School charging for broken equipment

TooSad

Or don't do it infront of the CCTV cameras! Which is pretty hard as they are in all computer rooms and some classrooms!

You dont necessary have to catch someone in the act, we have pretty good procedures in place in school for things like this. Sometimes it involves a bit of detective workout 90% of the time you find out who's done it.

mrcow

Teddy_KGB wrote: »

So the moral of the story is don't own up! :rotfl:

The school will know exactly who was using it last as they would have been logged in. They will regularly carry out checks on equipment after class use.

A 14 year old breaking a netbook like that - he would not have done it if he'd have paid for it himself. It's mindless vandalism of someone else's property - why should he not pay? Is it not a good lesson to learn?

You sister should pay for the repair and he can raise the funds to pay her back by either selling some of his stuff or earning the money. Perhaps then he will think twice about breaking computers. It's called facing the consequences for your actions.

As for informing her that he'd be using the equipment, is this really necessary? Does he have to be hand held like this through his entire education. I'm a science teacher........would you like me to send through a weekly list of all of the equipment that my pupils will be using each week so their parents know that they will be handling stuff that (surprise, surprise) costs money?

TooSad

I would say though if like the OP nephew a student had told us they had broken equipment I would still send an invoice but would take into account their honesty. Im not a nasty person really But they like everyone in the real world have to be accountable for their actions.

Errata

Two questions: was the pupil given any training in the use of a netbook - were other pupils trained and he got missed out? why isn'tn't the netbooknot insured by the school- what other equipment used by pupils is insured, and why ?

Once the school have clarified the above, a discussion about how much the netbook cost the school, how old it was would give some indication of it's value. Probably around £25 quid, which I personally might offer to pay at the rate of £1 a month - if I was feeling generous. If I wasn't I'd tell them to go away and try it on on some other mug of a parent.

Teddy_KGB

mrcow wrote: »

The school will know exactly who was using it last as they would have been logged in. They will regularly carry out checks on equipment after class use.

A 14 year old breaking a netbook like that - he would not have done it if he'd have paid for it himself. It's mindless vandalism of someone else's property - why should he not pay? Is it not a good lesson to learn?

You sister should pay for the repair and he can raise the funds to pay her back by either selling some of his stuff or earning the money. Perhaps then he will think twice about breaking computers. It's called facing the consequences for your actions.

As for informing her that he'd be using the equipment, is this really necessary? Does he have to be hand held like this through his entire education. I'm a science teacher........would you like me to send through a weekly list of all of the equipment that my pupils will be using each week so their parents know that they will be handling stuff that (surprise, surprise) costs money?

I was joking with the not owning up comment, but as not of us were there I think your comments of "mindless vandalism" is a bit strong, he could have squeezed the screen while opening up the netbook? But even if it was an accident, I agree a punishment should be given and charging him for it seems the best idea.

As he owned up, I think there should be some reduction in the invoice. Plus how much is a brand new netbook? £200? I'd guess that schools will also get a discount, so I think an invoice of £115 to fix a used netbook is taking the mick!

mvteng

Errata wrote: »

Two questions: was the pupil given any training in the use of a netbook - were other pupils trained and he got missed out? why isn'tn't the netbooknot insured by the school- what other equipment used by pupils is insured, and why ?

Once the school have clarified the above, a discussion about how much the netbook cost the school, how old it was would give some indication of it's value. Probably around £25 quid, which I personally might offer to pay at the rate of £1 a month - if I was feeling generous. If I wasn't I'd tell them to go away and try it on on some other mug of a parent.

I just don't understand this point of view. I've always been taught ( & have taught my own children) to have respect for other peoples property, but also to take responsibility for their actions.

Errata

mvteng wrote: »

I just don't understand this point of view. I've always been taught ( & have taught my own children) to have respect for other peoples property, but also to take responsibility for their actions.

a) the child immediately told the teacher the netbook broke
b) if the child wasn't taught how to handle a netbook and damages it, he's not disrespecting the property of others
Does that clarify my POV for you?

Teddy_KGB

mvteng wrote: »

I just don't understand this point of view. I've always been taught ( & have taught my own children) to have respect for other peoples property, but also to take responsibility for their actions.

Yes take responsibility for your actions and face the consequences, but you should only pay a fare amount for the damage done. You don't just blindly pay any invoice which is sent to you. What if the netbook is 5 years old is due to be replaced in a few weeks?

Or to use different example what if the boy had graffitied a wall, would you pay for the cost to clean it off or would you pay an invoice for the cost to rebuild the wall?

mvteng

I don't understand why you consider it acceptable for the child not to take responsibility for his actions. He's 14 - not 3.

mrcow

Teddy_KGB wrote: »

I was joking with the not owning up comment, but as not of us were there I think your comments of "mindless vandalism" is a bit strong, he could have squeezed the screen while opening up the netbook? But even if it was an accident, I agree a punishment should be given and charging him for it seems the best idea.

As he owned up, I think there should be some reduction in the invoice. Plus how much is a brand new netbook? £200? I'd guess that schools will also get a discount, so I think an invoice of £115 to fix a used netbook is taking the mick!

Actually I doubt my school would send an invoice unless it was obviously deliberately smashed in anger etc.

I certainly wouldn't expect any of my pupils to pay for e.g. a broken microscope unless they e.g. used it as a hammering device or similar. I'd report it as broken but would say it was an accident and wouldn't expect anything further. The pupil would more than likely be mortified enough that they had broken it.

My comment on the vandalism was because to break a screen by "squeezing" it, you've really got to go some.

As a parent however, if one of my children had done as described in the OP and the school had deemed it fit to send an invoice, I would support them. My son would be paying what he could to repair for the damage. I believe in consequences and think they are a good lesson to learn.