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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think a kilt pin is NOT an "offensive weapon"?

28 replies

ConfusedintheNorth · 20/10/2014 13:22

Ds has recently changed schools and been given a locker. Now he's not the least forgetful kid in the world, and has a habit of loosing things out of pockets. So until I could buy him one of those springy/retractable keyring things, I slipped the key onto a kilt pin and attached it around one of his belt loops, so he'd not loose it and know where it is. Skip forward to the next night, he comes in from school and starts looking for something in his bag. "What have you lost?" I ask. To which he replies "My locker key." It transpires a teacher has confiscated his kilt pin as it's, and I quote "an offensive weapon"... I mean? SERIOUSLY! Are they going to start removing sharpened pencils soon too?

OP posts:
Nomama · 20/10/2014 13:27

Really? Contact school and ask for it back. Ask them if a nappy pin, or other safety pin would be acceptable.

Sounds daft to me! Then again I am sure I went to school in skirts with kilt pins in them, back in the 70s!

Original poster
ConfusedintheNorth · 20/10/2014 13:49

Apparently It's because it's sharp and pointy... seriously I'm starting to remember why I used to homeschool!

OP posts:
KingJoffreysBloodshotEye · 20/10/2014 13:52

The Natural History Museum security man took away my tweezers.

Tweezerman ones. They were purple. Was a sad day.

WorraLiberty · 20/10/2014 13:53

Well metal spiked compasses are banned in many schools, so I suppose a kilt pin could be viewed the same way.

Nomama · 20/10/2014 13:55

OK! Seems OTT to me.

You need a list of pin related questions:

Is it OK for me to pin the elastic of his mittens into the neck of his coat?
What happens when/if he breaks his arm and needs a sling?

PandasRock · 20/10/2014 13:56

We weren't allowed kilt pins on our uniform (err, a kilt!) when I was at school. Presumably due to their pointyness. But I don't think anyone was envisioning them being used as weapons Grin

Hmm. Seems a bit over zealous. But then kilt pins are quite hefty.

uptheauntie · 20/10/2014 13:58

It could be used as one if someone wished to cause harm.

Hakluyt · 20/10/2014 13:59

Hmm. 3inch long sharp ended spike. Thought of like that it sounds a bit more sensible to confiscate it............

flipflopsandcottonsocks · 20/10/2014 14:00

My secondary school did and still do have kilt pins as part of the uniform! It wouldn't have even occurred to any of us that they were a weapon. Ridiculous!

bigbluestars · 20/10/2014 14:02

Ask an airline.

You wouldn't be able to board an aircraft with a kilt pin.

Original poster
ConfusedintheNorth · 20/10/2014 14:03

I can see why they might take it off him I guess... The bit that got me is that it was termed "an offensive weapon". I mean sure if you don't want the kids to have them, just ask to hold onto it 'til hometime and ask him not to bring it in again incase there's an accident with it. Why they have to make such a small thing into major dramatics is beyond me.

OP posts:
Original poster
ConfusedintheNorth · 20/10/2014 14:05

On airlines you're not allowed 30ml of water though so... yeah...

OP posts:
Original poster
ConfusedintheNorth · 20/10/2014 14:07

If you're really pulling stuff apart, you could call a sharpened pencil a 5" long sharp ended spike.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 20/10/2014 14:07

The teacher might have said, "It could be used as an offensive weapon".

I know my DS would translate it lazily, not sure about yours Grin

soapboxqueen · 20/10/2014 14:08

I think it very much depends on the experiences the school has had in the past eg violent incidents and the children they have at the school now and any issues they have.

I've had classes where that wouldn't be a problem and some that I wouldn't have safety scissors around or sharpened pencils or overly pointy paint brushes.

Original poster
ConfusedintheNorth · 20/10/2014 14:10

KingJofferysBloodshotEye - Seriously? Tweezers? What did they think you were going to do with tweezers? Hahahaha x

OP posts:
elfycat · 20/10/2014 14:12

My old school uniform was a kilt with a pin (South of England school). I managed to never offensively stab anyone with it.

Point out that pencils are sharp and pointy and most pencil sharpeners can be unscrewed to produce a razor blade. That'll cause many sleepless nights amongst the staff...

Original poster
ConfusedintheNorth · 20/10/2014 14:13

WorraLiberty - Yes that's a good point he does paraphrase! But still anything can be used as an offensive weapon if you try hard enough. I tell the kids off at home for being overly dramatic about things, it really doesn't help when the school set him the exact opposite example.

OP posts:
elfycat · 20/10/2014 14:14

In hindsight soapboxqueen has reminded me that the little grey speck in the back of my hand is pencil graphite from over 30 years ago...

Viviennemary · 20/10/2014 14:19

It's H & S gone mad. But couldn't be any worse than scissors and presumably they do have these in school.

KurriKurri · 20/10/2014 14:29

It's not an offensive weapon though is it? A flick knife or a gun are offensive weapons as their purpose is to cause harm.
A kilt pin falls into the category of 'could be used as a weapon by a violent person' - same category would include a hand (can be formed into a fist for punching), cutlery, pencils and pens, rulers, notebook (frequently used by teachers in my day for whacking kids) gym shoes (ditto) board rubbers (ditto) and any number of things. Schools are full of potential weapons.

We have to trust kids to behave sensibly, because most do, those intent on harming others will find a means to do so. My DS had his hand stamped on deliberately with spiked football boots - which were a sports requirement - it's one of life's risk, there will always be those who try to hurt people.

Your lad doesn't sound like someone who is likely to turn into a kilt-pin wielding maniac OP Grin

soapboxqueen · 20/10/2014 14:33

Yes there are already items in school that can be used to cause injury. However most people expect them to be there for the general use of all pupils eg scissors, pencils etc. If an injury occurs using them, the focus is on the behaviour of the child and what can be done to support them. Removing scissors and pencils is unworkable and would detrimentally affect the other children.

A large safety pin brought to school doesn't need to be there for the school day and lessons to function. If an incident occurred with it, one of the first questions that would be asked would be how did the child get hold of something that could be used as a weapon that didn't need to be there. That's even before the behaviour of the child that wielded it is brought up. Especially amongst parents.

Original poster
ConfusedintheNorth · 20/10/2014 14:35

I don't know he may be in trouble for attitude... when I asked him what he said to the teacher he stared blankly and replied "It's. A. Pin." lol.

OP posts:
Original poster
ConfusedintheNorth · 20/10/2014 14:39

The point remains... until the teacher said anything it never entered his head that it could be used as a weapon... Now he'll be wondering round worried about being attacked by pins... ok I exaggerated there, but you get what I mean.

OP posts:
OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 20/10/2014 15:30

You wouldn't be able to board an aircraft with a kilt pin.

Ha ha - I have. I have a cardigan that's held together with a large kilt pin and one I wore it on a flight without thinking - didn't set off the metal detector or anything. I didn't realise until I took it off when I got to my destination and it was too hot to wear a big woollen cardi.

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