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!

mrsjay would moving your dc be an option? If it was an option, would you? So your dc were at a school where they were safe without the need of a police presence?

The lack of police presence (or signs) doesn't mean your children are safe. See my post above.

no she is fine she really doesn't get involved in any of the bother she likes her school the school has done her well there honestly she is fine but it can be pretty bad some days with fighting.

ILS yes, I take your point. But obviously some schools are "safer" than others. Right?

I'd be worried about how much information the PCSOs had access to about the children and how much information they recorded. I wouldn't want children being 'known to the police' because of school stuff.

mrsjay I'm glad she's doing well

TBH it really isn't that unusualy in high schools these days our area isn't really a bad area at all just the school has a large catchment, but the last person to be excluded and escorted off the school grounds was a 16 yr old Gps son

Of course some schools are safer than others, but I'm saying no signs and police presence isn't a definite guarantee of safety.

If children commit a criminal offence on school grounds they should be "known to the police". Why not?

some of the kids are drug dealers that isnt exactly school stuff is it ?

some kids*

Exactly, mrs jay

and then you get parents marching into most schools saying HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO MY CHILD or whatever

Definitely extra curricular.

I meant the kind of everyday fight - not bullying but fights - where a couple of punches are thrown that can happen when you get teenagers on close proximity. I wouldn't want anyone getting a record for that if no-one got hurt.

and then you get parents marching into most schools saying HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO MY CHILD or whatever

Yes. And that attitude / behaviour isn't confined to "rough" schools either.

If someone throws punches that's assault. Why is it something to be tolerated in school but punishable by police action in the community?

Yes. And that attitude / behaviour isn't confined to "rough" schools either.

no not at all,

2 14 year old can do damage fighting girls bloody pull hair out fgs that is assault I am not sure if they get a record or not but if 2 14 yr old were fighting in the street the police can intervene, same with theft if a phone is stolen at school what is the difference of a phone being stolen outside the gates

Yes, it is assault. For both of the children fighting. Does that mean the police should be involved every time? If it's one sided or bullying or leads to injury or if the school response is inappropriate, fine, but I wouldn't want pretty typical teenage behaviour leading to police involvement/records.

OP I'm sure you'd be staggered at the amount of abuse school staff receive from a minority of parents. We have signs and zero tolerance at our primary - our head will just not have her staff screamed at, threatened or manhandled. Some still try it on though.
A very well to do father pinned me up against a wall several years ago - threatened to punch my lights out. My crime? Caught his child cheating in an internal assessment so made him sit a different paper away from other children so I could accurately make a level judgement. Trust me, it happens a lot. Ask any teacher and they'll recount many an incident over time.
Having said that, most parents are fantastically supportive regardless of background.

I don't see the problem?

School staff,like hospital staff are providing a public service (unless fee paying on both counts). Generally speaking a fairly broad cross section of society will use that service. The parents of some of the children from this broad cross section will be utter dickheads and think they can abuse teachers.

You will probably find that sign was put up after an incident.

You say you're not naive, op. You certainly are if you imagine any school would entertain your notion of a "look around" with a tiny baby as the potentional pupil. No wonder you got the bums rush!

Suffolk - please be reassured that we ( hopefully, most of us) would never tar parents with the same brush. The minority stand out and are staffroom gossip fodder. Of course, sometimes the most reasonable of parent can become unreasonable when it comes to their offspring - it's emotional innit? However, 99.9% calm down and more than likely apologise. The 0.1% would have your face off.

I do see your point OP.

I was told by a pupil at one secondary school we were viewing that he felt much safer now they have the metal detectors on the gates. It did not have the reassuring effect that he intended.