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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to challenge detention?

87 replies

abraham · 17/01/2015 09:53

Just looking for some opinions/advice please . . .

DS1 started secondary school last Sept, so the whole secondary school thing is still really new to me!

He has been doing really well in all his subjects, bar one - German. Yesterday he received an after school detention for failing his German test (detention is scheduled for this coming Tuesday). If he had been given a detention for not completing homework, misbehaving etc. I would support the school 100% (he received a lunchtime detention for not completing RE HWK in his second week at the school, and there was a good reason for it too (he'd been in hospital having an operation!) - but I still supported the school). However, a detention as punishment for failing a test just seems unfair - and counter productive anyway.

He does go to what is generally regarded as being a very strict school, so I suppose what I'm asking is if this is normal practice across the board - or not? I might have a philosophical problem with it, but if it's a widespread way of dealing with failure then there's little point in me challenging it is there?

Just to complicate things further - he comes top (or very near the top) of the class for most subjects. Languages aren't his strongest suit, but he is still near the top of the class in his other language choice (Spanish) - he says he finds it hard to understand the German teacher's accent, and she conducts most of the lesson in German. Clearly she's going for an immersion approach, but surely then she should expect that this approach would take longer to take effect anyway? Going to sound really gorilla mum here, but I have to question if the problem here is not DS1 at all - but actually the teacher?!?

Any thoughts on this would be most appreciated!

OP posts:

Hurr1cane · 17/01/2015 09:56

Are you 100% sure that's why he's got a detention?

saoirse31 · 17/01/2015 09:56

tbh detention for failng test seems ridiculous. If you're academically weak would you have non stop detention? on other hand are you sure that that is what detention is for?

BitOutOfPractice · 17/01/2015 10:00

Yes I'd double check that's what it's for first!

ApocalypseThen · 17/01/2015 10:01

If the standard consequence of failing a test is detention, he's got to take it, just like everyone else. How good he may be at other subjects isn't relevant.

I wouldn't be listening to excuses about accents either. It's his future. He's there to do a job, it's up to him do his best and fill in the gaps rather than finding excuses - that won't do in adult life.

mameulah · 17/01/2015 10:01

It doesn't sound very fair but I think you would be doing your son a bigger favour by teaching him that he just has to suck it up. Particularly as he is good in other subjects. Being treated unfairly by the person who is in charge is often what happens when you are an employee. Keeping your mouth shut and getting on with it so you have a job to pay the mortgage and put food in everyone's mouth is often what you have to do. I wouldn't think an hour or two of detention would do him any particular damage.

And if you are new to the school I would save making a fuss for something really worth bothering about .

Quitethewoodsman · 17/01/2015 10:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Philoslothy · 17/01/2015 10:01

When I taught children were set a target for tests in line with their GCSE/KS3 targets, if they were not within a defined range of that target they were kept behind to go over the material.

I have never can't imagine ever questioning a detention.

slightlyconfused85 · 17/01/2015 10:01

Are you sure it's a detention? Have you had a letter or slip? It might be that the teacher is simply calling your son and others back to redo a test to give them a chance to perform at better grade if they are able to. I do this, admittedly not with year 7 but gcse students are regularly asked to do so. It's. It is not a detention when I do this

Bunbaker · 17/01/2015 10:02

Detention for failing a test seems draconian. I would check whether it was because he failed it or failed to revise for it, which would equate to not doing homework.

RokensWife · 17/01/2015 10:05

I was given a detention for getting less than 60% in a test at school. It was a subject I really struggled with. My dad went berserk, put on his suit and marched down the school (he'd helped me revise).

I'm a teacher myself now and I completely disagree with detentions for 'failing' tests.

paperlace · 17/01/2015 10:07

Don't like the idea of punishment for 'failing' BUT it's only a detention! Some are fair, some aren't. TBH schools nowadays give them out willy nilly - counterproductive really as the kids and parents don't really care about them now.

DrankSangriaInThePark · 17/01/2015 10:08

I agree with others that you need to establish that the detention is, in fact, a punishment detention, and not a "those who "failed" the test will be invited to have an extra (and in the teacher's free time ;-) lesson to help them catch up" detention....

If the teacher is speaking to the students in German, then she is excellent btw.

Philoslothy · 17/01/2015 10:08

If you were a student with an A* target and you achieved 60% in a test I would keep you back and if would be compulsory which really makes it a detention,

Philoslothy · 17/01/2015 10:09

As a parent I do care about detentions and my children are disciplined at home for them as well.

meerschweinchen · 17/01/2015 10:10

Is it actually a detention or is it a lunchtime retest?
An official detention for failing a test does sound harsh, but if it was a vocab test, then lots of schools do a lunchtime retest for students who didn't do well the first time. The reason being that if it had been homework to learn vocab, and he didn't, then the teacher would give him another opportunity to learn the vocab (I.e do the homework) and then be retested. Should only take a few minutes, so he shouldn't lose his lunch break. A bit like any other detention for not doing homework.

I think you need more details here. Especially if he doesn't like the subject, he may not have told you the full version of events!

Quitethewoodsman · 17/01/2015 10:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ToffeeCaramel · 17/01/2015 10:13

Maybe it's a session to give him extra help or maybe the homework was to learn the German and she feels he didn't try hard enough or maybe it's for something else. Are any of those possible?

fuctifino · 17/01/2015 10:18

I would expect a letter home with the reason for the detention. Have you had one of these, or is it just what your son has told you?
I wouldn't be happy with an after school for failing a test but if you have made the choice to send your ds to a strict school, then really you should support them in their methods of discipline.

If you don't have a letter from school, I would drop them a line to clarify why he's been given detention.

gamerwidow · 17/01/2015 10:19

At my grammar school in the 80s/90s we got detention if we got less than 9/10 in our weekly French and German vocab tests. If it's a high achieving school then I would expect the same. If he's acing the rest of his classes are you sure his putting in his full effort to German or is he not bothering because he doesn't like it?

Philoslothy · 17/01/2015 10:20

is there not a note in his planner/diary? I would not necessarily expect a letter home for a lunch time detention but I would expect a note for me to see and sign.

fuctifino · 17/01/2015 10:22

It's an after school, I would definitely expect a letter!

Wolfiefan · 17/01/2015 10:23

I wouldn't challenge it. I would check why the detention was set. Are they assuming he didn't revise for the test and so didn't do the HW. If it is a chance for the teacher to help him improve them that's great. Perhaps also ask how you can help. I wouldn't go blaming the teacher or going gorilla mummy. BTW I've never met a teacher who enjoyed doing detention!

Icimoi · 17/01/2015 10:24

What was the test? If it was something he was supposed to have revised he probably deserved the detention. If it was a surprise test, maybe not

itsbetterthanabox · 17/01/2015 10:25

Both being in hospital and failing a test are ridiculous reasons for detention. No one benefits from this.
Private school?
I'd complain. Punishments lose their value if overused. He won't understand when he's actually done something wrong. Also it makes kids stressed and anxious for no reason to be punished for things outside their control.

Mamus · 17/01/2015 10:27

Goodness, how ridiculous a policy.

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