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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

96 replies

Ithinkitsjustme · 18/05/2012 16:38

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?

OP posts:
GnocchiNineDoors · 18/05/2012 17:08

Your DS misbehaved in class. His teacher has put it on his record and contacted you to inform you of the incident.

YABU.

Me - (thinking) what's the little bugger done now
- saying "Oh dear, what's happened?"

This suggests that he is actually a student that reguarly causes bother for the students so YABevenmoreU.

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 18/05/2012 17:09

Cap guns.

SugarBatty · 18/05/2012 17:11

Is its because its a type of gun its so serious?

Birdsgottafly · 18/05/2012 17:13

That's the procedure now.

Setting off a fire alarm and/or extinguisure comes under the prevention of terrorism.

The child ends up with it on their record and it can prevent them from holidaying in the US for years.

I wouldn't find it funny if my 15 year old behaved like that.

gafhyb · 18/05/2012 17:13

It could have been one of those paper things you throw on the floor and it makes a bang

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 18/05/2012 17:14

You don't need a gun to set off a cap. A cap just makes a small bang.

manicbmc · 18/05/2012 17:14

I don't think it needs reporting to the police but tbh I'd be expecting a temporary exclusion for that sort of disruption and I'd be bloody livid with your ds too.

What if the teacher has a heart condition (or another pupil does)?

Your ds needs a stern talking to. So much time is wasted in lessons dealing with disruptive little sods.

Birdsgottafly · 18/05/2012 17:14

Is its because its a type of gun its so serious

It's because it is classed as an explosive/weapon. This rule applies across stautory buildings as well.

CarryOnMatron · 18/05/2012 17:15

YABU

I would imagine that the police were informed because there is an officer linked to the school. I think alot of the beahviour problems in school are because parents don't support the teachers. He was obviously pissing about disrupting the lesson and annoying other kids. That isn't funny

gafhyb · 18/05/2012 17:16

OP - perhaps if you had been utterly apologetic and given the teacher the message you were taking it seriously, rather than arguing (whatever your real thoughts on the matter), they might think twice about reporting to the police

OddBoots · 18/05/2012 17:16

He is more than old enough to know not to bring them into school never mind muck about with them in class. If the teacher didn't treat this seriously then he and the other children would think they could get away with all sorts. Something on permanent record is ott although it is not clear if that will happen.

SugarBatty · 18/05/2012 17:17

If its a gun I'm not surprised it was taken so seriously with all the gun and knife related incidents surrounding teenagers these days.

Floggingmolly · 18/05/2012 17:18

They are probably banned from school so he shouldn't have had it with him at all, and it was definitely taking the piss to set it off in class.
I'd be very careful, you sound like you're going to give him the impression that the school were being daft and it was actually funny. They weren't and it isn't.

OddBoots · 18/05/2012 17:19

"I found it quite funny" sounds like you're supporting his disruptive behaviour, which makes it all the more important that the teacher is firm about it though.

PerVagine · 18/05/2012 17:19

YABVVU

I'm a physics teacher and whilst a cap isn't dangerous par se, it IS dangerous to set them off where the noise may startle others. For example, in situations where there is a degree of risk such as physics (or indeed chemistry) practicals.

I would be LIVID.

Ok, this situation was in an english classroom but your attitude quite frankly, stinks.

I cannot help but wonder OP if your DS gets his rank attitude to schooling from you. Are you always so unsupportive of teachers who are trying their best to educate your offspring?

ConferencePear · 18/05/2012 17:20

Whether it's an explosive or not and whether he's technically old enough to have them or not there is no way he should be setting them off in a lesson.
Why should the teacher put up with her lesson being so rudely interrupted ? It would no doubt have taken a while for the class to settle down again. What a waste of everyone's time.

PerVagine · 18/05/2012 17:22

And OP how on earth can you justify saying that you support 'kids who play up' when you blatantly think it's fricking hilarious when your child sets off caps in lessons. That goes waaaaay beyond low level disruption.

And how did he do that exactly? Did he hit it with something? Put it in a caps pistol or - god forbid- set light to it?

complexnumber · 18/05/2012 17:22

I, too, would like to know which part of the conversation you found "quite funny"

PerVagine · 18/05/2012 17:22

Quite pear, quite.

MrPants · 18/05/2012 17:23

Jesus wept! Just wait 'til he discovers Devil Bangers - they'll have the bomb squad out!

bugster · 18/05/2012 17:24

YABU

Not remotely funny, it's worrying you think it is. I'd think it very unfunny indeed if a 15 year old of mine ever did that, or if one in their class did it.

But FWIW I don't think calling the police was appropriate.

manicbmc · 18/05/2012 17:26

Maybe they called the police in desperation at constant disruption like this? Or maybe the teacher is a bit of an OTT twat.

Still doesn't make any of this funny though.

Rezolution · 18/05/2012 17:28

It is still bad behaviour and very upsetting for the staff and other pupils. Could have had much more serious consequences. Shame on you OP.

lashingsofbingeinghere · 18/05/2012 17:32

I think disrupting the class with any sort of loud noise is the real issue here - what if the OP's son had burst a crisp packet instead?

Likening the detonation of a cap to an act of terrorism and involving the police is just madness.

eeden · 18/05/2012 17:33

I would say that the only think I disagree with the teacher on is the fact that the police were called - that wasn't necessary.

Other than that, the teacher is right - absolutely disgraceful behaviour and I am not surprised she is furious (and was possibly quite shocked by the noise). If I ever have bad behaviour reported back to me by a teacher for either of my kids, I always back the teacher up at home.