Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not put my occupation down on the Beavers application form?

72 replies

MyCarHasBrokenDownAgain · 14/09/2012 11:11

Hi All!

Really not sure if I am or not! DS has wanted to go to Beavers for over a year. He finally starts this week and we're both really chuffed about it.

Anyway, the pack of forms has arrived, and I've filled in everything quite happily, until I came to the parent's occupation bit. Why do they need this information (it's on his personal details card, which also contains medical information etc, so would assume it's held confidentially somewhere). It's not as though they ask where I work and contact details; just for my occupation. Just makes me slightly uncomfortable as to why they want to know this, and what it's got to do with him joining Beavers. FWIW I have a very boring admin job in HR, so not anything to hide or be proud of Grin.

If anyone can shed any light on why they need to know this or just thinks I'm being really petty and should get over myself I am happy to back down and add it.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Ragwort · 14/09/2012 17:42

As a Leader I agree with those who have said its because we are always interested in involving more people who can help with the group. Leaders are usually very stretched and it is great if we know that a parent is a chef for example and might be able to with a cooking badge etc.

Also one of my parents was a chocolate buyer Smile - when I talked to him about it he came in with a large box of chocs. for me and also makes very generous donations of chocolates to help with fund raising Grin.

If you don't want to fill it in, don't worry; but please give some thought to the leaders who do this as volunteers for very little thanks (and sometimes a lot of criticism) trying to be positive after 35 years in scouting.

Original poster
MyCarHasBrokenDownAgain · 14/09/2012 17:44

Oh gawd, forgot about the registration number, didn't fill that bit in either Blush. I'm such a crap parent!!! In my defense I was going to, but got distracted on mumsnet doing the dinner!

OP posts:
OddGoldBoots · 14/09/2012 17:44

At ours they ask about school because they then put them in a six with at least one person they might know. I don't think they ask occupation though.

Original poster
MyCarHasBrokenDownAgain · 14/09/2012 17:49

Ragwort Don't get me wrong, I definitely admire the leaders, it's not something I could ever do (well not without huge huge financial rewards anyway, it would be my idea of hell!), but if I were to volunteer I would like it to be just that - voluntary, not cornered or guilted into anything because of what I do - or don't - do. I already do membership, web and newsletter for another club, and that just about sends me round the bend. (has guilt trip due to newsletter already being 2 weeks overdue!)

OP posts:
exoticfruits · 14/09/2012 17:51

My DS has been to A&E twice from camp so they do need medical records.

Pseudonym99 · 14/09/2012 17:55

They want to know your school so they can pass on information about your child to them without your knowledge if they think they need to.

Original poster
MyCarHasBrokenDownAgain · 14/09/2012 17:58

Well I couldn't hide DS's school even if I wanted too as three of his classmates turned up as newbies tonight anyway (small village). I think the rest of the class are already in.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 14/09/2012 17:58

Any medical bits are the most important bits to get right otherwise in the rare occurrence of an accident requiring hopsital happening leaders may not have a full picture to give to hospital staff

Maryz · 14/09/2012 17:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Obiwan · 14/09/2012 17:59

Yes, thank you Pseudonym99 Grin.

God, I'm turning into one of those mothers.

I feel like we've scoured the county for a teacher who can do more than get my eldest into a swimming pool, but no joy. The child sinks like a (very theatrical) stone.

And every camp seems to involve watersports. There must be a nice sedate bookclub we can sign up to instead. No one has ever ended up in A & E with eye strain Blush.

exoticfruits · 14/09/2012 18:00

Rubbish Pseudonym!

Maryz · 14/09/2012 18:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sirzy · 14/09/2012 18:06

I thought that was a tongue in cheek comment?

RobotLover68 · 14/09/2012 18:07

I don't think it's on our cub form - but hobbies is - that can be interesting!

Obiwan · 14/09/2012 18:08

Oh crap - that was a sarcastic 'thanks' to Pseudonym by the way (I also assumed it was meant to be funny, and possibly a dig at me)... in case anyone thinks (or cares) that I might have a bad case of paranoia!

deleted203 · 14/09/2012 18:09

I'd be tempted to write 'brothel-keeper', but that's probably just my sense of humour.Grin

RobotLover68 · 14/09/2012 18:09

They want to know your school so they can pass on information about your child to them without your knowledge if they think they need to

Errr?no it isn't - it's so we can see if they know anyone so that they will settle quicker

carabos · 14/09/2012 18:36

DH is a professional sportsman and when selected to represent GB, virtually all the DCs clubs and schools asked him to come and give talks.

As others have said, they are asking because you might be useful for one thing or another. I'm in PR and I always used to put "none" against occupation because otherwise I'd have been working full time for nothingWink.

MadderHat · 14/09/2012 18:38

It's also so that we know which or how many children might be away on a given evening because they're attending a school event. In one of my units, the majority school always had things on on our meeting night in the last week of term, so we did the big end of term bash the week before.

Original poster
MyCarHasBrokenDownAgain · 14/09/2012 18:44

Right, have just texted to thank the leader (DS had a brill time, despite class bully pinching his bum Hmm) and to give her his NHS number.

OP posts:
exoticfruits · 14/09/2012 18:50

I wondered whether it was supposed to be tongue in cheek but decided it wasn't. Apologies if I got it wrong, but Beavers have no connection with schools.

hattifattner · 14/09/2012 18:53

Theres nothing sinister about the forms. As people have correctly stated, the occupation question is in case you have an interesting job (like a forest ranger or a potter) that could be used one evening. We have parents who are paramedics (first aid badge); fireman (visit to station); musician (can assess the musician badge) etc.

The comments on "we are volunteers" is because some parents are so goddamn rude and demanding, that sometimes its worth reminding them that we give up our time for free to entertain their child every week. Its amazing how parents think that £25 a term will pay for 4 adults and 2 teenagers to plan wonderful activities and provide all equipment and badges and pay the membership fees AND PAY THE LEADERS A SALARY.

Psuedonym, nonsense, we are duty bound to hold things confidential, same as other organisations.

We do not even supply details to the scout association except to say how many kids of what age group and gender in each section.

Jux · 14/09/2012 19:20

Could you make something up? I would be soooo tempted to put Satanist.

JamieandTheMagicTorch · 14/09/2012 19:22

Because they are nosey interfering bastards who want to judge you.

Or something.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow · 14/09/2012 19:23

I always put "Arms Dealer" if I think they really don't need to know Grin

Swipe left for the next trending thread