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Original poster

Is it acceptable for a child to be given a detention for being too early to lessons?

109 replies

Carsgoingby · 22/07/2022 19:12

Interested in other peoples thoughts on this - twelve year old turning up ten minutes early every time the lesson is after break / lunch. Teacher has repeatedly asked them not to.

OP posts:
ArcticRoll2 · 22/07/2022 19:51

That is ridiculous. If it bothers the teacher so much why doesn’t HE/HER go elsewhere? I presume the child is waiting outside the class. The teacher doesn’t own the corridor. do not understand people saying it’s ok as he has been told not to. For me, what is the issue with it in the first place? Teacher sounds like a complete jobs worth and I wouldn’t be happy if this was my child.

Staynow · 22/07/2022 19:49

No a detention is an awful idea, the teacher needs to find out why they are going there early when no one else is, it's not bad behaviour it's sad behaviour :-(

MrsTerryPratchett · 22/07/2022 19:47

I wish OP would enlighten us. It's all a bit pointless without more information.

SingingInParadise · 22/07/2022 19:47

T h the teacher being grumpy about a student arriving 10mins early feels like a huge fuss out of nothing.

It would have been very easy to ask the student to wait outside Wo making such a huge fuss as a detention.
As for wanting to get more time from the teacher than allocated 😂😂😂😂 I’ve yet to find a student who thinks that way tbh. MOre likely, as PP have pointed out, that the student is lonely/bullied/anxious about being late etc….

casualreader2022 · 22/07/2022 19:47

I interpret this as your child is in an out of bounds area... And is continuingly going there despite being told otherwise under the story of being early to lesson. Detention is for defiance, not punctuality. There are other places they could go... If they're not happy during social times, contact the head of year, they'll help with social clubs etc.

Antarcticant · 22/07/2022 19:46

My first thought was that the child might be being bullied in the playground.

Hellocatshome · 22/07/2022 19:45

KateRusby · 22/07/2022 19:34

Well how on earth do you know that they haven't? Why wouldn't a teacher have thought of exactly what a load of mumsnetters have?

Show quote history

Well maybe they have but you wouldnt usually identify a problem such as bullying etc and then still punish the child for trying to protect themselves from it by turning up to class early. You would usually find alternatives for the child to access.

Mischance · 22/07/2022 19:43

What is making him want to get away from the playground and into the classroom? - that is the real concern here.

CaptainMyCaptain · 22/07/2022 19:41

Arriving ten minutes early at the end of a break is taking ten minutes of precious time away from the teacher. Have you asked why they are doing it? I often hated lunchtime as I wasn't particularly social although not being bullied. We wouldn't have been allowed anywhere near a classroom during break.

PortalooSunset · 22/07/2022 19:36

I think detention for repeatedly not following instructions is justified, yes.

KateRusby · 22/07/2022 19:34

Hellocatshome · 22/07/2022 19:24

Seems reasonable as they are doing something they have repeatedly been asked not to do. I would be more worried about why they are doing it and a bit suprised the teacher hasn't thought about that either. I would suspect loneliness or bullying.

Well how on earth do you know that they haven't? Why wouldn't a teacher have thought of exactly what a load of mumsnetters have?

Legrandsophie · 22/07/2022 19:34

It depends what they are doing when they turn up early and how many times it has happened.

Are they turning up early every lesson all year and distracting the teacher, E teeing the classroom unasked, eating inside, messing with stuff laid out for the lesson?

ChicCroissant · 22/07/2022 19:30

I also think that the detention is for not following the teacher's instructions - it may be that the pupil is turning up early for another reason which needs looking in to, but turning up early to lessons isn't going to solve the problem. If it is a problem with unstructured time or bullying, does the school have a hub or support centre that the pupil could visit instead? If you are the parent OP, did you know this was happening (turning up early)?

Hellocatshome · 22/07/2022 19:24

Seems reasonable as they are doing something they have repeatedly been asked not to do. I would be more worried about why they are doing it and a bit suprised the teacher hasn't thought about that either. I would suspect loneliness or bullying.

BlanketsBanned · 22/07/2022 19:24

Sorry, I just thought you might be op as I didn't think we havent been told what the detention was for.

Pumperthepumper · 22/07/2022 19:24

No, detentions are pointless. Could he be being bullied? I think a referral to guidance is more nurturing.

MumofSpud · 22/07/2022 19:24

The bigger picture, as others have said, is that the child can not cope with unstructured times - this could be a variety of reasons but all need looking at and discounting- no friends / bullying etc

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 22/07/2022 19:22

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 22/07/2022 19:19

The detention is for not following instructions.

Nope, i've just said the same thing as a few other posters, not sure why you've picked my post

sancynancy · 22/07/2022 19:21

If the detention is because of them not doing as they've been asked yes I think it's acceptable.
I'd hope the teacher would have investigated the reason for turning up early first though

Jalepenojello · 22/07/2022 19:21

They are repeatedly ignoring instructions and appearing places they are not supposed to be at that time. A detention is fine

BlanketsBanned · 22/07/2022 19:20

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 22/07/2022 19:19

The detention is for not following instructions.

Are you op with a name change

5zeds · 22/07/2022 19:20

Has the teacher suggested what or where they could wait instead? Are they safe wherever that is?

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 22/07/2022 19:19

The detention is for not following instructions.

MrsTerryPratchett · 22/07/2022 19:18

Bullying or SEN a factor? I bet one is.

NetballHoop · 22/07/2022 19:18

If your child has been repeatedly asked by a teacher not to be early then they should listen and not be early.

That said, I'm an early rather than late person and would be there at least 5 minutes early.

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