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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think farting in class doesn't warrant detention?

60 replies

CuriousMama · 19/10/2012 20:03

DS2 is year 7 and today one of his friend's got detention for letting rip in class. This dc is a really good kid, polite and popular. DS2 says he's never disruptive it just came out, he didn't do it for attention.

I think it's so sad. What if the boy has a stomach bug coming on? Or IBS? There could be any manner of reasons why this happened. Surely telling him to go to the bathroom or even a bit of shouting to calm the class would've been enough? I imagine there would be lots of sniggering?

The teacher's well known for being ultra strict.

Tbh I can't even write his scrawl that he puts in ds2's book? I'd mention it to him if I didn't think it'd backfire on ds2. DS2 has (possible) Aspergers, he's under diagnosis, so I don't want to rock the boat. He's very sensitive and could end up in tears if he's told off.

So AIBU or do you think the teacher is right?

OP posts:
PatTheHammer · 19/10/2012 20:46

My class were doing a test in silence today and I had to hold on to a great big one for about half an hour. Opened the fire door and let rip as soon as the last one had left the room Blush.

I have never had an intentional fart disrupter in 10 years of teaching, the odd clangers slip out occassionally and we usually have a good laugh and a good discussion about the biology of farting....kids love farts, fact of life!

If the kid is actually upset his mum should ask to speak to the teacher, it shouldn't be come from you or your DS as frankly that looks a bit weird, sorry!

Adversecamber · 19/10/2012 20:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
CuriousMama · 19/10/2012 20:51

I wasn't going to mention it to the teacher? Did you read my whole OP? I was going to mention the scrawl that the teacher writes in ds2's book. I can't read the comments, no one in our house can?

OP posts:
ItWillSoonBeChristmas · 19/10/2012 21:00

WHEREVER YOU MAY BE... LET THE WIND BLOW FREE!

AnnaLiza · 19/10/2012 21:00

Grin at farting with intent

PatTheHammer · 19/10/2012 21:01

Sorry, my error, I did read your OP but misunderstood thought you were talking about mentioning the farting not the scrawl..................no wonder it seemed a bit weird to me!

About the scrawl though, it is really important that children (and parents) can read teacher comments in their book, otherwise how are the children meant to respond to teacher marking? This is a BIG push from OFSTED and generally just good teaching that marking should not be a one way street and the children should be able to read the comments and act on them appropriately. I would mention it if I was you, maybe in a general way to the Head of Year or something without mentioning the teacher by name?

redexpat · 19/10/2012 21:21

A friend of mine gave detention to a boy who tried to fart a Christmas carol. His mother rang up to demand to know why her little darling was given detention. My friend said you could hear her embarrassment down the phone!

Just wanted to share.

Original poster
CuriousMama · 19/10/2012 21:29

PTH thanks I think I will mention it to the head? payback

Blimey redexpat Shock

OP posts:
complexnumber · 19/10/2012 21:30

I'd mention it to him if I didn't think it'd backfire on ds2. from op.

Original poster
CuriousMama · 19/10/2012 21:34

what's so funny? I was talking about the scrawl not the farts!!

OP posts:
MrsReiver · 19/10/2012 21:37

Poor boy, DS takes movicol every day which makes him incredibly windy, and they stink to high heaven. I already have to speak to his class teacher at the start of every year explaining that if DS asks to go to the loo he has to be allowed to go straightaway, don't tell me I'm going to have to warn them about his farts gassing everyone?

CaliforniaLeaving · 19/10/2012 21:40

Poor kid I feel his embarrassment, will his friends give him grief over it I wonder.
I farted in Yoga the other week, which made me laugh, then I lost balance and started a chain reaction of people laughing then falling, it was very funny.

Original poster
CuriousMama · 19/10/2012 21:44

Oh I remember farting in Yoga too so bloody embarrassing Grin

No his friends shouldn't rib him too much they're good lads really just mischievous at times. Poor boy who pumped is the best behaved bless him.

OP posts:
notsofrownieface · 19/10/2012 21:46

Oh god this reminds me of the time in year 7 drama where I got tearful because I had no confidence to play the game where you have to recite a shopping list, the game where one persons says they bought something then the next person says what the previous people bought plus their item. Anyway in tears got pulled up by the drama teacher and farted Blush and Sad thankfully people forgot pretty quickly when someone else wet themselves in English because they were afraid to ask the teacher to go to the toilet.

Anyway, I doubt this teacher gave a detention just for farting. Everyone farts.

TheSmallClanger · 19/10/2012 21:51

If the class had been indulging in recreational tag-team farting like someone described earlier, I can sympathise with the teacher - perhaps it was the last straw.

Teenage boys have an uncanny ability to fart on call. The first few times one trumped in my class, I was holding back the laughter, but it got disgusting after a while, especially the smell.

scaevola · 19/10/2012 21:53

The only one of my DCs who can fart at will is DD. AFAIK this is a trick she reserves for home use (now trepidatious about future calls from school).

OP: about the handwriting: just make a simple, request in unmarked language "DS and I are both having difficulty making out your writing in DS's book, and I am concerned he is missing important feedback. When can I come in to go through all the comments?"

Original poster
CuriousMama · 19/10/2012 21:55

Yes sadly he did give it for farting. I just asked ds2 and he said poor J (farter) was the only one not laughing. I knew he wouldn't have. DS2 will have been in fits of giggles but that's one of his nuances that go with his SN. Hopefully some allowances are made although if ds2 goes OTT I'd expect him to be reprimanded.

OP posts:
Original poster
CuriousMama · 19/10/2012 21:56

scaevola I would but ds1 (yr 10) says this teacher is awful. All dcs detest him apparently? I'll mention it to the SENCO I think?

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 19/10/2012 21:58

There is accidental farting and farting with intention of causing hilarity.

If the boy looked mortified then I would imagine he'd get away with it. If he laughed and laughed, then I can see why the teacher would get annoyed and give a detention.

What kind of detention was it? A quick break time, or an after school?

mudipig · 19/10/2012 22:06

How do you fart on purpose? it is a skill I lack.

There's trying to do it quietly and unnoticed by withholding pressure and letting it out gently, and then (like my dh) there's lifting a leg and making a loud disgusting elongated sound. One is accidental and one is farting with intention. (I like that term).

Original poster
CuriousMama · 19/10/2012 22:17

It was lunchtime detention and he didn't laugh at all according to ds2. Everyone else did. Apart from the teacher and him.

OP posts:
MissPants · 20/10/2012 12:51

OP I think complex was laughing at the unintentional pun in your OP. backfire Grin

noblegiraffe · 20/10/2012 12:58

Oh dear god don't phone the head because you can't read a teacher's handwriting. That's major major major overkill.

If the kid can't read a teacher's comment, get him to ask the teacher what it says.

My handwriting is a bit crap at times, worse when I've marked a billion books in one sitting. I tell the kids if they can't read anything that they should ask me what it says, and they do. Roll on the future in which we can type or record voice comments onto work.

What's the head going to do? Send the teacher on a handwriting course?

soverylucky · 20/10/2012 13:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gunznroses · 20/10/2012 13:14

You dont have to have IBS to fart repetitively! I should know.