Perhaps steering schoolgirls towards trousers has simply inspired natural rebellion which is a normal step towards pushing boundaries and becoming an adult. Or maybe the increasing number of schools ‘banning’ skirts is because the kids have no fear of ignoring school rules. As Doubtfire says: "We would ask them to make their skirts longer, but they would just roll them up again when we turned away.” That is a refrain heard time after time from teachers (and parents) who can’t be bothered – or have no real powers - to discipline the kids in their care.