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Primary education

DS2 made to fish bottle out of school toilet as punishment

256 replies

citylover · 11/07/2008 12:38

DS2 is in year 2 and he and a friend put a plastic bottle down the toilet, think his friend then went to the toilet, other kids told on them and they were rightly called to account.

As punishment they were made to fish said bottle out of loo (with latex gloves on).

I am really uncomfortable with this type of punishment and have made my concerns known.

In addition my DS has quite serious anxiety issues around using school toilets which I have been trying to overcome over the past few months. The school are aware of these.

My family, and a childless friend think this punishment is fine ("well he won't do it again will he") which made me think perhaps IABU.

However my gut feeling is it isn't the right way of handling it and crosses a line.

He is generally a well behaved child at school - his teacher confirmed this the other night.

OP posts:
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MamaG · 11/07/2008 12:39

I think that as he and the friend put the bottle in the loo, it is right that they got it out, wearing latex gloves.

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dilbertina · 11/07/2008 12:41

Who better than him to fish the bottle out? They ensured no danger with gloves - seems perfectly reasonable to me.

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choccypig · 11/07/2008 12:41

Don't see the problem myself. Latex gloves make it perfectly clean. I wouldn't even consider it a punishment, it's just sorting out your own silliness.

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DumbledoresGirl · 11/07/2008 12:42

Sorry, citylover, another one here who thinks that is a perfectly reasonable thing for him to be asked to do (wearing gloves).

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moopymoo · 11/07/2008 12:43

think this absolutely fair enough and crosses no lines. agree, not even really a punishment, more a lesson in actions-consequences.

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MsDemeanor · 11/07/2008 12:45

Absolutely fair. Hardly a 'punishment' at all IMO. Just putting right something they'd done wrong.
He clearly doesn't have that much anxiety around the toilets if he's putting stuff in the loos to be naughty!

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MsDemeanor · 11/07/2008 12:45

And who do you think should clear up his mess? His teacher? Why? he's not a toddler.

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cockles · 11/07/2008 12:48

Seems like a perfectly reasonable way of dealing with it and much more of a 'natural consquence' than a punishment, therefore more appropriate than standing in a corner or something.

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Yorkiegirl · 11/07/2008 12:48

Message withdrawn

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fluffyanimal · 11/07/2008 12:48

I think it teaches him the consequences of his actions. And maybe it might even have a kind of aversion therapy effect on his toilet anxiety - to find that he can touch a school toilet and nothing dire will happen to him.

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Mutt · 11/07/2008 12:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StellaDallas · 11/07/2008 12:52

Sorry, I have to agree with everyone else. Perfectly reasonable punishment, IMO.

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Twiglett · 11/07/2008 12:52

school's in the right on this one

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louii · 11/07/2008 12:53

Sorry but definately was correct course of action. I have made my child do the same when he deliberately put something down the loo.

Who would you have expected to fish bottle from loo??
He is lucky he got a pair of gloves to do it.

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citylover · 11/07/2008 13:07

Very interesting. Perhaps I am in a minority of one then!!

Perhaps some of my ex Hs OCD tendencies have affected me !! or perhaps we are just too liberal in our approach.

He also did not like it btw.

FWIW I wouldn't make him fish it out at home either!!

OP posts:
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Mutt · 11/07/2008 13:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MamaG · 11/07/2008 13:09

citylover if one of my DC (yes even my 4 year old) put something in the loo at home, I'd make them take it out again wearing gloves - without a doubt

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charliecat · 11/07/2008 13:10

School was right. You wouldnt make him fish it out at home either? Why not?

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charliecat · 11/07/2008 13:10

School was right. You wouldnt make him fish it out at home either? Why not?

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VeniVidiVickiQV · 11/07/2008 13:10

If he has toilet issues and anxieties, how did you come to be shoving a bottle down the toilet???

I think the school did absolutely the right thing too, btw.

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VeniVidiVickiQV · 11/07/2008 13:11

Sorry - how did he come to be shoving a bottle down a toilet....

I know it wasnt you who did it

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VeniVidiVickiQV · 11/07/2008 13:11

Or was it?

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wannaBe · 11/07/2008 13:12

spot on punnishment.

why should someone else have to do it?

You're obviously too soft. luckily the school isn't.

Family is right - he won't be doing it again in a hurry will he?

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snowleopard · 11/07/2008 13:13

I think it's great when a consequence really fits the crime like this. having to fish it out is the 100% real and genuine consequence of his actions and if he didn't do it someone else would have to. How better to teach them to take responsibility for their actions?

I don't want to sound too as I don't know all the circumstances, but if he's that worried about school toilets, why was he playing with them and throwing bottles in? School were totally reasonable to think if he could throw it in, he could get it out!

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LilRedWhiskGersingles · 11/07/2008 13:13

I agree with the school. It'd be unreasonable if he was made to do it with bare hands, but with gloves on, I don't see why not.

If you mess around, especially in a way that impacts others, you should be made to sort the problem.

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