'On the wall'?

[OnceMoreIntoTheBleach]

Not me, but a friend of mine. Primary school. Child talking in line after lunchtime, waiting to go into school for afternoon lesson.

Because of talking, teacher told her she would be 'on the wall' tomorrow.

The Wall is a place where children have to stand silent and still as a way of reprimanding them for 'bad' behaviour.

The Wall is on the playground, where other pupils filter past and are allowed to talk to, question and taunt those who are 'on the Wall'.

If child on The Wall responds, they are made to stay longer.

Just to reiterate, said child, just talking in line. And is 7.

AIBU to think this is draconian and a horrible form of public humiliation hat should not be permitted?

[needmymouthsewnup]

Is it an actual wall (as in one you could potentially fall off?). In either case, it sounds very unkind and an unnecessary form of punishment. There are far more appropriate ways of dealing with talking in line which don't involve public humiliation.

[Janet80]

It sounds ridiculous that other children can poke fun and taunt them too. Can't they just put them on the time out chair or detention for play time?

[KatnissMellark]

This used to be done at my primary school in the 90s. You had to stand with your back to the wall, not on it. Taunting by other children was not encouraged/would have been picked up on /told off as well though. To be honest, I think it's fine-similar to 'time out' which many parents use at home. I think it is difficult for a punishment to be administered without any other children noticing and don't see why it should. A little bit of peer pressure can be a good thing and a demonstration that there are consequences for bad behaviour encourages good in all. It's hardly a dunces hat is it?

[MakeItRain]

This sounds like a punishment from 50 years ago! It's not something that would be done in any primary school I've ever worked in.

[Pud2]

Asking children to stand 'on the wall' or in a particular area, as a punishment is very common practice in primary school. Are you sure other children are allowed to file past and taunt these children? I would be surprised if the school allowed this. I wouldn't question the wall, but I would ask if the school is aware of any taunting as I'm sure they would put a stop to that.

[OnceMoreIntoTheBleach]

It's a Wall that they stand against which is outside the door that the children come through once they have eaten their lunch and when they are going to the toilet...they can't fall off but it's a place where other children are able to taunt and sneer at them as they go past...it made my friends child cry in fear the night before being made to go on the wall as she was so frightened of the humiliation and of being labelled as a "naughty child". This is damaging to self esteem and confidence and seems as though it belongs in the dark ages ☹️

[cheeeeselover]

It's like a time out for older kids. I wouldn't have thought they'd allowed taunting though. If talking in line isn't allowed then not an unreasonable punishment. Plus you don't know if the child had already been told to be quiet and didn't.

[MommaGee]

This was how they did it at my school in the, 80:s but I doubt the kids are permitted to taunt

[OnceMoreIntoTheBleach]

Shouldn't time out be done at the time though?? Not the following day?

[RhodaBorrocks]

Wow, DS school have a wall chart with several levels and they have to put their name up or down depending on behaviour. But no one is allowed to comment. In fact, negative comments and taunts if overheard result in the child making said comments having to 'go down the chart' too.

I don't like the thought of children being encouraged to pass judgement.

[OnceMoreIntoTheBleach]

Yes the kids are allowed to taunt. If not, why would there be a rule that the Wall kids are not allowed to respond?

[Pud2]

Sounds like the child is working herself up a bit and maybe, it won't be as bad as she thinks. It's very unusual for young children to taunt.

[Dawndonnaagain]

Public humiliation for a seven year old? Fuck that, they'd be going to a different school. I'd also be discussing appropriate methods of discipline with the governors.

[KatnissMellark]

it made my friends child cry in fear the night before being made to go on the wall as she was so frightened of the humiliation

This is a bit OTT- if the child is in primary school, presumably they are 7+? I think the child's parents should be looking at improving resilience and coping strategies. That's not a criticism by the way, I was in general a very well behaved child but then found it very hard to cope with minor punishments and being told off, and as an adult can find criticism hard to take too.

[KatnissMellark]

But I'd also raise the taunting issue, as that should not be allowed.

[Bizzysocks]

My dc school send children that misbehave for the mid day assistance to the wall. I think it's fine what other punishment could the mid day assistance give?

I think it's unlikely that the other children are encouraged to taunt the child on the wall. Natural curiosity for the others to ask why the child is on the wall though, likely they would be moved on anyway as the it wouldn't be much of a punishment if the child could still chat to friends while on the wall. If the child is embarrassed to be there then they are probably a generally well behaved child and wonto be there again. Your friend needs to encourage the child not to chat in line and reassure them that the other children will have forgotten the next day.

If children are taunting the child on the wall this should be reported to school under their bullying policy.

[Algebraic]

We had the wall at school in the 90's... though people could see you they weren't allowed to approach. Quite effective as you really felt you were missing out on play time and wouldn't repeat the action that got you there. Pretty harmless IMO

[CatsBatsEars]

Bloody hell! That shit used to happen when I was at school in the 70's. The taunting is teaching the kids to humiliate each other, this shouldn't be happening post The Children Act 1989.

[Sunnysky2016]

This used to be in my primary in the 80's didn't know it was still used. It's effective though so don't see your problem?

[Sunnysky2016]

Taunting wasn't allowed mind you! If a kid was taunting they too ended up on the wall.

[icy121]

We had the wall in the 90s. It was the wall of the toilet block, stood on it for a set number of minutes and faced out the the playground. If you were caught taunting someone else on the wall, you got put on the wall. From years 3-6. Kids didn't really taunt each other, it wasn't really seen as a proper punishment.

[icy121]

By "on" I meant against it. You were on the ground, back to it.

[PuddleJumper01]

I honestly can't believe the taunting is allowed. I would check that fact very carefully before I challenged it. And do not take the word of 7 yr olds!

And I wonder if it IS normal practice to do it same day, but she did it at the end of breaktime?

Time out is pretty normal and usually quite public because members of staff need to keep an eye on the child having time out and other children as well.

[donquixotedelamancha]

"Shouldn't time out be done at the time though?? Not the following day?"

Immediate sanctions are more effective; then the problem is done with, and you move on quickly.

The rest isn't a huge deal, in itself:
-The rule about not responding to other students on the wall will because they are sent there for talking and need to learn to be quiet when asked.

• Not lining up with the others seems a reasonable consequence and 24hrs later isn't too bad.
  
• Some comment from other kids is to be expected. Do you have any actual evidence that they are getting away with repeated nasty comments? (on the wall or not, it doesn't really matter)
  

Some anxiety about breaking rules is healthy and necessary. I tend to agree this seems a bit much, but if your kid goes to this school you must back their rules. If the school is generally supportive and nurturing, then this won't do any harm. If you think this is part of a pattern of negativity, then find another school.