Hands on heads and fingers on lips! Anyone remember having to do this in class as a kid?

[ErlingHaalandsManBun]

Inspired by my Come and Praise school assembly thread, I have just thought about this from primary school as a kid in the 80's.

Having to put your hands on your head, or put your fingers on your lips as a way of the teacher controlling/punishing the whole class?

And also, having to line up, put your hand on the shoulder of the person in front of you then take a step back so you were all shoulder width apart!

I remember the hands on hard thing!

Heads down, thumbs up. Heads on the table then arms out with thumbs up was a favourite when I was at school. Had a history teacher who would say fingers on lips as loose lips sink ships, you’re all going down!

Yes, what a funny memory you’ve just awoken!! (90s child)

Yes, and I'd expect it'd be considered a cruel and unusual punishment now.

I don't remember thinking anything of it at the time, and remember it caused plenty of giggling and an elbow fight with the person next to you. So probably not what the teacher was aiming for.

Punishing? How is it any different from the call back stuff they do now? It was just a way to get all children quiet and doing the same thing with eyes front so the teacher could rein in any boisterousness before giving instructions

Kids have very different boundaries these days and must not be made to 'feel uncomfortable' . And parents will complain very loudly if they are.

I have no idea what happens in schools now though.

Don’t they still do this now? I’m sure they do at my kid’s school and also when I’ve volunteered at Beavers they’ve said fingers on lips to show the kids are listening and not talking/

Both were ways to get children to give attention to the teachers but the fingers on lips I think was used as a way to say 'quiet' and to get children quiet and listening. None of them were 'punishments' as such, just a way to gain control. Its been a very long time since I have been at school and I have no idea if they do this in schools still now.

Distance, Take!

Military term.

I was an adult before I actually realised what ‘distancetake’ was. The teacher shouted it, we put our hand on the shoulder of the person in front, and when she was happy, we walked in an orderly, well spaced line to our classroom!

I am glad someone else remembers doing this. 😂Getting in a line and putting your hand on the shoulder in front and then having to space yourselves and then walking in an orderly line into the assembly hall.

It was all very military like. We then had to walk into the hall and then organise ourselves into rows and sit down cross legged. Then had to do the same to come back out of the hall again afterwards.

Am slightly puzzled by the tone of this

making the class behave correctly seen as punishing or controlling ? Isn’t it just “teaching the class about sensible appropriate and calm behaviour “

I also wouldn’t see it as a punishment or anything like that.

At my DD’s school in reception the teacher used to put her hands on her head and say “hands on top!” and the children would have to put their hands on their heads and reply “that means stop”. It was just a way of getting them all to stop what they’re doing without just saying “ok everyone stop and listen”

Hands on top, that means stop is awesome! I really like that.

Far better than the rather controlling hand up copying the teacher, waiting for it to spread around and see who’s paying attention. I was taught to use that one and really question it now! I think it was supposed to stop the NQT bellowing ‘Be quiet!’, all the time. There are better ways 🤣

I remember having to cross my arms in front of me and putting a finger on lips.
A sort of hunched over position.
It was quite relaxing as a sensitive little person!
Easy to follow and got everyone's attention.