I am involved in a ludicrous battle with my 13 yr-old daughter's
school. Polly got three yellow cards which meant an automatic red
(detention) for undoing her top collar button in this hot weather. I
would stress that I'm not moaning about her particular punishment,
but simply complaining about unreasonable school rules.

Not only is it plain daft to insist that the children are uncomfortable
simply to comply with some old fashioned rules, I have pointed out to
the school that with the modern culture of "Health & Safety",
insisting that top buttons are done up in what are offically "heatwave
condtions" could leave the school open to all sorts of problems.

When I was in the Air Force some 30 years ago, in extremely hot
weather, the station Tannoy would broadcast "shirt sleeve order"
which meant that jackets could be discarded, ties removed and shirt
sleeves rolled up.

Later when an Airline Captain I would say to the First Officer: "Well
I don't know about you, but I'm taking my tie off". Goodness
knows what our passengers thought when the walked out to the aircraft
to see two pilots with OPEN NECKED shirts. They must have got an
impression of a severe lack of professionalism:-)

Jack