To be pissed at my son's teacher?

[WhereTheFuckIsMyFuckingCoat]

Today, my just turned 11yo's teacher told his class that 'refilling and reusing water bottles (i.e. Mount franklin etc), will give you certain types of cancer'.

I'm currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, which my sons' teachers have had to be told about, owing to their initial upset, and subsequent unsettled periods (two mastectomies, three other operations, hospitalised for three infections, and the fact that I get quite sick every three weeks from chemo). I was also completely bald for about four months, so there isn't much chance that they've forgotten about it.

Anyway, ds1 came home today quite upset - we live in Australia, and as most days it's 30 degrees plus (6mths of the year), I will fill up all the water bottles we've bought, or got with eg. Kids meals, and shove them in the fridge. It encourages all four ds' (and me!) to help themselves all day and stay hydrated. We do keep glass bottles in the fridge also for meal times, but the other bottles have sports caps, which reduce spillage.

Anyway, ds1 was upset, and asked me if that's why I had gotten cancer, and if he and his brothers would now too

Aibu to think that apart from being completely unfounded baseless claims, it was a bloody insensitive thing to say to a young boy whose mother is undergoing intensive cancer treatment?

It was an incredibly insensitive thing to say, have you said anything to school?

Yeah that's pretty shocking. It's outdated information. Speak to your kids teacher.

No actual advice but just want to say how horrible that must be for your son and you are in no way unreasonable to be upset about that. all I can say is speak to the teacher or perhaps the head about this.

People did believe that at one time thanks to a lot of Internet drivel so he perhaps is mistaken in thinking he is genuinely giving good advice.

I would get in touch and set him straight. YANBU to be upset.

I was worried that I was just being over sensitive but ds1 was upset. He's the most fragile of the four, and that was the last thing he needed. He only told me after swimming lessons this evening so I've had no chance to speak to the teacher or the principle. Do you think I'd be better to approach her directly or go to the principle?

The teacher is an absolute idiot, no idea where they have gotten their info from and know nothing about it but it sounds like utter rubbish!

However regardless of the validity of their claim it was insensitive and shows outstandingly poor judgement on their part to mention it in class. Especially given what your family is going through at the moment.

I would speak to the principle, as this would make me question the teachers professional judgement.

You can't stop people having stupid opinions but as a teacher who is in position of trust and authority they need to have the ability and common sense to evaluate what is appropriate to share with their students.

I will go in and see the principle tomorrow. I don't want to be one of 'those' parents but I can't have ds being further upset unnecessarily.

It's hard speaking to the principle too, as she has a tendency to become teary (when I've had to speak to her about anything regarding my illness previously) as her mother died of bc, but perhaps it will mean she is more sympathetic to our position.

Didn't want to read and run. YANBU. It was really insensitive and thoughtless of the teacher as well as misguided.

This link from the Cancer Research UK website gives a helpful take on this that you may be able to use to reassure your DS. (www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/healthyliving/cancercontroversies/Plasticbottles/)

Thank you! That will not only give me some reassurance for ds, but will allow me to show the principle that the teacher really did give out false info.