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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed by new school rule?

107 replies

tryingnottobeannoyed · 09/10/2014 20:56

I've name changed for this just in case!

My 2 children (one in infants and one in juniors) have come home from school and told me that the headteacher has told all the children that there it to be absolutely NO physical contact between the children AT ALL.
He has banned Tig and any other chase games because there is touching involved, no holding hands, no high fives and no games like playing families if they touch each other!
I am so annoyed, it's a ridiculous rule to impose and takes all the fun out of playground games and the simple joy of playing with your mates.
The parents have had no information about this new rule at all, no letter or email home, just what the children have told us.

So AIBU to think this is a stupid rule or am I missing the point?

OP posts:
tippytappywriter · 09/10/2014 20:57

Are you sure your children have understood correctly? I'd check with the school first.

TheOneWithTheHair · 09/10/2014 20:58

I think you need to get this clarified by school.

If it's true, I'd love to see how they're going to implement it! Especially in reception class.

Original poster
tryingnottobeannoyed · 09/10/2014 21:04

It's absolutely true, my school mum friends have been going mad over it on facebook tonight.
Ive also just picked my DD up from brownies and was chatting to a couple of other mums about it when we were waiting for the girls. They were just as baffled as me

OP posts:
fizzymittens · 09/10/2014 21:09

'It's absolutely true' as in it's what your children have told you or as in you have had formal notification from staff? People 'going mad' over things on FB should probably be avoided tbh as it will probably be a huge misunderstanding.

MaryWestmacott · 09/10/2014 21:09

I feel a Daily Mail sad face coming on... the comments underneath the article would be very frothy.

Ask for clarification and then complain formally.

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 09/10/2014 21:16

I believe that nice Mr Wilshaw implemented a similar rule in his last headship...

CrazyHorse · 09/10/2014 21:22

My DCs infant school had a shaking hands only policy. It was because there was too much kissing and banging people on the head with a fist going on.

afterthought · 09/10/2014 21:26

We have this to cut down on play fighting which inevitably escalates into something more. Simple games of tag can become fights when someone perceives that someone tagged them too roughly.

afterthought · 09/10/2014 21:27

I can't believe anyone would 'complain' about this kind of thing, it helps to cut down on issues.

GreenShadow · 09/10/2014 21:30

Perhaps they are worried about passing on bugs (thinking ahead to when/if Ebola gets here....)?

Thebodyloveschocolateandwine · 09/10/2014 21:35

Could do with this at dds high school.

Hide and seek to hide the helmet in a few short years. Grin

Smartiepants79 · 09/10/2014 21:35

I'm a teacher and I think this is nonsense.
This is not how children learn to control their behaviour. Can't see how this is enforceable and it makes me terribly sad.

Bearbehind · 09/10/2014 21:35

Perhaps they are worried about passing on bugs (thinking ahead to when/if Ebola gets here....)?

Please say that was meant to ironic Hmm

Alpacacino · 09/10/2014 21:42

This should be taken further...abolish "play time", make it "quiet reflection time", where the children line up and slowly walk in a circle in silence.

This will definitelycontribute to producing well-rounded individuals.

Original poster
tryingnottobeannoyed · 09/10/2014 21:42

literacynz.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/rough-and-tumble-play/

This is a study done about rough play with children and i quote

An observational study of children’s playground behaviour concluded that engaging in R&T allows children to create complex social hierarchies which ‘seem to reduce aggressive behaviour and help children develop socio-cognitive skills … (for instance, social intelligence)’ (Braza et al., 2007: 209).

Rough play is good for children, it teaches them self control and how to interact with each other.

OP posts:
TiggyD · 09/10/2014 21:55

I've worked at several nurseries that had special policies that parents weren't supposed to find out about. This is probably one of those.

Pin a member of staff down and beware of them giving politician type answers (non answers).

GreenShadow · 09/10/2014 21:56

Yes bear. It was very definitely meant to be ironic but who knows, it could still be true.

KatieKaye · 09/10/2014 22:05

So, no hand-clapping games in that playground either then? Or The Big Ship Sails? Or even In and Out the Dusty Bluebells. Games children have been playing for generations.
What a joyless time break sounds with these sort of rules in place.
There is inappropriate touching, there is smacking/slapping etc (no place for either of those obviously) and then there is perfectly normal contact between one person and another, as in tig etc. And what is wrong with two little kids holding hands? I often see the local school children doing this when they are on a class outing and it seems a sensible measure. My best friend and I held hands all the way through primary school!
I can't see the point of this silly rule or how they could enforce it.

manicinsomniac · 09/10/2014 22:15

This is one of the most ridiculous school rules I have ever heard of.

I don't see how it can work. Even within a classroom environment it's not possible. I teach dance and drama and, just this week, I have had children playing human twister, building human pyramids, doing tandem cartwheels and being mirror images of each other. No physical contact would mean I couldn't do my job properly. The same is almost certainly true for PE and probably aspects of other lessons.

BoysiesBack · 09/10/2014 22:24

Sounds utterly joyless Sad poor kids.

I'd definitely speak to a staff member tomorrow, OP, check your facts first, of course, then make a serious complaint.

I don't think its about it leading to fights at all, ffs, even toddlers understand hitting-wrong, cuddle/high 5, holding hands-good.

OfficerVanHelsing · 09/10/2014 22:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

feathermucker · 09/10/2014 22:31

Oh my actual Christ, how utterly ridiculous!!!

Idontseeanysontarans · 09/10/2014 22:34

Hang on, a rumour like this started at our school a while ago when the head banned Bulldog from being played in the main yard and confined it to the junior yard. It went from Bulldog's banned to Tig's banned to you can't touch each other over a weekend - and that was just through the parents gossiping!
A major rule change would have to he announced via letter or email wouldn't it? I would wait and see.

Zippidydoodah · 09/10/2014 22:35

Ridiculous and unenforceable IMO.

Tiggy- am intrigued as to the "special" policies parents aren't supposed to know about?!

GlacindaTheTroll · 09/10/2014 22:42

It's definitely worth finding out what the school is actually doing, as the possibility of misunderstanding is always much higher than anyone expects.

And if it is a strict ban, find out if it is permanent. Or a temporary restriction whilst specific difficulties subside.

A ban of this kind is so rare it does suggest a major problem. It might be worth finding out what.