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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it is ridiculous that the school have confiscated MY phone????

380 replies

Slipperyslopin · 15/02/2013 16:27

DS (14) was going out last night with a friend to see a movie after school. He didn't know when it ended and then we couldn't find it on the website so I told him to take his phone so he could call me afterwards and I could collect him. He told me his phone wasn't charged, so I gave him my one. He is very trustworthy and careful and I knew he wouldn't lose it, besides I'm not on call at the moment so I wouldn't need it during the day, and I'd rather he had a way to contact me if needed. During school the phone turned on in his pocket (Iphones Angry ) and an alert went off for an update or something. His teacher heard it and confiscated the phone as they are not allowed in school, even if off. DS then had to call me from the office to say he would use his friends phone instead. All fine, fair enough I thought. However I then found out that the school policy is to keep the phone for a fortnight. I have unpredictable shift patterns and I actually do need that phone back, it has important work contacts on and is the number I am generally contacted on by whole family as we don't have a landline atm. So I went in and explained the situation and they REFUSED to return it! They've said they're keeping it for the full 2 weeks. I told them, it's a work phone, it has confidential stuff on it, it has all my work contacts and is an emergency number for DH on his passport, and as he is in France at the moment I needed that phone back. They just kept repeating that it is policy and they can't return it, I even had the head teacher tell me this! Surely it's against the law! I need that phone and they WILL NOT return it to me! What should I do? Can I get some form of legal action done here? This feels a hell of a lot like theft to me. I'm so beyond angry at them, any advice?

OP posts:
diddl · 15/02/2013 16:33

I really don´t see how they can hold personal property for 2wks tbh.

Have you signed a contract to enable them to do this?

Surely they have no legal standing?

rotavirusrita · 15/02/2013 16:34

Acually thinking about it is school still open? Take a flask of tea and a book and refuse to move until you get it back

usualsuspect · 15/02/2013 16:34

I would refuse to budge until it was handed over.

Mawgatron · 15/02/2013 16:34

Can't you swap child's phone for yours at the office? At our school they confiscate it until the end of the day, unless it is a third offence and then they step it up to longer. Seems harsh to keep it 2 weeks!

EchoBitch · 15/02/2013 16:34

And who pays if it gets damaged whilst in their 'care',and who's to say they won't have a good old snoop through it?

I wouldn't take no for an answer,they have no right to withold your property.

PeazlyPops · 15/02/2013 16:34

YADNBU!

Passmethecrisps · 15/02/2013 16:36

A fortnight? Really? Our policy is until the end of the school day for a first offense. Second time the parent needs to come and collect it.

Whoever owns the phone I think a fortnight is really excessive. It almost finished ours off to have them taken until the end of the day!

Seriously, I wouldn't often suggest this but I think you need to take this further. If you need the phone for work could you involve your employer? Seems ridiculous but might be worth a go

goodygumdrops · 15/02/2013 16:36

Totally over the top, even if it was your sons phone IMO. I would refuse to leave the premises until they returned it to me.

13Iggis · 15/02/2013 16:37

Had the school made you aware of this policy in advance? I can't imagine your ds hasn't heard about it happening to others if they enforce this policy.
I think the fortnight thing is ridiculous, but I do think they were right to confiscate it - it did go off in class interupting the lesson (you should have deleted any alarms/alerts due to go off surely).
I have never heard of a school having such a policy, is it a state school? If so, there will be some kind of education department locally you could complain to.

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 15/02/2013 16:37

Yeah I think I'd be threatening to call the police at this moment. You only gave it to him because he would need it later and his didn't work. He doesn't regularly go to school with an expensive valuable phone in his pocket. Go and see the head again and show them all the contacts etc in the phone. Ask them if they really think a child would have all that information in their phone. And then ask them who the bloody hell they think they are talking to a parent like that? I can't imagine any of the staff at my dc's school behaving in such a manner. Oh and if they persist in keeping the property of a parent, ask them if they're happy to provide cover when the phone keeps ringing asking for you.

crumpet · 15/02/2013 16:37

A solution for next time would be to arrange for your son to use his friend's phone if needed in an emergency.

On this occasion he broke the school rules by taking in the phone, and did so without fully checking what the consequences would be. A fortnight is extreme, I agree, but you'll know for another time.

And my employer would have a strong view on my allowing a work phone to be used in this way.

TaggieCampbellBlack · 15/02/2013 16:37

YANBU an I think I'd do the police.

I was all ready yo say YABU and it's DSs fault etc but 2 weeks is ridiculous. I'd not be happy with school keeping my childs phone for more than a day.

NoraSpect · 15/02/2013 16:38

Jeez, YADNBU! Go to the school and don't budge until you get it.

ginmakesitallok · 15/02/2013 16:38

Yabu to give a phone with confidential info on it to your son, sackable offence in my work. But, they are being unreasonable not giving it back to you.

EuroShagmore · 15/02/2013 16:38

Stage a sit in and call the police (non-emergency). That is ridiculous.

hippoherostandinghere · 15/02/2013 16:40

Good point made above, how would he call you if you don't have a landline. Have you another mobile?

LeChatRouge · 15/02/2013 16:40

She could have charged his mobile whilst he was out.

chickensarmpit · 15/02/2013 16:40

How pathetic of the school. They exist to educate our children, not to police them. I assume that if a teacher is caught with a phone, that is stolen for two weeks too? Call the police and report the theft.

SauvignonBlanche · 15/02/2013 16:40

When is it half term?

EchoBitch · 15/02/2013 16:41

Please let us know what happens OP.

TimberTot · 15/02/2013 16:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Slipperyslopin · 15/02/2013 16:41

I like the idea of swapping it for his phone, I mean that is sort of following rules isn't it?

OP posts:
LeChatRouge · 15/02/2013 16:42

Hopefully she's down at the school now singing 'we shall, we shall not be moved'.

Original poster
Slipperyslopin · 15/02/2013 16:42

Oh and son was going to call his phone, which would by the have been charged x

OP posts:
Monstermashpotato · 15/02/2013 16:44

I thought half term was this week...I may be wrong

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