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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this weird?

131 replies

coffeegonzo · 15/06/2015 13:30

I actually think I agree but my children's friends were horrified; their teacher (- sixth form but it could have been in other classes too) had a child who was off colour but the six formers needed teacher near exams etc, so she brought the crotchety off colour 18 month (?) old into class and breast fed during class. The students found it "ultra awkward"... I half think this is a good life experience for them, admire the teacher's dedication, but also think actually it's a bit weird. Maybe a teeny baby but this was a toddler.....maybe that makes a difference for me, I can't decide... It's a friendly independent school- teachers first name terms, relaxed but quite academic.

OP posts:
NickiFury · 15/06/2015 13:32

It's not weird. Unless eating is weird these days?

I personally wouldn't bring an ill toddler into school but it's not weird.

diddl · 15/06/2015 13:33

It's not the bfeeding so much as was the child too ill to be with his usual childcare?

ItsTricky · 15/06/2015 13:34

The teacher could have taken the day off but wanted to be present for her students during exam time. Good on her!

MrsNextDoor · 15/06/2015 13:34

YABU. We need more of this kind of thing. It's a small child...breastfeeding...not an alien shedding it's skin.

purplemurple1 · 15/06/2015 13:35

Id think it distracting at least for teens to see their teacher bf a toddler and to have a sick toddler in the room during exams.

run2 · 15/06/2015 13:36

I wonder how long before the teacher bashing starts...

however · 15/06/2015 13:37

That's a leap of faith, bringing an unwell baby into an exam room.

Breastfeeding should be normalised, but I don't think an exam room is the place to teach life lessons.

That said, if I was a parent I'd do not much more than raise my eyebrows.

shitebag · 15/06/2015 13:38

I can't decide on this one tbh.

I think it was highly unprofessional to bring a poorly child into the workplace but at the same time I guess sixth formers are able to just drop/in and out of class as its just for revision (this is how study leave worked here in Scotland when I was doing it so could be wrong) so its not like she was actually taking a class.

Shockers · 15/06/2015 13:38

Dedicated teacher who cares about exam prepping her students and also nurturing her sick child.

Can't do right for doing wrong sometimes...

( that was aimed at those who found it inappropriate, not you OP)

Rosieliveson · 15/06/2015 13:38

I would have found it weird. I can't see how having a toddler around would make for a very constructive session.
I'm not sure on the breastfeeding. I know it's totally natural and fed my own DS. I'm still not convinced it was necessary in front of a class of young adults. After all, this child must be fed differently whist the teacher is usually away at work.

Denimwithdenim00 · 15/06/2015 13:38

They are 6 th formers. Surely they know what breasts are for? If not their parents need a chat with them. Am guessing they weren't flopped out for all to see. These kids need to get a grip. Mine must have been mature as none of them would have turned a hair at this

StaircaseAtTheUniversity · 15/06/2015 13:38

I wholeheartedly admire the woman! I'm a secondary school teacher and will admit to having nothing like that level of dedication or multitasking skills. Well done her!

Gileswithachainsaw · 15/06/2015 13:40

It'd extremely unprofessional to take your baby/toddler to work. exams are too important to risk getting some bug off a toddler or being distracted by the crying.

00100001 · 15/06/2015 13:42

It is inappropriate to bring a sick child into a school.

IF the toddler is ill, it needs to be at home resting, not brought into work :/

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 15/06/2015 13:43

Well I'm writing this whilst breastfeeding my crotchety 2 year old but I think it is very inappropriate to bring your child into the workplace and I'd be very concerned that the toddler has a contagious bug. A stomach bug during A levels will probably cost a grade or two which will then lead to lost university places.

00100001 · 15/06/2015 13:43

the breastfeeding is somewhat irrelevant - the real issue is whether the child should have been there in the first place.

I'm guessing the students aren't allowed to eat in the classroom?

LatriceRoyale · 15/06/2015 13:44

I wouldn't be happy with it. No issue with breastfeeding but it's unprofessional to bring a child to work like that.

FailingMyDegree · 15/06/2015 13:45

I'd be very concerned that the toddler has a contagious bug. A stomach bug during A levels will probably cost a grade or two which will then lead to lost university places.

This.

however · 15/06/2015 13:46

Shockers, my kids' teacher had a baby. They begged her to bring it into school. She did. Did she breastfeed it? No idea. Don't care. Probably.

She didn't bring it into an exam room while it was unwell.

It's not just about the breast-feeding. Let go of the faux outrage.

redexpat · 15/06/2015 13:48

Bringing an ill child to work is not ideal, but it wasnt the exam room as some seem to think and the 6th formers are old enough to know better and frankly need to get over themselves.

diddl · 15/06/2015 13:49

It wasn't an exam room, was it?

Was she even teaching or just there if the students wanted clarification on something?

I agree it's not about the bfeeding, but about an unwell child.

PenguinBollards · 15/06/2015 13:49

I bf-ed both of my children until well past the age that many people find 'acceptable', so that aspect of it doesn't clang any bells for me, but taking a poorly (and potentially contagious) child into a room full of students with exams coming up seems very ill-considered.

MrsPeterQuill · 15/06/2015 13:49

The breast feeding is a red herring.

It was highly unprofessional of her to bring a sick child into the workplace.

Floggingmolly · 15/06/2015 13:50

It's not about the breastfeeding, is it? Confused She brought a child who was too ill to be accepted into their usual childcare setting into a classroom. That's awful.

Newmanwannabe · 15/06/2015 13:51

I agree with Giles. How noisy and distracting must it be to have an 18month old in the class. How much are you paying for school fees.. I wouldn't be impressed if my DC's teachers were caring for their child at the same time as teaching... What if the baby vomited etc. does the class get interrupted/paused whilst the child is cleaned up? I can think of very few occupations where it is appropriate to bring your child to work.

School classes are not the time and place to normalise breast feeding. And I'm actually a very big breastfeeding advocate.

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