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Original poster

Whole class punishments?

122 replies

WholeClassKeptIn · 17/10/2021 19:34

Where do we all stand on whole class punishments? I thought they weren't done anymore but I don't think they're outright banned are they?

My daughter is in yr 5 and is quite rule driven. She has an amazing teacher and I'm happy with school in general and bit worried about becoming "that parent."

But... the teacher I think (obviously hearing this from a child!) Is keeping the children in at break and lunch if the class is noisy. The problem is she knows she is not talking (or her friend next to her) and the sense of injustice is huge. They hate being kept in when they haven't broken any rules.

I know its not long (under 10mins I think) but to a child its ages. she's feeling anxious when other children start talking that she will miss part of her break. When she comes home if it's a "kept in" day it's all she talks about. Its about once a week so far.

This week they were told they were missing "8 minutes" of break the next day (15mins). She didn't want to go to school the next day . I know this is an overreaction but she was worried about going in to be told off for something she's not doing. As it happened she then went to queue for toast after missing the first half, but she waited the reat of break and didn't get toast or to play. She came home quite upset.

I know to adults this seems a small thing and I know it must be incredibly hard for the teacher. But its getting to her as she can't do anything to stop it however quiet she is!

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
Shieldingending · 17/10/2021 19:56

It really annoys me, and makes me think the teacher is too lazy to deal with the culprit, and I say this as a teacher. It happens a lot at my DC’s school Sad

Solongtoshort · 17/10/2021 19:59

How bizarre, my child is in year 5 and this is happening in his class. Last Friday he came home and ad said it was his worse week ever and was so upset. Friday gone he they missed play because of the new boy who wouldn’t own up to breaking something even though the class where telling the teacher who it was. He has just told me that if everyone reads everyday this week they can have a Halloween party, l said that’s he said it’s not going to happen because the new boy never reads. This new boy is always swearing as well and they all get punished. Now that l am typing this l think l am going to phone the school tomorrow.

BurbageBrook · 17/10/2021 20:07

I used to be a teacher, and i think whole class punishments are the laziest, most idiotic and pointless punishment imaginable. I’m not a big complainer but I’d be speaking to the teacher about this or going over their head even. Ask them, what pedagogical evidence are they basing this on? (They won’t be able to find any, as whole class punishments are not evidence-informed and are like something out of the 1950s.)

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Stokey · 17/10/2021 20:11

This has been happening a bit to my Y5 too and started in Y4. I also really hate them missing break or lunch as a punishment. They get little enough time to run around outside and it seems very unfair to have to miss it just because someone else in class has been messing around. I don't really like it as an individual punishment either. When I was at school we had to learn poems or so physical exercise like run around the pitch as a punishment which at least seemed a bit more constructive.

AdoptedBumpkin · 17/10/2021 20:12

Agree @BurbageBrook. Why punish children for being in a class with a few 'naughty' kids?

waltzingparrot · 17/10/2021 20:13

What do the teachers think it teaches them? Teaches them that life isn't fair.

LolaSmiles · 17/10/2021 20:15

I don't like whole class punishments as a teacher. I think they're lazy, demotivating and don't get to the heart of the behaviour issue.

The only time I think something close to that is acceptable is, for example, if a teacher tells the class to pack away with ample time and the class take their time, mess around, are too busy talking to notice that the bell has gone for break, so the teacher waits until everyone is ready. Usually in this situation there's a couple of students you can dismiss on time because they've done everything right, but it's not uncommon to be waiting for students who are lovely to pay attention.

Tailendofsummer · 17/10/2021 20:16

Just to be clear, has this happened once? (Teacher at end of tether and can't back down once they've threatened it) or is it the "go to" punishment they are using? As a regular thing it isn't ok.

Farcry66 · 17/10/2021 20:16

As a head of year, I hate it when teachers do this. Parents complain and I always tell the teacher it is unacceptable and directly goes against our behaviour policy. I get it, I'm a teacher too, but the last thing you want to do is turn the good kids against you!!!

Vallmo47 · 17/10/2021 20:19

I agree with you OP, it’s wrong. You will never find a class with 100% well behaved angels at the same time.

Asdf12345 · 17/10/2021 20:19

I hated it as a schoolchild but looking back do feel it taught a huge amount about working as a team where we all carry the can for mistakes.

GoodnightGrandma · 17/10/2021 20:19

So there’s no point behaving when everyone else isn’t, as you’ll be kept in anyway.
Yep, I’d be having a word.

Itsbeen84yearss · 17/10/2021 20:20

I occasionally used to keep whole classes back at break ( secondary) but I knew who the well behaved ones were and I’d just say ‘ x desk is tidy ( or something else), you can go’ and dismiss the good ones one by one quite quickly. Doesn’t sound right to me in primary

TumtumTree · 17/10/2021 20:21

This used to happen at DS's school and it upset him so much. Eventually we moved him, this wasn't the main reason but it was part of it.

handmademitlove · 17/10/2021 20:23

I have in the past complained about this for exactly the reasons you give. I gave my child a copy of the school behaviour policy which says that whole class punishments are not used and highlighted a copy for the teacher... Maybe check your schools policy? It is a good way to teach your child the right way to complain when people don't follow their own rules. A useful skill in life is to stand up for yourself in a positive and polite way.

Tigerwhocameforsupper · 17/10/2021 20:23

@Shieldingending

It really annoys me, and makes me think the teacher is too lazy to deal with the culprit, and I say this as a teacher. It happens a lot at my DC’s school Sad
The problem is there won’t just be one culprit! If there was the teacher would clearly just punish them.

It can be difficult when you’ve got 30-32 kids infront of you an two thirds are talking. You can’t dish out individual punishments for this many and so sometimes doing it for the whole class is the only way.

Pumperthepumper · 17/10/2021 20:24

I hate it, they learn nothing from it.

Jenster03 · 17/10/2021 20:28

I think the reason teachers do this is because there's that many talking they can't tell who it is exactly.

GlitteryFlaps · 17/10/2021 20:32

Is it a new teacher or an established teacher? Is it just their class, or is it a whole school rule?

If new, and the only class this is happening to, I would raise it to the head asap. They clearly don’t understand the way the school works.

If it’s an established teacher, I’d still mention it to the head.

If it’s a whole school rule, I would ask what the school governors think about it, as it seems fairly draconian and unnecessary. I know neither of my children would respond well to this, and they are both wonderfully behaved at school. home is a different matter!😆!

I hope it doesn’t affect your daughter too badly, but it needs nipping in the bud before the children rebel against the whole class punishments!!

campion · 17/10/2021 20:35

It can be difficult when you’ve got 30-32 kids in front of you and two thirds are talking...

Then you need to sort out your classroom management if two thirds aren't listening as you clearly haven't got much control.
And one third are still not the problem.
Whole class punishments are wrong and should never happen.

Tigerwhocameforsupper · 17/10/2021 20:38

@campion

It can be difficult when you’ve got 30-32 kids in front of you and two thirds are talking...

Then you need to sort out your classroom management if two thirds aren't listening as you clearly haven't got much control.
And one third are still not the problem.
Whole class punishments are wrong and should never happen.

I’m guessing you’re not a teacher!

Teachers shouldn’t need to “control” classes. They are children not wild animals. Children should be brought up to respect authority and respect rules. Sadly many don’t.

Pumperthepumper · 17/10/2021 20:39

Children should be brought up to respect authority and respect rules. Sadly many don’t.

Why should they? Particularly if that authority inflicts punishments they have no control over?

Original poster
WholeClassKeptIn · 17/10/2021 20:39

Seems like everyone thinks similar. And sorry its happening elsewhere 😔.

To answer a Q no it isn't a one off but been 4 or 5 times, so enough my daughter is now on edge in class.

I did email school Friday and missed a call back (I realise this is very outing hence name change and if her teacher is reading (!!) I am in awe of all she does as a teacher normally, it is just this one thing!)

When they ring back Monday I want to be clear what I want to say. It sounds like I dont have a leg to stand on? Id like my child not to be included in whole class being kept in (but I realise this defeats the point.)

My child is also now worried about the teacher asking her what the problem is. My daughter hates all conflict or upsetting anyone and is likely to say she's fine 🙄 I've tried to say to her that her teacher is great and that the only way they know if kids are upset is if they are honest and it helps them to change...

Hmm. Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
Original poster
WholeClassKeptIn · 17/10/2021 20:43

Sorry cross posts. She is established and seems so lovely in general but she is now considered "worst ever teacher" by my child over this one thing. I suspect it is often only 2 or 3 minutes but to her its become such a big thing.

When my eldest went there I was told it wasn't allowed (she is autistic and got upset the once or twice it happened.) However Ive heard that other teachers in the year do this so I dont know if its their year or school policy changed.

They do such a difficult job I don't want to be labelled "that parent" or make problems for the teacher when I know they're underresourced etc etc.

However my child is also finding it difficult...

OP posts:
N0tfinished · 17/10/2021 20:45

You don't have to be 'that' parent to express your dissatisfaction with whole class punishments. My son hated them too. I've only ever experienced them once, with a very recently qualified teacher who seemed to have no control. I think they're so counterproductive. The students behaving well are demotivated and it fosters bad feeling between the children