To think DS's school were OTT to call me about this?

[2boys1girl1dog]

Ok, really weird day today!
First of all I got a call from DS's primary school (he's 10) this morning not long after dropping him off to say that he had been hit on the head.....by a conker falling from a tree!!!..bit random I thought but apparently they have a duty to tell me as it involves his head, anyway that's not the bit I'm asking about but made me laugh!
Then later after lunch they rang me again but I missed the call and only just noticed when I got to school for the pick up. My DS came out visibly distraught and crying his eyes out and his teacher asked if she could have a word. ( I was thinking oh my god surely not about the conker??)
Apparently DS had been naughty at lunchtime and, egged on by other boys ( so his teacher told me) he bashed a yogurt tube thing so hard that it squirted out everywhere including a little girls coat. Now DS has NEVER been in trouble at school before, I know he's not an angel but he really is a very good boy, and quite quiet and shy and just easy going. So I was really shocked that apparently the call I had missed was to summon me to school there and then to discuss the matter!!! Really?? Was it really that bad that I needed to go in? he had to clean the mess up and said sorry to the girl who's coat he'd hit (and apparently she was ok about it) I understand I need to know about it but the way it was dealt with - telling him they were calling me to get me to come really upset him in what I feel is a disproportionate way.
I talked with DS and told him I was really disappointed in him for succumbing to peer pressure as we've always drilled it into him not to be a sheep and a follower- he was really really upset bless him :0(

I would arrange an appt with the school to discuss this away from DS's ears tomorrow. Yes, on the face of it this sounds totally unreasonable but surely DS's school aren't that crazy? Surely?!! And if they are perhaps you can gently point it out to them. Did they try any other of his emergency contact numbers? Is it emergency contact at DS's school or some kind of "misbehaviour hotline"

I wouldn't read anything into his tears or possible afternoon in tears. Children all mature at their own rates and IMExp children in some areas mature MUCH faster than others. (I am a peripatetic science teacher so see thousands of kids every term!)

Very ott. As kids we used to blow up empty drinks cartons or crisp bags and stamp on them making a load noise in the dining hall. My parents were never called. What is it all coming to, kids not allowed to be kids anymore

Teacher reprimanded us and that was that

Worra, I know that; was specifically responding to the how parents were called before mobile phones. They still seem to have expected someone to be contactable (though I never heard of parents being contacted over behaviour, in those days, but the schools had more sanctions at their disposal then)

If I were called over something so stupid, I would be very unimpressed.

Are you sure they wanted to summon you in 'there and then'? Or did they ring to let you know they needed to speak to you at the end of school? Cos the number of times I hear teacher-bashing about the 'can I have a quick word?' at pick-up scenario, and people wondering why teachers can't ring them instead...

OTT to phone in the middle of the day re the yoghurt incident. They should have just have just had a word at pick up time. He shouldn't have one it, but it's hardly the worst thing in the world.

As for offering to pay for the coat to be properly cleaned, I'm sure a kid's coat can just be shoved in the washing machine.

desertgirl Ahh I misunderstood, sorry.

lake that sounds more likely doesn't it?

OP are you sure the phone call wasn't to ask you to wait because the teacher needed a word with you?

I quite like the schools lack of tollerence in relation to bad behavior. If only my school were like that, it might be a much nicer place

The only reply to this must surely be:

"Clearly the conker hit him pretty hard, poor wee lamb, with his head injury and all"

YANBU I think this is a huge overreaction to what is pretty standard behaviour for a boisterous 10 year old boy! Not good behaviour no, but surely pretty average. If my school contacted me to tell me that another child had got myDD's coat dirty and that they had contacted the boys parents and marched them in I would be incredibly embarrassed ! the boy just didn't think it through, he didn't anticipate the dirty coat.
Surely a little note home would have been enough? I feel that the school should have dealt with this, or was the yoghurt not organic? :)

The school rang you discuss the squirty yoghurt thing? Jeez, can't they deal with anything? I really can't be arsed with this kind of stuff at school, if DS has misbehaved I expect the teachers to have dealt with it and if appropriate let me know about it at the end of the day. But if they actually called me about something like this I would be suggesting they need to adjust their policy on this kind of thing.

What did they do in relation to the boys who were egging him on to splat the yoghurt. Aren't they as culpable? Do you think the school was concerned that your son was being wound up and allowing himself to be wound up to do something destructive and that that's what is the serious aspect of it.

Was the little girl upset? Have you offered to have the coat cleaned - washed - replaced if necessary?

Am I really the only person on this thread whose child goes to a school where phoning a parent is actually listed as a sanction in the behaviour policy?

Because as far as I was aware in our school, phoning a parent is the next step up from a lunchtime detention, and the school will use it when they think the behaviour warrants it.

I reckon that conker must have given him concussion.

Yes maybe it was the head injury from the conker which caused the yoghurt behaviour.

OutragedI hear what you are saying, and I understand that keeping a parent informed is a good thing. But phoning a parent and asking them to come in is a major incident IMO and this seems like a fairly minor incident which could be dealt with in school. Plus , who would send their children to school in anything that couldn't be washed!!

Why was she wearing her coat into lunch anyway?

It does sound a little OTT, but I suppose if he was very upset they wanted to let you know why.

Yadnbu how ridiculous! As it has been said many times, the OP is not debating her sons behaviour was wrong and the teacher had every responsibility to discipline accordingly and tell the Mother what happened but a call into the school should be reserved for emergencies only I would be fuming personally. The only reasons I can think of are A. The school thought the behaviour was related to the blow on the head. B. They didn't want to call you in just inform you or C. They have recently had a complaint about bullying and want to take strong actions they can document for the victims. Talk to the teacher surely there's an explanation

I have to admit I laughed reading about the squirting yoghurt! What a ridiculous reason to call you. It was dealt with at the time, he had to clean it up and apologize, what more could you have done at the time that you couldn't do at hometime?!