Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be a bit miffed with DS's school

38 replies

adriennemole · 27/02/2014 20:40

Not sure if I'm over reacting.
DS came out of school clutching an autograph from an author that had visited school today, so far fine but he then announces he needs £6 by tomorrow for the book he chose to buy ( by said author).

A bit confused I went in to speak to his teacher who said that a letter went out quite a while a go and that children could bring money in to buy a book.
I can't remember the letter and we certainly didn't receive a reminder. His teacher said that if they didn't have money that they could still order a book if they were sure their parents wouldn't mind Hmm.

AIBU to be a bit annoyed that my 9 year old was allowed to make this decision and that there was no reminder?
Feel I've been put on a spot a bit, what about parents who wouldn't be able to afford the £6?
Of course this could be a kick up the ass for me to make sure I remember stuff going on at school Grin

OP posts:
Amandine29 · 27/02/2014 20:54

Well if he's 9 I think he should be capable of making the decision/knowing what you would want (speaking as a teacher I would assume he had discussed it with you at that age). It's not like he's in reception. Also, some parents are just slack and wouldn't respond to the letter but would be annoyed if their little darling didn't have the chance to buy a book.

But if I'm being honest I think you should be more organised. And I certainly wouldn't expect a reminder from school if you've already had a letter!

SuburbanRhonda · 27/02/2014 20:59

Agree, amandine, this is the kind of thing that happens when you don't go through your child's book bag!

The school staff are way too busy to send out a follow-up reminder for this kind of thing, not to mention the waste of resources involved in doing so.

Original poster
adriennemole · 27/02/2014 21:01

I see what you 're saying about knowing what I would want and for most 9 year olds probably true but not for my DS he's quite impulsive and was probably carried away by the excitement of it all, know him well enough to know he wouldn't be thinking of what I would want!
We hadn't discussed it as DS hadn't mentioned it beforehand.
Point taken on being more organised though.

OP posts:
OpalQuartz · 27/02/2014 21:02

Do you not want your son to have the book?

CoffeeTea103 · 27/02/2014 21:02

They've sent you a letter, no need to remind you again.

Original poster
adriennemole · 27/02/2014 21:03

Also should add that school always send out parent mail reminders so it's obviously made us all a bit lazy Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
adriennemole · 27/02/2014 21:04

Yes he does want the book and is paying with it with his own money. Thanks for the replies just wanted to check.

OP posts:
OpalQuartz · 27/02/2014 21:05

Maybe he told the school he was going to pay for it with his own money then and that's why they let him have it?

JohnFarleysRuskin · 27/02/2014 21:06

The authors visit- the kids beg to buy the book- they bring it home- it's not v good- everyone miserable.

JuanPotatoTwo · 27/02/2014 21:06

Apt username in this instance :)

JohnFarleysRuskin · 27/02/2014 21:07

(Except the author) ;)

Original poster
adriennemole · 27/02/2014 21:09

Yes, meet the author day, lovely idea but pretty sure book will be lost down the side of DS bed in a couple of days.

OP posts:
Amandine29 · 27/02/2014 21:15

I do get what you're saying but if you know your son is a bit more immature than others his age you need to take steps to help him with that. Like checking his book bag Grin

Original poster
adriennemole · 27/02/2014 21:16

Found the parent mail from just before they broke up for Christmas! I didn't stand a chance Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
adriennemole · 27/02/2014 21:20

Amandine 29- yes, book bag check, PE bag check, lunch check, homework books check, got your coat/jumper etc check. Think I should have learnt by now!

OP posts:
RustyBear · 27/02/2014 21:22

This is why schools can't win! If they give short notice, parents complain, if they give a lot of notice, parents forget and complain anyway! And if they do both, parents complain that they are being 'bombarded' with junk mail! (We have had all three complaints from the same parent in our school office.)

Original poster
adriennemole · 27/02/2014 21:26

Rustbear- oh dear, that's a bit crap. I'm not a usually a complainer and certainly haven't complained about this ( just muttered under my breath a bit) Grin

OP posts:
starfishmummy · 27/02/2014 21:29

Before xmas? Then they should have sent a reminder!

Jinglebells99 · 27/02/2014 21:29

Who's the author? A couple of years ago, an author visited my dd's school and there was a frenzy to buy the books, but the author was self published and the books were rubbish. I didn't buy.

Original poster
adriennemole · 27/02/2014 21:33

Jingebells- that the best part, I haven't a clue as could read the autograph and DS couldn't remember either!! The parent mail just said visiting author so I'm guessing he's not well known.

OP posts:
Original poster
adriennemole · 27/02/2014 21:36

Sorry, should say couldn't read the autograph.

OP posts:
Jinglebells99 · 27/02/2014 21:43

Hmmm, I would definitely find out who it was before parting with any money. The author who visited my dd's school had written books about a gang of grannies. Can't remember the name of author or books but they were cheaply published and badly written.

Viviennemary · 27/02/2014 21:43

I'd be furious. Letters home dropped in a puddle squashed at bottom of bag or disappeared into thin air. I don't think the school was wise making a nine year old commit to buying a book. They could have taken orders from children interested and then no money no book. That would have been common sense.

RustyBear · 27/02/2014 21:43

To be fair, most of our parents are lovely - but there is always the occasional exception!

Nocomet · 27/02/2014 21:44

I wouldn't have been happy £6 is a fair sum of money and DD2 was a horror for leaving letters in her draw.

Swipe left for the next trending thread