week. May be Boys Brigade was my training for uniform inspections.

 

And once got told not a bad polish by an civilian from RAF NCO at well know Tennis event.

[Garacesh]

Most schools don't have nearly that strict uniform inspections.

In my experience they're too busy tackling excess jewellery, hair colours/styles, too much makeup, the wrong kind of footwear (typically because kids are trying to get away with wearing black trainers.. Nike TN's(? I think?) were the 'in' footwear last I encountered that), shirts not being tucked in, or skirts being too short.

 

Not saying I agree or disagree with any of those rules, just that those have typically been the ones management have targeted.

Shoes being polished aren't even an afterthought.

 

It's all well and good taking pride in your appearance, but that just gives bullies another thing to target. Take it from someone who was always bullied severely just for the audacity of growing my hair long as a male - far better to keep your head down and not stick out.