Would you say anything?

Proxima_Centauri

Fireflyaway wrote: »

When I was at school you wouldn't dare disrespect a teacher. The odd time it happened the school called the parents and the child was dealt with at home as well. It was shameful. Today it seems like a badge of honour and the parents don't side with the teachers anymore but defend their children!

(State) schools aren't even allowed to suspend or expel pupils now. So pupils know that whatever they do the teacher and other kids will have to just put up with it. It's madness. Personally I would home-school if I were the parent of a secondary school age child now.

Jackieboy

Fireflyaway wrote: »

Thanks everyone. Yes, the last thing I want to do is cause conflict between my child and the one who stole the stuff. I'm worried because the shop is close to school and there are always kids in there. One bad kid could cause others to be viewed badly if they see them in a group and assume they are all in on it. Told my child not to go in there if said child is around.
I have never spoken to the mum but know who she is by sight. Not sure I'd want to tell her direct in case she tells her child who told her or has a go at me. As for telling the shop, its a branch of co-op with different staff on all the time so I'm not sure who I would tell. I also don't want them to start treating all the kids with suspicion as most are honest.

But why - surely you want to discourage him from being friends with such a bad influence.

Lunar_Eclipse

Unless the shop is on school premises, this has got nothing to do with school, so I definitely wouldn't mention it to anyone at school.

I would discuss the behaviour mentioned with your son and leave it at that. If he wants to take any action then of course he is free to do so. I'd be guided by that conversation, but in terms of the other suggestions (tell the child's mum etc), just know the messenger is usually the one who takes the 'blame'; most people won't thank you for interfering, as sad as that is.

pollypenny

I didn't suggest speaking to the school for the staff to intervene with the shop, but to spell out consequences of theft to all children, give a fright if you like, possibly using a schools' liaison police officer.

Telling the school will also help your son, in that he should be less likely to be put in groups with the thief.

Fireflyaway

My child isn't friends with him as such. They are in the same class but that's it. They don't play together and were not in the shop together so to speak. They just happened to both be there by chance.
I don't want to cause conflict because I don't want my son to get picked on or have the other child turn on him.
Yes state schools seem to have little power to deal with bad behaviour. That's partly why my son is going to a private school in September.

peachyprice

Proxima_Centauri wrote: »

(State) schools aren't even allowed to suspend or expel pupils now..

Where did you get that idea from?

annandale

Wow. What a sweeping statement. State schools have little power to deal with bad behaviour? You can speak for every non private school in the whole of the UK?

My mum was a teacher for 40 years, in a primary school. If anything happened concerning a pupil that needed dealt with she dealt with it.

I'm in Scotland and pupils can be suspended or expelled.

Oh and believe me speaking as someone who worked as a youth worker for a long time, some of the most difficult areas I worked in were the most affluent. Parents who had lots of cash to spend and gave it to their kids who went out and caused havoc. If you think kids from private schools don't go off the rails then I think you might be in for a bit of a rude awakening

If I spoke to anyone, it would be to the shopkeeper.

And you didn't witness any of this. I'd tread very carefully

annandale

If I saw the kid steal something I'd address it.

You didn't.

You can't accuse a child of theft on the way so of your own child.

But in a few months he'll be leaving all the thieving plebs behind

peachyprice

Fireflyaway wrote: »

Yes state schools seem to have little power to deal with bad behaviour. That's partly why my son is going to a private school in September.

That simply isn't true.

I think you're in for a shock if you believe bad behaviour doesn't exist in private schools, in fact private schools are likely to turn a blind because either they don't want to lose the fees or the parents give a generous 'donation' to keep their delinquent in school.

Person_one

Proxima_Centauri wrote: »

(State) schools aren't even allowed to suspend or expel pupils now.

That's not true.