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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to report this member of staff to the head?

78 replies

walklikeapenguin · 18/03/2011 14:54

I have noticed that most days when I go to pick up my child from infant school, a member of the caretaking staff is standing immediately outside the school gates smoking a cigarette.

The staff member wears a coat in school colours, with the school logo on it.

I think that:
a) it sets a bad example if the children see
and
b) it presents a poor image of the school to passers by and parents

WIBU to bring this to the attention of the head?

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 18/03/2011 14:56

They are smoking outside the school not in it.

Jeez you are a real anti-smoker aren't you.

Mind your own fucking business.

FreudianSlippery · 18/03/2011 14:57

You should probably get your fagsmoke flame resistant suit ready for this thread but I for one agree with you!

TorcherQueenie · 18/03/2011 14:57

YABVVVU they are having a fag break outside of school grounds away from the kids and are presumably over 18 so its not illegal besides which its non of your bloody buisness FFS!

SenoritaViva · 18/03/2011 14:58

If your intention is simply to have a 'quiet word' rather than causing trouble then yes I think you could request they consider a more discrete location.

tulip27 · 18/03/2011 14:58

I agree with you penguin. She is representing the school therefore should be setting a better example.

Checkmate · 18/03/2011 14:58

Terrible example to children. YANBU.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 18/03/2011 14:58

ooh let's play bingo

were they old?

female?

fat?

LDNmummy · 18/03/2011 14:59

YABU, unless it is in enough proximity to the children that they can inhale it too. Otherwise, let the person have their fag break and trust in your own parenting skills enough that you know your children should be adequately informed on smoking. They are going to see people smoking wherever they go in life, I doubt they even notice the person doing it.

GelflinGirl · 18/03/2011 15:02

meh! another member of the "smokers are leppers and should hide for the rest of there days" Hmm

YABU!

Original poster
walklikeapenguin · 18/03/2011 15:05

Yes exactly, Senorita.

No, of course it's none of my business if she smokes, I just don't think she should do it right outside school, at home time, wearing school uniform.

OP posts:
ENormaSnob · 18/03/2011 15:06

School logo visible - not appropriate

own clothes - not arsed

FranSanDisco · 18/03/2011 15:15

It's not against the law is it? Many of the parents probably stub their fags out on the school gate on the way in. Only uptight judgey types would care about how it looks. I also think using the bad role model for the kids line is lazy, its hardly the class teacher we're talking about.

naturalbaby · 18/03/2011 15:46

it is setting a bad example to the kids - the caretaker is a member of staff. i remember getting regular reminders from our headteachers about setting a good example when wearing school uniform - that would go for staff too surely?! is a caretaker not as important as a class teacher?

don't all places of work have to have designated smoking areas? maybe the caretaker has already had the conversation with the head and been told not to smoke on school property so he's making a point by standing just outside it. i'd be hoiking up my judgy pants and lecturing my kids on smoking in a loud voice as i walked past.

GypsyMoth · 18/03/2011 16:09

its not illegal....so what do you expect the head...or anyone...to do??!!

snakesandladders · 18/03/2011 16:11

ybu and dull

ZeroMinusZero · 18/03/2011 16:13

Give a crap, how can you not have more important things to worry about?

ZeroMinusZero · 18/03/2011 16:13

Give a crap, how can you not have more important things to worry about?

cyb · 18/03/2011 16:13

Our Head had to speak to the smoking teachers ?TA's at my school as a parent had complained about them smoking down the road.

they moved on for a bit, then came back

They are adults

GypsyMoth · 18/03/2011 16:14

love to see how thoses who have such a problem now,will cope wen their dc are teens!!!

no way on this eaarth will you be able to control them enough to stop them ttrying ssmoking......no matter how hard you lecture them now!!Grin

BluddyMoFo · 18/03/2011 16:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fedupofnamechanging · 18/03/2011 16:15

I think smoking rooms in schools are long gone tbh. The caretaker is not on school property, so I don't think anyone has any jurisdiction to tell him/her not to smoke. An adult has the right to do as they please (so long as they are not harming other people) without busybodies dictating how they live.

catchmeifyoucan · 18/03/2011 16:16

How lovely! An undercover agent working for the Ministry of 'Let's Spoil Everyone's Fun'. Look OP - here's the deal - Get a life, Mind your Business, Keep your Stickybeak out of it and move along. Nothing to see here.

Librashavinganotherbiscuit · 18/03/2011 16:16

Rest assured seeing a member of the school staff smoking will not magically convey cool status to smoking....

PrincessScrumpy · 18/03/2011 16:17

Our school rule (secondary school) is that staff must be out of sight from the school so cannot be just outside the gates.

However, you dc will see people smoking and I think it's best not to make an issue of it. In fairness it's a public place so it's not illegal at all - you probably should find other things to stress about.

frgr · 18/03/2011 16:19

I think it presents a poor image of the school so YANBU. Quite unprofessional.

I wouldn't want parents standing smoking at the school gates with any regularity, tbh. Not much the school can do though.

But I do agree with you, OP! Smile