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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that if you can't go without a cigarette for the length of a school trip, you should not volunteer as a parent helper?

105 replies

Greythorne · 02/12/2011 16:41

My DD went ice skating with her class this afternoon. They ask for parent helpers to get the kids togged out in their skating clothes, in ice skates and helmets. Everyone meets at the rink at 1.30 and they children get on a coach to go back to school at 3.15 so it's a total of one hour and forty five minutes.

AIBU in thinking if you cannot last that long without having a fag in full view of all the kids (twice, and that's in addition to the one she had oitside the rink out of view during the lesson) then you shouldn't volunteer.

OP posts:
TuftyFinch · 02/12/2011 22:15

That is so outrageous! Did you call the police? I'd have called the police. Or the army. Sharpish. Bloody disgusting!

HopeForTheBest · 02/12/2011 22:21

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on request of its author.

Original poster
Greythorne · 02/12/2011 22:22

CRB checking doesn't even exist here! Well, teachers are checked, but parents / volunteers are not. Ever, to my knowledge.

OP posts:
WhoopsyLa · 02/12/2011 22:26

Parents drink at school summer fetes and wine features heavily on our Tombola....but that's ok for some reason...Drinking is ok somehow...despite the fact that it kills almostas many as smoking does.

FreudianSlipper · 02/12/2011 22:29

really stop being so petty

what children are not allowed to see adults smoke now Hmm

if i was unable to help out i would be grateful that other parents could and not surprised they want a little fag break, i am sure i would if i smoked. they will be kept away so really what is the problem

MitziKinsky · 02/12/2011 22:31

I think there is a difference between drinking/smoking on a school trip and drinking/smoking at the school fayre.

microcow · 02/12/2011 22:32

a fag is a fag, they weren't shooting up, get over it

TuftyFinch · 02/12/2011 22:34

Can you smoke at the Nativity play? Just wondering.

WhoopsyLa · 02/12/2011 22:36

Mitzy Do expand....what makes a school trip into a vastly different occasion? Both fetes and trip involve the public...they are both a "treat" ...so why is it ok to have a drink of Pimms or wine at the fete in front of (gasp) the kids....but not to smoke outside on a trip?

MitziKinsky · 02/12/2011 22:40

If you are on a school trip you are presumably a responsible adult...partly responsible for other peoples children. At the summer fete you are only responsible for your own DC.

I wouldn't expect a teacher to smoke on a school trip or have a glass of wine with lunch, weather the children saw or not.

WhoopsyLa · 02/12/2011 22:41

Tufty only if you're a good distance from the manger.

MitziKinsky · 02/12/2011 22:41

TuftyFinch, only if the Nativity is performed outside.

TuftyFinch · 02/12/2011 22:43

So, outside and not near the manager. Got it. Can't smoke in churches? No?

WhoopsyLa · 02/12/2011 22:44

Mitzy A parent helper is a volunteer and they aren't responsible legally. If the school really wanted to make it a taboo then they would stipulate it and risk no helpers or only a few.

SetFiretotheRain · 02/12/2011 22:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WhoopsyLa · 02/12/2011 22:46

Tufty As long as you're nowhere near the cassocks or the kneelers it's fine. According to our vicar anyway...but then he often gets tipsy at church fetes.

TuftyFinch · 02/12/2011 22:57

I won't be going near any cassocks. I won't be doing much kneeling either hopefully. Excellent. I'm assuming it's ok to take wine. I mean, that's a given -right?

usualsuspect · 02/12/2011 22:58

I'm sure the baby jesus wouldn't mind if you had a fag

TuftyFinch · 02/12/2011 23:04

It wasn't the baby jesus I was worried about. It was the donkey.

troisgarcons · 02/12/2011 23:07

Im curious now .... you cant smoke on council sites .... so teachers go for a fag offpremises with 6th formers - and tolerate Y11's in the summer on study leave.

WWYD?

dancingmustard · 02/12/2011 23:34

All helpers who smoke should have to wear camouflage so when they smoke they can fade into the background whilst blackening their innards.

Alternatively smokers should be pointed at and mocked by the class for killing themselves slowly.

troisgarcons · 02/12/2011 23:35

Alternatively smokers should be pointed at and mocked by the class for killing themselves slowly.

we would ...if the little feckers didnt try and ponce a fag or a light ........

dancingmustard · 02/12/2011 23:39

Hahahahah @ troisgarcons

It took me back a bit that.

My old form teacher used to confiscate cigs from us if he found them and by the end of the day there were some missing from each packet :)

A1980 · 02/12/2011 23:49

Just a cigarette huh?

I would've needed a stiff drink.

somedayma · 02/12/2011 23:53

get over it. hideously judgemental post