With schools returning across Ireland on Monday, a contentious issue has once again reared it's ugly head - uniforms.
There is always heavy debate about the need for them and the cost increases that seem to occur each year.
And that is no different in 2021 - as one mother learned the hard way.
It's standard practice for schools to have strict restrictions when it comes to student's uniforms and appearance.
The usual drill with these typically sees children banned from wearing makeup and excessive jewellery, or sporting haircuts deemed inappropriate.
Each year, parents share their horror and outrage at some of these rules - which can see require them to fork out hundreds of pounds to ensure their children are following the new guidelines.
One mum has shared her horror after learning that her son's €75 school shoes are no longer allowed - despite being extremely robust.
Taking to Mumsnet, she expressed her frustration at the school's policy and asked if she should send him in wearing the boots anyway, the MEN noted.
Her son is starting secondary school next week, and school guidelines say pupils must wear black shoes, although they can't resemble trainers.
She bought him a pair of Kickers, intended to last the school year, as the more formal 'businessman' style shoes don't last, due to the regular games of football during break time.
But the school has now banned shoes with visible branding - leaving the mum fuming at the "stupid" rule.
She wrote: "This is not on the main school uniform webpage which is what I checked to get his uniform but on a sub-page for new Yr7s which I had read but only skimmed over the uniform bit as assumed it was the same as the main page.
"I spent money on these shoes, which IMO are common school shoes, he may not now be able to wear. He won’t be wearing them out of school either obviously! I got them online direct from Kickers with a 14-day return policy which has run out now.
"Would I be unreasonable to just send him in on his first day in them?"
She added: "Why should I have to deface a brand new pair of shoes just because of a stupid rule they’ve just brought in. Kids have been wearing Kickers to school for years!
"Why do we have to put up with this crap?"
Lots of fellow parents agreed that the rule was unreasonable, with one mum advising: "I'd send him in them anyway. They can't ban them after the start of the school year - that's really unfair. Worst case, get a marker pen on the labels."
