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Original poster

Should teachers expect pupils to miss educational activities for detentions?

34 replies

circular · 11/11/2011 07:36

Due to a homework misunderstanding, the subject teacher set a group detention for half the class, same day lunchtime.

DD explained she had an instrument lesson at that time, and as it was same day, could not be rearranged. She said DD could come after school that day instead. but DD had (school) orchestra practice. After muttering something about detentions not being arranged around kids social lives, it was rearranged for a lunchtime next week. DD has extra English tuition at that time, but felt it would be classed as backchat if she said anymore at that point.

Not sure why she told me, as she doesn't want me to intervene. I was quite annoyed, as the detention itself seemed quite unfair. Seems the teacher was in a bad mood that day. I have suggested she sends a polite email explaining the situation, (copying in the head of English who set up her tuition that this clashes with) and offering to go another lunchtime.

For the record, DD is in yr10 and has never had a detention before.
After school detentions would clash with instrument, music theory, school choir and school orchestra four days out of 5.

Interested what others think, especially teachers.

OP posts:
senua · 11/11/2011 08:28

"I have suggested she sends a polite email explaining the situation, (copying in the head of English who set up her tuition that this clashes with)"

I think that I might do it the other way round. Send the e-mail to the English HoD explaining, well in advance, why DD is not coming to the extra tuition (because she can't change yet another date), CCing the subject tutor. Then leave it and see if machinations within the school produce a better result that everyone is happy with. It would be better put in writing because it is quite a complicated story that the HoD won't have time to stand and listen to.

I would be tempted to use the opportunity to have a chat with DD along the lines of "for want of a nail, a shoe was lost". It is scary how one little mishap can cause a bigger mishap, which causes the next, which causes ...

Original poster
circular · 11/11/2011 08:20

Kez - 50/50 whether detention was fair, IMHO.

Teacher only rearranged whole group for her own reasons.

Yes - DD is extremely busy, and not too well organised, which is why I check online most days to see how much homework she has. But she really cannot afford to miss the English tuition.

OP posts:
Original poster
circular · 11/11/2011 08:05

Re the homework misunderstanding.

ALL homework is accessible from a gateway off the school website.
Teacher put homework on board ends of lesson, and said it would be on the gateway also. Homework was due in next lesson, two days later.

DD relies on the gateway, and it wasn't there. Parents also have access and I never saw any homework set for that subject. I checked again after DD told me and it was there marked as "new" on the day it was due in.

So it looks like the teacher was very Kate putting the homework on line, the half if the class that did do it would have been those that wrote it down and were not reliant on the gateway.

OP posts:
Kez100 · 11/11/2011 07:59

If the detention was fair (that is, it broke a rule) then yes. It sounds like your DD is a busy bunny and it would pretty much always impact on her life and that is what detentions are about! My son would be the same, thinking about it. I think the teacher was reasonable in accepting a different time and I also think your daughter vary mature to know exactly when to stop! Let her do it and, I suspect, it'll not happen again in a hurry as she seems she will have learned her lesson.

If the detention itself was dealt out when it ought not that's not fair (but I'd only get involved myself if it happened more regularly) I'd not for first time as its too much of a risk with your child to argue on their side against detentions (- they may start to think they are immune if they can convince mum it was unfair)

DownbytheRiverside · 11/11/2011 07:50

Y10 is GCSE and so homework is an essential aspect of their learning.
I really shouldn't post in a hurry, you gave all the information in your OP but I just didn't read carefully enough. Apologies for incompetence.

DownbytheRiverside · 11/11/2011 07:49
Blush

So they hadn't done work that had been set, which impacts on the next lesson.
Then yes, a detention is usually the consequence in order to get the work completed, and if it impacts on other activities that are extra-curricular, then that's what happens. If she'd had to miss football practice or drama, that would have been her fault for not doing the homework.
Teacher does seem to have been flexible up to a reasonable point. But detention is a sanction and so is inconvenient.

MidnightHag · 11/11/2011 07:47

"DD is in yr10"

DownbytheRiverside · 11/11/2011 07:44

Why half the class and not the whole class?
Had they been warned about the consequences of continuous disruptive behaviour? Or what ever triggered the detention?
What year is DD in?

MidnightHag · 11/11/2011 07:43

I don't think your DD's teacher is being unreasonable.
I'm a bit Hmm about the "homework misunderstanding".
She is giving up her lunchtime to ensure her pupils do the work they missed.
She has offered two further alternatives because the first time wasn't convenient for your DD. Remember this is extra of her time she is giving up.
I think you should feel grateful that this teacher takes your DD's education so seriously!