Aibu to avoid a school because of a "do not abuse the staff" sign?

[Hawkmoon269]

I've name changed for this because I don't want to be outed!

My child is in a choir. Rehearsals each week are in an infant school that is several miles from our home and I know nothing about.

As you enter there is a sign saying that verbal and physical abuse will not be tolerated. This sign is at adult height and is addressed to "visitors to the school" so clearly not intended for the pupils of the school.

Just had an interesting chat to a friend about this. Seeing the sign puts me off the school straight away. Wouldn't even consider it (not that it's an option, but if I saw a similar sign in a school that was an option I would rule it out). My friend thinks I'm overreacting...

But seriously - the sign is clearly aimed at adults (so I assume parents). Aibu to want to avoid schools which have to warn parents not to be abusive even before they enter?! It freaks me out!

Why is the suggestion of signs at child height so amusing, OP?

Remus - why? As I said, some (independent) schools require registration before they're a year old! Some (state) have minuscule catchment areas. Knowledge is power as they say!

suffolk I'm so sorry, I just meant that it was more appropriate for the children to be told to behave! I wasn't scoffing at the idea. Most schools do have that sort of sign ("school rules" type thing) as far as I know. I hope your baby is ok.

Suffolk I hope you're ok and that you were supported.

Well I work in a small school in a nice area with generally good kids but I've still been abused by parents.
Several times.
Sadly we don't have a sign....

It's a bit like seeing a metal detector in a nightclub. It suggests there's a problem.

It made me think of the sign in cafes that says "unattended children will be given an espresso and a puppy"

Oh and assaulted by small children on a few occasions too.
Problems exist wherever you are.

we got a newsletter informing us of the new community police officer who had settled into his new office in school sigh Op be grateful it is just a sign

It's a sign frequently used in places where members of the public gather. We have one at the doctors surgery and at the hospital, but i haven't seen any antisocial people so far on visiting these places.

justfornow that's exactly it...

I assume that if a parent is verbally or physically abusive the staff tell them it's unacceptable and if necessary the police are called. Zero tolerance.

mrsjay Blimey...

A sign might make people think twice about verbal and physical abuse in the first place.

How many physically and verbally abusive people have you tried to "tell them it's unacceptable" ?

"Blimey"? You are naive. CPOs are common in a lot of schools now.

mrsjay Blimey...

TBF dds did well at the school but god its rough

Mind you, if someone's determined to be abusive neither a sign nor polite reasoning is going to stop them, but if it becomes a police matter (as it should) the sign's presence means they can't say they weren't warned.

ILS None in a school setting. But I'd be crap at that. I wouldn't expect a sign to put someone really angry off their stride though..

It's more a general point that the sign made me think that the school was a bit rough. Probably not the most politically correct answer but honestly how I feel.

Unfortunately assaults by pupils seem to be pretty common in schools generally. Shitty behaviour by their parents too. It might actually be that the school is being proactive by having the sign as a clear warning and banning anyone who crosses the line.

YANBU. I used to be a governor at a school in a very deprived area and the first thing I noticed on the front entrance were signs about support services for alchol and drug addiction.

Any police presence in a school would totally panic me.

ILS I know some schools NEED a CPO on site. But the fact the need is there would mean I'd do everything possible to avoid choosing that school. I'm not naive. It's ok to want a safe, respectful, happy environment for my dc to go to school. With no need for a police presence! It is ok to want that. I'm sure most parents do.

Any police presence in a school would totally panic me.

well it means my 15 yr old is safe I was really eeek what about it but I went to that school and I can so understand why it has gotten so much worse since I left,

hermione Those signs were probably very useful, but yes - seeing them first thing does rather set the expectations pretty low.

sigh

Of course people want their children to be safe.

My last school wouldn't have entertained a sign. They were too busy vehemently denying all the problems with abusive behaviour that did exist.