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?

It's not fair...I agree...but maybe the innocent majority can put pressure on the guilty one or two?

I'd try to be philosophical about it, life isn't always fair. DGS is a year younger and was outraged recently when an obvious cheater in a sport was not penalised by the ref. We couldn't give a satisfactory explanation then, maybe the ref really didn't see? Yes he did, we all did! Maybe the ref wanted to give him another chance? He didn't deserve another chance when he cheated! Etc.
It's a hard realisation, that life often isn't fair.

This is an interesting debate. My initial reaction (based on my own experiences) is that I do not want him punished for something he hasn't done. I haven't come up against this with ds yet as he's only just started school so this is all food for thought.

*him being my own ds

I agree with Marcipex.
When I was in school, a boy in class threw a rock and smashed the teacher's windscreen. We all knew he did it. Punishment was detention until the culprit owned up AND cancellation of upcoming school trip. The pressure we all put on this boy resulted in him confessing it was him.
I don't think this is lazy at all.

Ah how unsurprising to see the more things change the more they stay the same at school. I think it's rubbish tbh. I inwardly roll my eyes at this stuff, but that's how teachers have always dished out punishments. Guilt tripping perpetrators? Ha unlikely.

I think its a perfectly reasonable decision on the part of the school. Even if it doesn't "out" the culprit this time, the whole class will have a very different attitude next time someone is attempting to play a practical joke. good on them.

They can work out wrongly. I had something like that when young and we were told that we not only were we missing play until someone owned up, but that we were not going home until they did! I believed it and thought my mother would be worried! It was quite obvious to me that no one was going to, it was a silly thing that they might have done accidentally without noticing, so I said that I did it so that we could go home on time and not worry my mother!!
Therefore it is not something that I agree with!

FFS it's a half hour detention, presumably writing lines or summat. It's not 10 years hard labour.

I was in several all class detentions, and it didn't bother me at all (and no, I didn't know the perpetrators of the horrific crimes committed)

I wouldn't however make a fuss.
Just pointing out that it can backfire if you have very sensitive children.

Don't be ridiculous.

It's a 30 min detention. They're hardly locking them away and throwing away the key.

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

How nice of you.

YABU to make a fuss over 30min detention.
I'd back the school tbh even though I find group punishments morally dubious.
I'd hope the half hour detention would be used to talk about good behaviour, respect and what's appropriate at school and what isn't.

It is unfair on you DS but I don't think half an hour is a big enough deal to make an issue out of. It was a horrible thing to do to the teacher but I imagine that those who were aware of it but were not directly involved may not acquiesce next time if they think it'll land them with another class detention. It's important that the teachers have the tools to maintain a culture of respect and discipline for the good of all the pupils.

I can't see that it is good practice - apart form anything else it enables the kid who likes to create mischief to create even more by causing not jus the teacher but 35 other children to be the victim of his prank.

Maybe no other child does know.

Maybe they do but they will probably put up with the detention rather than tell.

I would not attempt to get him out of it this time, but I would have a word with the teacher and say you are concerned if this will be policy, to give whole class detentions, because it has a serious effect on your ability to collect your child from school, and also it will affect his attitude as he does not see the ppint in trying to be god if he gets in trouble anyway.

I didn't know primary schools did half hour after school detentions!

"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."

this^

A while ago my son's teacher did something that I thought was grossly unfair (I've forgotten what so it can't have been that bad!). I backed up the school in front of my DS but i went to have a chat with the teacher and explained that I had backed her up when DS was complaining about it but that I didn't agree with the way she had dealt with it and could we discuss it. She was very reasonable and we were both happy as I could explain to DS why the teacher had acted that way and he was OK with it too.

They don't. It will be a 1/2 hour lunch time detention.

Everyone is assuming it's an after school one.

At age 8, yr 4 (if I read that correctly) a half hour detention would be punishment for ME as I have to pick up. I would be THAT mum.

I think that is bit different - I wouldn't have been believed if I owned up to that and it is only a detention.

blu

"I would have a word with the teacher and say you are concerned if this will be policy"

Its not been set by the teacher.

GoodboyBindleFeatherstone

Then maybe you should encourage your child to say who did it.

Isn't it interesting how many people are in favour of better discipline in schools, until it involves their own child?

Well maybe OPs son and class mates learnt respect from her.
Maybe that's what's worrying her that actually you think it's ok to tip water on the teachers seat and the conquences are funny and you don't like it that actually their not!

Maybe some one should tip water on your seat and you have to walk around with a wet bum and see how uncomfortable it is! Or trying doing it to your boss at work I suggest the conquences of that would be a lot more worse than 30 minutes of missing break!

Even if the culprit doesn't own up, and I doubt he will, probably enjoying the class's discomfiture, the punishment sends a strong message that this sort of behaviour is not tolerated. So the children who thought it funny but don't like being in trouble, that is, most of them, will think carefully before they imitate this behaviour.
(and it would be very satisfying to see you spend the rest of the day in a wet skirt, because someone thought a wet chair good for a giggle.)

I don't see how any adult could think it funny, and children do get away with things because other children may not take part but they acquiesce.