was this innocent or should i report it to the school?

[whyareallthegoodnicknamestaken]

Decided to let ds walk to pick dd up with me today (he's 19 months...BIG mistake!!)
Got half way there, he wanted to be picked up... To cut a long story short I ended up exhausted and covered in dog poo..
on the way home I was less that happy and ended up trying to walk ds by his reins, and ended up carrying him again because he had touched my coat with the dog poo on.
so there I was walking down the street with a face like thunder covered in dog poo trying to carry ds whilst restraining him from putting his dog poopy hands in his mouth when an old man came up and was making polite converstation. He had noticed dd was from the local school, he then asked her what class she was in, and before I could intervene she had told him.
he seemed nice enough but I don't like the idea of him asking her what class she was in, am I being over protective?

It was either that or the Doors 'People are strange'

Ok, maybe I was over reacting, I think the day has just got on top of me, skating I wasn't furious, just overwhelmed by the situation and probably not coping as well as I could have, ds and I where both covered in poo and he was throwing himself on the floor,what would you have had me do? Dd was perfectly fine, walking along side me, not trailing behind whike her obviously awful mother couldn't cope

Mumsy no its not. It's an example of meaningless smalltalk questions to ask a child to make pleasant conversation.

Mums why on earth do you feel its an innapropriate question?

Just looking at the scenario from a different perspective.

I guess he might have used to have taught there or gone there as a child himself and was interested. Or he might have been married to one of the older teachers etc.

This

Actually if I was making conversation with a stranger's child I would never ask what class they were in, it's an inappropriate question.

is a very sad commentary on the state of the world today.

OP you haven't actually said what it is you were worried or concerned about, what were your fears?

Sometimes you see a tiny child and you think they are 6 and then you say 'Which class are you in?' and you realise that they are 11 and therefore talk to them slightly differently?
If he'd said, 'What a lovely coat' would that have hit the Creep Alarm too?

Overreacting. I'd ask a stranger's child what primary they were in. And so what?

He was just being polite. What if it was a lady who asked? Would you want to report her?

What exactly are your fears? What are you thinking he might do?

I've often said to children of adults I've got talking to briefly stuff along those lines "oh you're a big girl, what primary are you in" etc.....is that ok because I'm a woman and not a man? That someone comes along and thinks it's innapropriate here is very sad to.

It's Paedogeddon!

Sorry, was there dog poo involved by any chance?

When people start off conversations like that round here it usually turns into an hour long reminisce about their own school days

I'm with you OP. There has been a spate of "strangers" hanging about a few local schools in our area, Imo, you are right to be wary. Who gives a fuck if they think you are being OTT, sometimes you can't help being protective, it doesn't just switch off. Not far from us at my old secondary school, a 70 year old man attempted to drag a 14 year old into his car in broad daylight just before Xmas. Old man or not, he's still a stranger.

Mumsy, inappropriate to ask about which class why? I am utterly mystified.

An elderly (female) neighbour asked my child which class she's in the other day. Should I be on red alert?

I asked a random little boy this exact question at the weekend. His class was named after an animal and we had a lovely five minutes talking about the aforementioned animal.
His mother didn't seem to mind in the least. But then I'm a female so it's perfectly acceptable for me to look at or speak to children. Unlike poor DP who gets looked at like he is some kind of predator for walking down the street with my little niece

My kids get asked the same by old folk in the surgery or at the bus stop or the park or what have you. "What primary are you in?" "Oooh primary one..really? Gosh!" etc etc

What of it?

He didn't ask her what year she was in he asked who's class she was in, as in which teacher. I'm not sure why it made me feel uneasy, it just did.

If you are that concerned talk to dd about stranger danger.

He sounds like he was making polite conversation, maybe he has a grand child at the school? his wife is a TA or secretary? or his child is a teacher?

Actually if I was making conversation with a stranger's child I would never ask what class they were in, it's an inappropriate question.

Because you'd be able to use that information in what way?

Am I being obtuse: WHY is it inappropriate? Or not 'innocent'. In what way could the information possibly be used? Did he ask her name??

I find it depressing that you would even suspect this poor man, but we are fed lots of scare stories about wily paedophiles I suppose.

Definite and strange overreaction IMO.
Poor you though: our walk to school is a dog poo minefield and it sends me fucking apoplectic. I HATE it.

If was asking who her teacher was then I bet he's either got a family child at the school or relative who teaches there.

Sorry, bold fail on the above quote.