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Original poster

detention for mobile phone use

54 replies

neva · 01/05/2012 18:17

It is normal for a school to hand out an after school detention for mobile phone use (in this case, sending a message during lunch hour - a first offence)? In this case, it is the school's stated policy, but I would be interested to know whether this is usual.

I had assumed that some work would be set during the detention, or she would be allowed to do homework. However, she was required to sit doing absolutely nothing for an hour. Is this the norm?

OP posts:
Mopswerver · 01/05/2012 18:38

I agree too. There are very important reasons why they're so strict about this so the message should be clear and unequivocal.

lisaro · 01/05/2012 18:36

Yes, it was normal when my kids were at school, and rightly so.

changeforthebetter · 01/05/2012 18:33

Ours does detention/confiscation for second offence.

It is bloody annoying that some kid thinks they can just disengage and check their messages through a lesson you have slaved over. That said, most kids get absolutely crap examples from adults (including a number of teacher/student teacher friends) who seem to think texting while holding a conversatio/out for a meal/drink etc is acceptable. It isn't. It.Is.Fucking.Rude Angry If you need to check on the babysitter/hamster-minder whatever, fair enough but just checking FB?? WTAF. I think they are like security blankets for inadequate people. I saw a group of interviewees recently and they spent every spare minute on their phones despite sitting round a table. Morons! I would have been sussing out my rivals making polite conversation - oh, and they were interviewing for a teaching job Hmm

I like mobiles. I have one and they are fab - very convenient. But not checking them every 2 minutes does not mean your life will collapse in a heap around you.

ClaireAll · 01/05/2012 18:24

At my DD's school, mobiles have to be switched off and in lockers for the duration of the school day. If they are spotted by a teacher, then they are confiscated and have to be picked up by a parent. If they need to send a message home, they can make a phone call from reception at any time.

It doesn't really matter what the sanction is, does it? If your child has broken school rules, you should not really question them or think that a little message at lunchtime is somehow OK.

Schools get the brunt of cyber bullying and they have to do whatever it takes to keep a lid on this.