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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:
revealall · 20/03/2015 21:43

So agree Clinique.
I did think I might have mentioned this before on a thread but was shot down. Also that there are many more than one every 80 years or whatever. Just need to be at the right placed to the right time.
I think I might have also mentioned that they hardly ever live up to expecectations. It gets cold and dark before a sudden storm. Much more dramatic.

austenozzy · 20/03/2015 21:46

I bought a job lot of CE rated eclipse glasses for all the kids in my dd's preschool, they all had a great time. They gas some panels of welder glass too. Lots of prep by the teachers re not looking directly at the sun beforehand, and luckily nice clear skies (pollution excepted) in Cornwall.

Playthegameout · 20/03/2015 21:49

That sounds disappointing. We were given p1 as a themed lesson, so we all had a discussion about the eclipse and the science behind it (prep from our science dept). As a school we could only afford 50 pairs of glasses, so we had to ration them, but everyone at the front of the building got a pair and students could bring their own. We made pin hole projectors and had the BBC live feed on. It was very cloudy but all of the kids in my class got 30 second slots with the glasses and a projector, so they all saw it, even the ones that claimed they weren't bothered. I had a giddy yr 9 bunch too, but they've been spoken too about the dangers very carefully this week and I was very confident I could control the class. Anyone that was worried got an extra pair of hands from SLT.

GreenPetal94 · 20/03/2015 23:15

I never normally take my kid of school, but I did today to see the clear skied Scottish eclipse. We'd bought the eclipse glasses and school banned them and so we climbed the local hill and enjoyed it the two of us and he went in at first break. it was epic (ds's words).

soverylucky · 20/03/2015 23:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ouryve · 20/03/2015 23:57

How the hell can you observe anything through a piece of this? Confused
www.fisher.co.uk/1/1/61577-ph-indicator-paper-60mm-x-10mm-litmus-colour-change-neutral-red-or-blue.html

ssd · 21/03/2015 00:06

I stared away at it and I'm not blind...

MrsMook · 21/03/2015 00:08

Many of our classes went out, and it was a lovely experience. The pupils were sensible and used a variety of methods to observe. It started off sunny but clouded over part way through. About 10 minutes after the maximum extent of it, they were happy to return to lessons. I'm sure a lot of memories were made. The staff were reminiscing over 1999.

Purplepixiedust · 21/03/2015 08:02

We watched before and on the way to school having made cereal box projectors at home. It clouded up just after school but M (8) and his class were still allowed out for a few minutes with their various home made viewers and the teacher had the basic 2 sheets of paper viewer for those who had nothing else. There are 36 in the class but they had been given H&S info by head in assembly and by class teacher and were trusted.

HamishBamish · 21/03/2015 08:07

YANBU. The head should have decided on a whole school policy and planned ahead. It's ridiculous there was no communication about it. It's not as if we didn't know it was coming! Shitty communication.

GobblersKnob · 21/03/2015 08:14

I kept both of mine out so they could experience it outdoors instead of by staring at the tv, took them in afterwards.

Pallando · 21/03/2015 08:54

I had consided keeping my 5 and a half year old off to watch it, but instead brougt

Pallando · 21/03/2015 08:57

Sorry, brought several welders lenses (grade 14 before anyone complains) and went in the day before to explain to the kids what was happening. Went in the morning as well to help take them out in small groups but the cloud cover was so bad we saw nothing. At all. Bit miffed (but also got jaffa cakes so they could make their own eclipses). The school had nothing planned (big trip with older ones going out that day) and were very welcoming to my suggestions.

thegreylady · 21/03/2015 08:59

Our small primary school bought special eclipse glasses for the whole school and allowed them outside to watch. We had broken cloud and they had an excellent view. Thumbs up to that school.

Pallando · 21/03/2015 09:00

And a quick glimpse of the sun and look away will probably do no damage, but your eye has a lens in it which focuses the light onto the back of your retina. A bit like a magnifying glass - and have you seen what you can do with paper, a magnifying glass and the sun? Your retina has no pain receptors so will not notice the burning...

SomewhereIBelong · 21/03/2015 09:06

a quick glimpse of the sun will not enable you to see the eclipse anyhow - it is too bright - I glanced at it and it looks just like the sun - even at 85% eclipse... then I did the scientific, look through a thick black plastic shopping bag (Hot Topic) and saw the teeny crescent that you just wouldn't believe was all there was having looked at the sun.

(disclaimer: I am a grown up and only made those viewing decisions for myself.)

LindyHemming · 21/03/2015 09:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BunnyCake · 21/03/2015 09:34

Not read the other replies, but yes, both schools should have made a decision about what to do and broadcast it. My kids primary told us by email to bring in colanders to use as pinholes and the children could bring in the eclipse eyewear if they had it. (In the end no one here could see it anyway, so they watched it on tv instead.) You were right to not just let them out to damage their eyes though. Your school should have decided what to do and let everyone know.

BunnyCake · 21/03/2015 09:47

Could your son watch stargazing live on catch up? I showed it to my kids after school as no one could see a thing through the thick clouds here. It was a great programme.

wfrances · 21/03/2015 09:51

ds 11 , watched it on tv.
ds 16 , school had 10 minute break so teachers and any kids who wanted to go out could .

diddl · 21/03/2015 10:08

the teacher from your school that went outside, what were they using?

diddl · 21/03/2015 10:09

If schools didn't have glasses, surely they could have made pinhole viewers on the day??

JudeyHotPants · 21/03/2015 10:20

I work in a school and we made a huge thing of it. We've been incoporating it into our science lessons for the past week, and the kids were so excited coming in yesterday morning.

I can't understand the mentality of those schools who ignored someting so that can be so educational? But then I have to remind myself that some schools are just shit and I'm just lucky to work in a good one...

wfrances · 21/03/2015 10:37

they made paper/cardboard pinhole viewers
some had glasses.

diddl · 21/03/2015 10:39

I'm still kicking myself that I had no glasses as it was a beautiful sunny day here & perfect viewing conditions.

Made a pinhole viewer so as not to miss out!

Am currently on a mission to get specs before 2026!!