School Detention

[Mumof5and3]

DD has started at a new school. I have recently discovered that during detention children stand for fifteen minutes facing the wall. AIBU to consider this to be Abuse.

I'm guessing that whatever it was she did, she won't do it again. That's the point of the punishment.

MoreCrackThanHarlem
In my view talking through the poor behaviour and its consequences has more of an impact than this kind of pointless punishment- who did I upset, how did I feel afterwards, what could I have done differently etc.

but some pupils that are regularly in trouble, learn the 'correct' responses and nothing changes.

I think people's reactions to what the OP describes will depend on whether they believe in punishing children; whether, indeed, the word punishment should be used at all instead of 'sanction' or 'consequence' or whatever less punitive word you prefer.

The OP's description of being made to stand facing the wall took me back to my own schooling half a century ago when this was commonplace. My first reaction was not that it was abusive or demeaning just very old-fashioned. In my career as teacher I've never used this as a method of correction or seen it used. Having said that, I'm also very mindful of the fact that the 'consequences', 'sanctions' and 'restorative justice' of modern education often have little effect on children's behaviour. Perhaps it's time to rediscover the practice of punishment?

I don't think it's degrading. Old fashioned maybe but not degrading. You sound annoyed that she got a detention.

It's not abuse, it is demeaning, but maybe it's supposed to be?

Can't assess whether it's a reasonable punishment without knowing what she did. Surely if she behaved in a way that was demeaning to others it might not be a bad thing for her to feel demeaned.

Can't comment without those details, but it's far from abusive

You are entitled to believe that it is abusive and humiliating and demeaning if you wish. Every school punishment can be construed as such.

Missing golden time? Hurtful and demeaning!!
Copying lines? Pointless and degrading!!
Restorative justice? If a child doesn't want to do it - false, nasty, upsetting!!
Telling a child off? - spiteful, bullying, degrading!!
Sitting on a naughty chair? Nasty, humiliating, upsetting, excluding!!!

Not every intervention in school will be sugar-coated marsh mallowiness. Some parents would think 15 minutes facing a wall is Guantanemo Bay treatment. Some would say it should be half an hour. Some would say they should be sent home. Some would say they should be smacked. It's impossible to align the entire school discipline policy to please every parent.

Don't believe everything your child tells you happens in school and we won't believe everything your child tells us happens at home

Spot on!

IguanaTail yes you cannot please every parent, but it is possible to keep up with current, accepted practice. The reason teaching practice evolves so much is because someone figures out a better way of doing things. The 'old-fashioned' way is synonymous with 'the wrong way' IMO. If parents disagree with it, then they are disagreeing with the experts. If a parent disagrees with an 'old-fashioned' method, they are disagreeing with one teacher's decision to go against current teaching practice. Would this teacher use this form of punishment in front of an OFSTED inspector? Probably not.

Teaching practice goes through cycles. What was old fashioned and laughed at, becomes de rigeur within a few years.

If you have a class of kids and you can't send one out (safeguarding), then it seems fair to get them to face away from the others. I would get them to sit on a chair and face the other way and do some work, rather than just face the wall standing up, because it is easier to manage them while they are sitting, and better for them in my opinion to be doing work. But if I saw a child standing facing a wall I wouldn't be thinking the child was being abused, no.

Rather than sitting criticising the teacher I would be concerned that my child didn't misbehave in the first place.

Next we will be hearing suggestions of taking it to the newspapers or getting a lawyer and contacting Brussels.

I actually don't disagree with it as a punishment but my DSs school will use it as a class punishment if one of the children say messes around lining up to go in after break or something, the whole class have to do it. That I completely disagree with as the impact is lost, what is the point in behaving when you are punished anyway.