Teacher here again to answer the question. This is not a new phenomenon. Kids come to school underdressed since the day instarted teaching in 2001. I'm happy they are now wearing long socks at least and crazy long shorts. I have some kids who just seem to run hot.

I make them put their coats on for recess, but many just peel them off within 60 seconds. Kids just seem to be little furnaces. If it doesn't bother them, it doesn't bother me. The classroom can also get very hot and very stuffy with 22 fidgity kids packed in there and the heat cranking. Som days it is so warm the windows fog up.

So in a nutshell, its not new, it's not hazardous and probably not a hill you want to die on.

Anonymous wrote:If your son is going to school in shorts (especially those stupid lacrosse shorts) when it is below 40 degrees out, rest assured that they are being privately mocked by other adults (parents and teachers). Know, also, that by extension you too are being mocked.

But as no one has a sense of "This is something I shouldn't be doing..." these days, it won't matter to you.

Im a 4th grade teacher and you are a complete loser. You must have loser friends and loser teachers. Im wondering if you ever emotionally progressed much past 7th grade.

Rest assured. This behavior is not the norm. I've been an elementary school teacher for 15 years. There are some really disturbed and immature parents out there and this folks is exhibit A.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your son is going to school in shorts (especially those stupid lacrosse shorts) when it is below 40 degrees out, rest assured that they are being privately mocked by other adults (parents and teachers). Know, also, that by extension you too are being mocked.

But as no one has a sense of "This is something I shouldn't be doing..." these days, it won't matter to you.

I don't care if petty "adults" are privately mocking my child. Any parent worth her salt knows you pick your battles. Kid isn't going to freeze, and if he is uncomfortable then so be it. Boys aren't the only ones who suffer for fashion.

When it's below 32 degrees, for example? You may want to brush up on your science.
And yes, it looks ridiculous and people are judging you and your kid. Judgement is fine and needed to keep society civil.

You are a riot!! I noticed when my DS came home today that he wore shorts to school. He leaves early and I don't usually get up before he leaves so don't see what he is wearing. I highly doubt that his shorts (and those of probably 60% of his classmates) are disrupting civil society! He also wears shorts for outdoor sports practice all winter - avert your eyes!

For the record, this is the ES-aged kids forum, so, at least in theory, you should get up before your DS leaves for school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year my then-first grader hated being cold. He wore a huge heavy coat, ski gloves, balaclava, etc. every day- even when the temp was 55. This year he has become acutely aware that BOYS DON'T WEAR COATS and now dresses accordingly. In January, when the high didn't go above freezing for almost a week, he (and every other 7 + yo boy) stepped off the bus every day with all his cold weather gear stashed in his backpack. Wouldn't be caught dead in a jacket. I've seen older boys wearing shorts on cold days, and DS still thinks that is weird, but it's probably a matter of time before he wants to do the same.

And you let him do that?

You mean 3 years ago, when the kid was in second grade and this post was written, or now that he's in fifth grade?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your son is going to school in shorts (especially those stupid lacrosse shorts) when it is below 40 degrees out, rest assured that they are being privately mocked by other adults (parents and teachers). Know, also, that by extension you too are being mocked.

But as no one has a sense of "This is something I shouldn't be doing..." these days, it won't matter to you.

You sound like a cranky 80 year old who is remembering the good old days. Kids wearing shorts year-round has absolutely no impact on your life so don't worry your little brain about it a moment longer.

+1and let the other parents and teachers mock away. My guess is they mock you quite a bit.

+2

My son begs to wear shorts and he is clueless about being "cool". He gets hot easy and they keep the schools so hot I feel nauseated within minutes any time I am in there. So if it is not freezing, we let him wear shorts. If they stop overheating the school, we will make him wear pants.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your son is going to school in shorts (especially those stupid lacrosse shorts) when it is below 40 degrees out, rest assured that they are being privately mocked by other adults (parents and teachers). Know, also, that by extension you too are being mocked.

But as no one has a sense of "This is something I shouldn't be doing..." these days, it won't matter to you.

You sound like a cranky 80 year old who is remembering the good old days. Kids wearing shorts year-round has absolutely no impact on your life so don't worry your little brain about it a moment longer.

+1and let the other parents and teachers mock away. My guess is they mock you quite a bit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boys who wear shorts or no coats to school in the winter are sometimes defying their parents. I teach a particular skill after school and I see this all of the time.

I ask these numbskulls what they are thinking of and they always say, "I don't get cold".

Yet if there was a fire or bomb scare at their school and they had to stand outside for three hours their parents would be the first to whine that the school didn't provide a warm place for their darlings to stay.

Parents! If you see your boys trying to get out of the house with shorts or with no coat when its 25 degrees ORDER them to change clothing.

Get over yourself.

+1

Anonymous wrote:If your son is going to school in shorts (especially those stupid lacrosse shorts) when it is below 40 degrees out, rest assured that they are being privately mocked by other adults (parents and teachers). Know, also, that by extension you too are being mocked.

But as no one has a sense of "This is something I shouldn't be doing..." these days, it won't matter to you.

Is this a joke?

If it is not a joke, please "rest assurred" that I DGAF if you or other adults are mocking me, privately or otherwise. And my kid cares even less.

For me, this issue is an example of "different strokes for different folks," and "to each her own."

It's a choice that does not impact children's safety or their ability to learn. All good.

Apparently it's not just boys. 9 yo DD and her friends do it, too.

Our rule is she needs to wear running tights under the shorts if it's colder than 40 degrees.

She didn't get sick last winter and hasn't so far this winter. So I'm fine with it.

Though I do take lots of pictures while waiting for the bus so she can look back on this phase in horror someday.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boys who wear shorts or no coats to school in the winter are sometimes defying their parents. I teach a particular skill after school and I see this all of the time.

I ask these numbskulls what they are thinking of and they always say, "I don't get cold".

Yet if there was a fire or bomb scare at their school and they had to stand outside for three hours their parents would be the first to whine that the school didn't provide a warm place for their darlings to stay.

Parents! If you see your boys trying to get out of the house with shorts or with no coat when its 25 degrees ORDER them to change clothing.

Get over yourself.

Do some parenting. Stop letting your children run the house.

+1

I pack the shorts and t shirts away by October and they don't come out til Spring

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are exclusive schools in England wear the required uniform is shorts, a blazer, a tie, and knee socks all year long and it's been happening for years. Parents, children, and the general population were very proud (and sometimes jealous) of these teen aged boys!

It is the old British traditions that boys only start wearing long pants after a certain age, don't know what that age is. You might have noticed that Prince George is always in shorts.

They usually switch over to pants over at 8 or 9.

Our school requires legs to be covered (tights, pants, leggings, whatever) from Thanksgiving to March. Solves a lot of problems. There may be cold days outside of that window, but I figure feeling uncomfortable is a logical consequence.

Anonymous wrote:If your son is going to school in shorts (especially those stupid lacrosse shorts) when it is below 40 degrees out, rest assured that they are being privately mocked by other adults (parents and teachers). Know, also, that by extension you too are being mocked.

But as no one has a sense of "This is something I shouldn't be doing..." these days, it won't matter to you.

You sound like a cranky 80 year old who is remembering the good old days. Kids wearing shorts year-round has absolutely no impact on your life so don't worry your little brain about it a moment longer.

Anonymous wrote:Is this a new "cool" thing to do?

Depends on what you consider is new. My brother did it in the early 80's