punishing the whole class, AIBU to make a fuss?

[georgeousgeorge]

So, some bright spark in DS1's class (he's 8 / y4) decided to pour water all over the teachers chair, she sat on it. 35 boys are "in the frame" and have been shouted at by the HOY.

Unless someone confesses they all get a half hour detention.....with the view being that the HOY assumed they all knew about it and that someone is going to dob in the culprit.... However none of them seems to know who did it, my DS certainly doesn't have a clue.

This is teaching my very good DS precisely nothing, he's polite, helpful, good reports, and has never been in trouble.

However, I do support the school, it is generally good.

However for the first time I'm turning into THAT mum - AIBU to make a fuss?

I presume the intention was that the perp would feel guilty at everyone else being punished and then own up. This may yet happen. But even if it doesn't I wouldn't make a fuss, it's only half an hour's detention.

Whoever did that was an awful little shit but I do think that it's a fair punishment. For all they know it could have been your DS. Someone will out the culprit.

Sounds fair enough. At least they are actually diciplining and following through with it. You may not like it now but it's nice to know in future that they take things like this seriously.

is it fair though to punish them all for the actions of one little *

... i did have a silent giggle at the thought of the teacher with a wet bum I have to admit...

It's a reasonable response from the school IMO - and it's only half-an-hour's detention.

Of course one of them knows who did it. I think it's a reasonable sanction.

Well, if it was done when there were others around then fair play - they need to fess up.

It also could have been your child. It could have been any of them.

How do you know it was one child as opposed to a few? As I said for all they know it could be your DS. It's good that they don't take this sort of behaviour lightly.

Yes it is fair and you need to grow up a little that fact you find this funny says a lot to be honest.

It's only half an hour and if you think your boy has never been in trouble, you are deluded....all boys without exception have been in trouble at least once before they are 8.

If they don't know who did it though I can't see what other option the school have. They're probably thinking 'come down hard on everyone now and they'll think twice before doing it again'.

Hmm DH is a teacher and this is on his list of things he would never do. If someone names the offender then The other kids are likely to find out and make their life unpleasant. The only reason I can see for doing this is as the result of a prolonged campaign of pranks which no one admits to. Otherwise YANBU. Odd that none of them know who did it. Maybe the teacher wet the seat herself

I don't think you are. I understand the problem, but there has to be a better way of dealing with it. And shouting at the class is surely not it. I'm sure a teacher will be along shortly to say.

But mainly I wanted to say: don't ever be afraid of being THAT mum. Sometimes you have to.

YANBU - I thought this stupid, lazy practice has been assigned to history, where it belongs.

They can't be bothered to find the culprit(s), so they're punishing everyone, whether guilty or innocent.

YWBU.

Of course it's fair. If the culprit -or culprits - doesn't own up, then the whole class has to take the hit.

I despise group punishments. I was a "goody two shoes" type in school (for lack of a better phrase) and you are right - it taught me nothing except resentment towards the children who were naughty.

My grandad also hated group punishments - he was caned once for something he couldn't possibly have done (as he was blind) and the teacher decided every 4th boy in the register should be punished to guilt trip the perpetrator into confessing (he never did).

yes I have to say I thought it was lazy personally.....

I'm surprised any parent would find that funny.

Completely acceptable punishment and hardly out of the ordinary. And OP really has no idea how innocent or guilty her DS is.

So what would you suggest a suitable method of getting the guilty child to admit it op?

I think if, as a parent, you're laughing at the idea of a teacher having to spend the day in wet clothes, then your son seems quite a likely candidate, tbh.

I had this when I was about 12, first year of secondary. Can't remember the exact crime, I know it wasn't anything really bad (no one got hurt). The whole class had to eat their packed lunches outside in the snow and ice for a week. Still remember the injustice to this day.

I think it's stupid.

Why is it funny that the teacher gets a wet bum OP?

A half hour class punishment to teach/remind kids that being disrespectful to teachers and school equipment sounds fair. Personally, I think it should happen more often they maybe there wouldn't be so many little shits in general.

YABU - it's only half an hour, I would never make a fuss about anything at school unless it was incredibly serious, would you really go in and complain about something like that . You will be known as one of those parents.

I always back the school up even if I might think it is mildly wrong, there is nothing worse than undermining the teachers/school in front of your child.

You wouldn't like it if it was the other way round would you?

The being disrespectful carries a consequence*

And the alternative is...........what?