Am I being over sensitive?

BARGAINHUNTER!

Certainly some mixed views here!

mrcow

I agree that it sounds like a good school.

I would let him get on with it. The chewing gum thing is not really a big deal. It will be dry and he's using a spoon. He's hardly going to catch anything and presumably he's sensible enough to wash his hands after?

I doubt he'll try the old "I forgot my detention" line again.

Minxy_Bella

BARGAINHUNTER! wrote: »

Certainly some mixed views here!

I am so glad that my children don't have teachers like that!

I am so glad that my children don't get taught by some of the fms on here!!

I am so glad that I don't teach anymore as I obviously failed to bully my students sufficiently :rolleyes:

I do think it's interesting that it's an ex-teacher who's sticking up for the kid though - what's all that about?

mrcow

BARGAINHUNTER! wrote: »

Certainly some mixed views here!

I guess it depends on what kind of upbringing you had?

I went to a very good school who insisted that you take care and pride in your work. It's a very important lesson to learn and one that will serve him well in the future.

My sister on the other hand went to a sh*t school. They didn't care if your work was rubbish - just as long as you didn't cause problems and towed the line. They would not have issued a detention for this type of thing....but then again....they didn't give a stuff about what the pupils were producing half the time anyway.

Curious_George_2

Acc72 wrote: »

But what will this create - the child may think that every time they get told off in school that they can run to their parent who will complain.

It may be that the homework was of reasonable standard, but the teacher knows that he is capable of much better - and this is their way of promoting greater effort.

well then i would be telling my child that im not going to have a hotline to school to complain everytime something happens he doesnt like,
but the fact is he did his homework AND handed it in on time, most teachers would love this!

if the standard wasnt good enough, maybe making him do it again on top of any other homework might have been a proper punishment?

it might just be me but if i handed in work that i had spent 2 hours on and got 3 detentions for it i dont think it would take long before i lost heart with that class / teacher / or my school work in general,
my stroppy teenage head would be telling me 'whats the point of making any effort if your going to get punished anyway'?

Minxy_Bella

mrcow wrote: »

I guess it depends on what kind of upbringing you had?

I went to a very good school who insisted that you take care and pride in your work. It's a very important lesson to learn and one that will serve him well in the future.

My sister on the other hand went to a sh*t school. They didn't care if your work was rubbish - just as long as you didn't cause problems and towed the line. They would not have issued a detention for this type of thing....but then again....they didn't give a stuff about what the pupils were producing half the time anyway.

I went to a 'very good' school too. We were treated like university fodder and all traces of personality were ceremoniously stamped out.

Interesting that your sister attended a different school to yourself....

Interesting that you have a strong opinion about her school, seeing as how you didn't attend there as a student.....

You see, some 'sh*t schools' might not get 90% A-Cs as they're struggling with students who have appalling home lives - where drugs and alcohol are more important than going to school, let alone doing homework. Some 'sh*t schools' are doing bliddy brilliantly if they manage to get a child into school and into lessons 7 times a day, without that child going nuts and knifing someone. Some 'sh*t schools' have disillusioned teachers who are bitter and twisted about their vocation that has turned into a nightmare because everyone criticises the education system.

It's not all black and white, alas. The majority of human beings need support and motivation rather than punishment and negativity.

Minxy_Bella

Curious_George wrote: »

well then i would be telling my child that im not going to have a hotline to school to complain everytime something happens he doesnt like,
but the fact is he did his homework AND handed it in on time, most teachers would love this!

if the standard wasnt good enough, maybe making him do it again on top of any other homework might have been a proper punishment?

it might just be me but if i handed in work that i had spent 2 hours on and got 3 detentions for it i dont think it would take long before i lost heart with that class / teacher / or my school work in general,
my stroppy teenage head would be telling me 'whats the point of making any effort if your going to get punished anyway'?

Exactly!

You may as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb!

mrcow

Minxy_Bella wrote: »

Interesting that you have a strong opinion about her school, seeing as how you didn't attend there as a student.....

Why is it interesting?

I was up that school more times than I care to think about and saw with my my own eyes how they let her down at every turn.

They were and are a sh*t school. And I'm glad I didn't go there.

I'm also glad that I'm intelligent enough to ensure that my children will never go there or to any school like it.

A school instilling a level of pride in one's work is no bad thing.
A school insisting on respect for authority isn't a bad thing either.

Interesting that your sister attended a different school to yourself....

Why is it interesting to you?

Minxy_Bella

mrcow wrote: »

Why is it interesting?

I was up that school more times than I care to think about and saw with my my own eyes how they let her down at every turn.

They were and are a sh*t school. And I'm glad I didn't go there.

I'm also glad that I'm intelligent enough to ensure that my children will never go there or to any school like it.

A school instilling a level of pride in one's work is no bad thing.
A school insisting on respect for authority isn't a bad thing either.



Why is it interesting to you?

No big deal, really - it's just not the norm for siblings to go to different schools, that's all. Unless there's a big age difference, I suppose?? I wasn't implying (or meaning to imply) anything sinister. I was just wondering if you went to a grammar school and she went to a secondary modern (or something) and if that coloured your view of her school from the outset??

My point is just that you only saw your sister's school from an outsider's point of view - which while is still valid - might be very different to that of someone who actually attended the school.

And I absolutely agree with you that instilling a sense of pride in one's work is vital and that schools insist on respect for authority. I would never argue with that.

I would however argue that you can do both of those things by being reasonable, firm but fair. You do not have to kick a dog to death in order for it to learn how to sit!

mrcow

Minxy_Bella wrote: »

No big deal, really - it's just not the norm for siblings to go to different schools, that's all. Unless there's a big age difference, I suppose?? I wasn't implying (or meaning to imply) anything sinister. I was just wondering if you went to a grammar school and she went to a secondary modern (or something) and if that coloured your view of her school from the outset??

lol you hit the nail just about on the head there. She's one year younger. I could see what they were teaching her from the off (not just talking about in academic terms, but in how the teachers were with her and the examples they were setting etc.) I only went up there when I was older - I think my mum had had enough of the place.

I agree that the punishment/detentions given are harsh given the circumstances, but I also think that it's a good thing that the teacher is showing him that substandard work isn't acceptable. Missing a detention should be punished (no matter what that detention is for) and I don't think that 4 x detentions is over the top. The chewing gum thing is nasty, but akin perhaps to banging board rubbers - more an old style punishment which again, is one that will teach a lesson for disobeying the teacher by missing a detention.

I persoanlly don't think it's a good idea for the parent to get involved over this - it's good to pick your fights carefully. This one is going to blow over in no time.