to think my ds should be allowed to skateboard to school.....

[Hakluyt]

.....if he doesn't use it in school and chains it to the bike rack during the day?

He has been told today that he's not allowed. No suggestion that he caused any problems for other road users or anything like that. He wasn't told off, or punished- just told that he isn't allowed to board to or from school. I'm not going to object obviously, and I've told him to deal with it- rules is rules- but I really don't think it's fair. Any thoughts?

Coming into the school on a state board is dangerous. It's a toy not a mode of transport. Where would it be stored while he was in school? How would they prevent it being stolen? Too many issues to contend with.

They don't have an issue with children walking to school per se- there is an issue with pushing and shoving round the bridge. And there used to be an issue with playing chicken on the very busy A road before there were staff on duty all the time. So the walking remark is badly phrased but not "health and Safety gone mad"

Well then it makes sense they don't want to add it a hard to control "toy" into the mix of the chaos!

Compromise? He boards until he reaches the narrow pavement/A2 section that worries them, and walks the rest of the way?

Have there been accidents or near misses? It sounds like there are multiple problems getting the children to school safely and skateboarding is just an additional issue in an already complex situation.

yanbu

So since the teachers gave up their non-teaching time to ensure sensible and safe behaviour things have improved. They've suggested that your son doesn't skateboard out of similar safety concerns, but the advice is "sod them, they can't tell you what your son should do"?

Makes you wonder why they don't just stay warm and dry in the staff room and just worry about teaching.

As I said, I have no intention of taking it any further, or letting my ds know I am anything but wholly behind the school.

I just think it's a shame that there isn't a way round the situation. Allowing him to board until a particular road, then putting the board in his bag, for example. But I know there isn't. Hey ho. No big deal.

I expect with the 'should not' they are more covering their own backs in case an accident occurs and somehow a finger is pointed at them. There's such a lack of responsibility and blame culture that Health and safety is touted as a 'you can't sue me, I warned you' excuse. The 'true' Health and safety have only banned one thing since they came into practise- asbestos. I think it was fair enough to an that.

But even if it is only a "should not" he's been told he can't chain his board to the bike rack, or give it to reception to look after, so they really have made it impossible to use it.

Well if they said he could then they could be accused of allowing and condoning it, so they aren't going to. It would be saying 'no you aren't allowed to skateboard, we think it's dangerous but we'll look after your skateboard for you or allow you to store it', which would be contradictory.

It sounds pretty stupid but I expect they are just covering their arses.

If a child travelled to school on the back of a motorcycle, would the school refuse to allow their helmet to remain on-site? Some might see that as equally dangerous... And then there are all the small children scooting to school, which is possibly just as hazardous to other pedestrians.
Could DS not put the board in a large backpack which he keeps with him during the day?
It isn't a matter of the school "allowing" or "condoning" the boy skateboarding to school, because it is absolutely nothing to do with them in the first place. They can forbid skateboarding on school grounds, but not outside.
If I was DS, I'd be very tempted to organise my friends and have a mass skateboard to school next week.

One primary school we looked at banned children from cycling to school -- well, they tried to. They claimed it was simply too dangerous. Even a plan to cycle part way & walk the last bit. The only really crowded area was in the nearest 150metres, but on the back of that they didn't want any children on bikes.

Arrrggghghhh...!

I don't see how the school can enforce it, but they do have a point.

Skateboards and scooters are a bloody nightmare on crowded pavements, especially when you are talking small children and toddlers actually trying to walk, often alongside parents who are manoeuvring prams and buggies as well

Why can't they be kept for the park, and just let children walk on their own two feet to school?

It's murder round here in a quiet village. I hate to think what it's like where the OP lives!

or give it to reception to look after,

Seriously? You want that as an option?

Hak
Why would you not take it any further or encourage/support your son to do so?
I get that it is important to reinforce/support school in its decisions, however I do think part of growing up is learning that adults or those in senior positions etc do make judgement calls that are sometimes wrong or there are other ways around the situation.
I think its an important life skill to learn how to appropriately deal with something you disagree with.

"or give it to reception to look after,

Seriously? You want that as an option?"

No- but it is what he has been doing. He asked reception where he could put it when he first started to board to school and they offered.

"Skateboards and scooters are a bloody nightmare on crowded pavements, especially when you are talking small children and toddlers actually trying to walk, often alongside parents who are manoeuvring prams and buggies as well"

I agree- but this is a secondary school- the only other people crowding the pavements at this particular time and place are other secondary school kids.

I think skateboards are fine. The whole points is that you can hop off instantly, and at worst the collision is with a soft body - not handlebars.

its alright saying just tell them to stick it .but it wont work because if they ban the board from the school .then where does the little boy leave it during school .and lets be honest .children are going to use it whether pavement crowded or not .and having been hit with one it is not pleasent .

but as someone who walks to work everyday I kind of hate people on skateboards, they're really suitable to use on crowded pavements. I've seen too many bear misses and some collisions

This. If he's skateboarding on the pavement, YABU.

I don't understand why skateboards are so vilified. Is it because it's mainly teenagers using them? (And their general lack of awareness of others in the teenage years?)

If kids are allowed to scoot or ride bikes to school, he should be able to skate.

More people should skateboard!

(Btw, mumsnetters, it's Go Skate Day next Saturday. Join in!)

If you can't beat 'em...

I'm not sure the age is relevant. Being hit by a skateboard on a crowded pavement is always going to be painful or worse regardless of the age of the rider.

Why not ask the school the reason? There may have been an accident already, or complaints from other parents.

I think that if they are riding bikes then they should be on the road.

Skateboards obviously have to be on the pavement and I don't think it's the time or place. A minority of people will have the capability of having a detrimental effect on the majority.

It's not the time or place.