Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Eclipse rage

55 replies

IamtheDuchessstill · 20/03/2015 21:02

I have double-whammy - as a parent and a teacher.

Ds (8) has told me that they didn't watch it but that pupils who had brought their own pin-hole cameras were allowed outside to watch. He named three from his class- his best friends. He didn't have one because it never occurred to me. I feel like the shittest mother in town, but am a bit cross that were not advised that if we provided our own equipment children would be allowed out. They could have made said cameras earlier in the week in class, no? Then no one would have been excluded. Mainly angry with myself though Sad.

Then my school. No whole school policy, but I am aware of possible dangers of watching it. I have very excited class p1 (Y9). They come in waving litmus paper that science teachers have apparently told them can be used to watch safely through. No email has gone out to this effect, so I say no. Class upset. I allow watching BBC live at relevant time. Teacher next door takes his class outside. My class hate me more. They tell me everyone else is outside - they were not, just one class. They crowd the window and I obsess about them injuring their eyes. It was cloudy anyway.

AIBU to think both schools should have made a decision to include all children? Bloody glad it's over - feel like I spoilt it for a variety of people Sad.

OP posts:
BlinkAndMiss · 20/03/2015 21:09

YANBU, I'm a teacher and my school ignored it. The kids were really upset, it was nice to see them all so enthusiastic about something but then the school just played it down. Like you I was worried about letting them watch it because of the H&S so I had to let it pass by Hmm.

YesILikeItToo · 20/03/2015 21:10

Yes, that is annoying. Good that it was cloudy, you can think of it this way: If you can't see it locally then what the kids will remember is the fuss. Watching TV gave them fuss and an actual view. Win win!

YesILikeItToo · 20/03/2015 21:11

They were trying it in about the litmus paper btw.

listsandbudgets · 20/03/2015 21:15

Well I for one have never heard of watching an eclipse through litmis paper. I am sure if it was safe it woild have been recommended somewhere on the internet but I can't find anything and I somehow doubt anyone else will. Have you asked the science teacher about this? Very unusual advice.

John4703 · 20/03/2015 21:15

I was in primary at the last eclipse and we all watched it, no glasses, no-one got blinded.
Why are schools so into health and safety today? All kids see the sun in the summer, let them watch the eclipse.

StrawberryAndScream · 20/03/2015 21:15

Crying. Spilt. Milk.

calmexterior · 20/03/2015 21:16

YANBU
Our school cocked it up too, sadly. Annoying as they had plenty of time to work out what to do safely. Mine were happy watching it on tv though, plus they got a look at the beginning of it through my glasses on the way to school. They also made some pictures of it etc....

listsandbudgets · 20/03/2015 21:17

Oh ad if you'd let them watch it through litmus and their eyes had been hurt you woild probably have had your career on the line

Hulababy · 20/03/2015 21:19

Tv streaming wouldn't work at many schools including mine. Tried several sites inc BBC but nothing!

Took children outside with pinhole stuff set up. Too cloudy.

Was a wet squib!

nocoolnamesleft · 20/03/2015 21:20

Litmus paper? I'd be gobsmacked if that was proper retinal protection. (I got hold of some decent solar filter film for my camera etc...then 100% cloud. Okay, maybe slightly bitter)

DustBunnyFarmer · 20/03/2015 21:24

My sons' primary sent a message around that children with a safe means of viewing the eclipse would be allowed out into the playground to do so. We made really basic pinhole cameras last night and I took my boys out into the garden this morning to show them how to use them safely, as we had a very sunny day so ideal viewing conditions. They found the pinhole cameras dead easy to use, were both fully aware of the risks of looking at the sun and both very sensible. DS1 (y5) was allowed outdoors to use his pinhole camera. DS2 (y2) was not, even though he had his pinhole camera with him. He is gutted and cried all the way home after school about having missed out. Sad

cardibach · 20/03/2015 21:25

I'm a teacher. My colleague poked a pin through loads of bits of paper - took him about 10 seconds...took my Y10s out. Loads of kids milling about using various viewing methods. They were fascinated by it all, especially the cold! Lots of fun had by all. YANBU

specialsubject · 20/03/2015 21:26

lot of ignorant cock being talked here. Look elsewhere on MN for people who HAVE permanent eye damage from staring at the eclipse. And someone who had a near miss from believing that watching it reflected in water for 30 seconds was safe.

if you REALLY stared for ages at the last partial eclipse then you would have had some eye damage.

the kids were lying about litmus paper.

just as well much of the UK was cloudy with stupidity like this kicking about.

agree with the OP that two bits of card each and supervision would have been good. Supervision on the lines of 'face this way, if anyone turns round we all go inside'.

Pipbin · 20/03/2015 21:28

Really John? In August?

I'm just grateful it was cloudy. We went outside but it was so cloudy that we couldn't even tell vaguely where the sun was. I was going to try and get a pinhole focussed on the ground if it was sunny.

DustBunnyFarmer · 20/03/2015 21:30

Supervision on the lines of 'face this way, if anyone turns round we all go inside'.

Special - That's what I thought about DS2's year 2 class. We reckon it's because there are some completely bonkers kids in his year who wouldn't have toed the line, but it's a shame to penalise the sensible, well prepared ones.

CliniqueChubbyStick · 20/03/2015 21:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CliniqueChubbyStick · 20/03/2015 21:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DustBunnyFarmer · 20/03/2015 21:33

Fair point, Clinique, but his big brother was out in the yard.

TimeToGetUp · 20/03/2015 21:35

YANBU

(Wrote long reply, but Internet lost it). Lots of ignorance - the worst thing is some of the ignorance was from the people in charge of my dc... Luckily he was able to educate them... I am SO glad I had supplied everything for him!

DustBunnyFarmer · 20/03/2015 21:36

To clarify, his big brother was out in the yard with a small number of other well prepared kids and supervision - couldn't they just have let the other sensible kids out to be supervised by the same staff?

Treaclepot · 20/03/2015 21:37

By not have asked a few parents to help? Was all done and dusted within an hour.

CliniqueChubbyStick · 20/03/2015 21:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrsseed · 20/03/2015 21:38

Love our school, they got the local astronomy club to bring their telescopes and gear to the school and talk about them, took them outside in groups. Stuff was set up in the playground before school for parents/siblings to ask questions. In the end it was cloudy but they still enjoyed the talks and watched BBC streaming.
But the school is named after an astronomer so they had to make an effort really!

TimeToGetUp · 20/03/2015 21:40

I feel I need to add, the school is otherwise good. But adults were just wearing two pairs of sunglasses!!!

CliniqueChubbyStick · 20/03/2015 21:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Swipe left for the next trending thread