to think this teacher was over-reacting (I found it quite funny tbh)

[Ithinkitsjustme]

OK, I do support teachers when kids have been playing up etc, but I got a phonecall from my DS1's (age 15) English teacher
Teacher -"there has been a serious incident in school today and I've called to tell you about it"

Me - (thinking) what's the little bugger done now

• saying "Oh dear, what's happened?"

Teacher - "I have had to fill in a serious incident report that will remain on DS1's file for the remainder of the time he is in school and have had to report to the police"

Me - thinking f**
saying "that sounds bad, what has he done?"

Teacher - "he set off a cap during my lesson"

Me wtf??
"a cap?"

Teacher - "he set off a paper cap during the lesson"

Me serious incident, police, really??
"so he made a loud noise during your lesson with a paper cap"

Teacher "yes, this is a very serious incident, they are explosives"

Me explosives?? really?

Anyway this conversation went on for some time, me pointing out that there are actually more explosives in the crackers the kids pull at Christmas than in one paper cap, her adamant that this is extremely serious. Now, I have no problem with him being punished for distrupting the lesson, fair enough, but a serious incdent - involving explosives. Was she over-reacting or am IBU?

He shouldn't be setting off caps in lessons, but the explosive thing is a bit OTT. Has he got previous, so to speak?

What is a paper cap? Assuming it's not something that could have someone's eye out then it does seem like a severe punishment.

YABU. One of our local schools suffered serious fire damage after some 'little bugger' decided to see what a spark or two would do to a waste paper basket. Support the teacher or he'll keep taking the piss.

Sounds daft but it does depend on the behaviour that accompanied the incident.
I would be bloody furious but it's certainly not in the same league as explosives.
Very loud and disruptive though.Tsk tsk

I agree with Cogito

I loved caps as a kid though, I didn't actually realise they still made them.

Paper cap is from a roll of paper caps that children can put in cap guns. I did support the teacher, but thought making an explosives issue over it was extreme to say the least. I remember we used to set fire to the end of the roll when I was his age - sounded like macine gun fire (outside I might add!)

Technically, paper caps are explosives, and he's too young to have them.

It comes under 'explosive items' which are no doubt banned from the school. He shouldn't have even had it in school let alone be pissing about with it in lessons.

While it sounds like the teacher was overstating the danger involved, I, too would class that as a serious behaviour incident.

That does sound like a bit of an over-reaction. Calling it a serious incident involving explosives and reporting to the police I mean. Obviously I can understand he should have some punishment for disrupting the class but I find it hard to believe paper caps are dangerous.

We used to have them as kids when I was primary school age and I got some at Christmas to put in DD and DHs stocking.

BTW you mention crackers at Christmas but last year I noticed that M&S would jot sell crackers to under 16s because they contained explosive material. Quite mad.

YABU

Aside from the danger issue it is incredibly rude and massively disrespectful towards the teacher. I would be mortified if my child had done something like that, no way would i think it was amusing.

They were silly to make a big thing out of it. I remember setting off a stink bomb (with the agreement of the rest of the class I add) and the teacher did the best thing possible - completely ignore it and keep us all in the stinky room for the rest of the lesson. Never bothered again.

It's illegal to sell paper caps/ christmas crackers to under 18's but they are allowed to be given to over 3's

I'm just impressed that caps are still about! Where did he get them from?

"me pointing out that there are actually more explosives in the crackers the kids pull at Christmas than in one paper cap"

they are the same thing

YABU. Deliberate disruption and blatant lack of respect. I would have been livid in that teacher's position too.

It depends on what you said to her and how you handle it when you speak to your ds as to whether the teacher was over-reacting.
If you shrug your shoulders and give off a "so what" attitude then he'll think it's ok to continue to disrespect staff and disrupt lessons.
If you instill in him that he should behave properly and that you'll impose an appropriate sanction, then she will be satisfied that you're supporting the school and is unlikely to contact you for less trivial things.

Police will laugh

Not just M&S 5foot5 is against the sale of goods act to sell christmas crackers or party poppers to under 16's, same fines and just as illegal as selling cigs/alcohol to under 18's! very, very funny IDing people for them in my work, I know I shouldn't laugh, but really is bloody funny explaining it's a legal requirement for those who look under age!

peeriebear "I'm just impressed that caps are still about! Where did he get them from?"

I got them from Hawkins Bazaar

EvilTwins "YABU. Deliberate disruption and blatant lack of respect. I would have been livid in that teacher's position too."

I don't think anyone is suggesting that this was not bad behaviour and warranted a punishment for the OP's DS. But serious enough to involve the police? Really? I imagine the police being a bit bemused by that one.....

Well, I think that if you think it's not a big deal, your child will get that message too. Although the explosive thing is OTT, the priciple of the matter is that he disrupted the lesson in a way that probably scared people. So, not great

Report to the police is OTT, but maybe a little chat will stop him from doing something like that again

What did you find quite funny OP? What he did or the teacher's reaction?

You think you have problems??? we got a phone call from an unknown number yesterday ....answered it and it was ds2 ....turns out hed had his phone confiscated wanted us to ring school and explain why hed checked his phone (grandad is poorly and hes anxious about him being in hospital whilst hes at school) and had actually said to a teacher (in a joking way....I hope) that hed shave the teachers sideburn off if he didnt let ds2 use his mobile phone ........so,the teacher let ds2 use his personal phone.

I'm still baffled what a cap is!

I just think of someone saying "I'll put a cap in yo ass" (in an american gang members voice)

Is it like a pellet gun type thing?

if it could start a fire or hurt somebody yabu

If its a childish prank that's just disruptive yanbu

It's a tricky one isn't it? It's the sort of thing I would probably have wanted to do when I was a kid (never had the bottle to go through with it though) but would still not approve of my ds doing it.

Of course he shouldn't have disrupted the lesson but op has acknowledged that. But involving the police and calling it a serious incident with explosives is OTT, no wonder actual crime is going unchecked when police time is being wasted for this sort of thing.