It always seems to go right to the backend, skipping your code. I run into this often.
My solution is this:
attr_writer :date_for_form
def date_for_form read_attribute(:date).strftime(‘%d/%m/%Y’)
end
before_validate :copy_form_fields
def copy_form_fields self.attributes(:date) = self.date_for_form end
Warning: untested. Write a unit test for this before you implement it 
This should allow you to use the form helpers on your new fields (date_for_form) Kinda kludgy but it will get you going.
