Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think schoolchildren should not be turned loose in a rose garden

137 replies

SunRoute · 04/06/2016 07:00

I was enjoying the peace in my local park and had just got DS to sleep in his pram. A group of around 30 kids started charging around the rose garden, running along the paths screeching and chasing each other Angry The teachers just sat by the fountain and did nothing! Didn't even tell them to keep the noise down and of course DS woke up when a bunch of them jostled past his pram Angry

It was the same at the zoo and Sealife centre recently, groups of noisy shrieking school kids pushing in front of everyone, shoving each other, getting in the way and generally being a nuisance.

AIBU to think kids on school trips should be kept under control, not left to run wild?

OP posts:
nanetterose · 04/06/2016 11:39

I'm now of the opinion that some posters have no idea what rose garden is/ what it should be used for.
op would be unreasonable if she'd asked: "Am l being unreasonable to think l should be able to leave my baby for a nap on the slide?"
It is a rose garden. A place for quiet reflection & perhaps eating lunch.
Those saying "let them run free" are definitely lacking in social awareness.
As twee as l might sound reading back l sound like an old prune l still think it doesn't hurt to respect others when we are out & about.

Hodooooooooor · 04/06/2016 11:45

If one of the children had fallen into a bed of roses and been lacerated by the thorns, everyone would have piled in to say how stupid to let them loose in such an unsuitable environment

Nope. I would have said tough shit,thats what happens when you fling yourself in a rose bush.

Is the quiet rose garden an actual thing? Is it an English thing, one of those thatnobody actually tells you about but people expect you to know?

bakeoffcake · 04/06/2016 11:49

"Is a quiet Rose garden an actual thing?"

Yes! Including in the middle of cities like London!

Original poster
SunRoute · 04/06/2016 11:56

Why do you need a SIGN telling you to be quiet and considerate? Confused Surely you can take your cue from the environment? Manicured gardens, narrow paths, people and babies napping, frail elderly people pottering around with mobility aids... doesn't this imply it's inappropriate to let a pack of kids charge around screaming? Do you really need a sign to tell you it's a quiet area? I know this is a nanny state but common sense and basic manners are still important.

I don't think it's PFB to be cross when your baby is woken up. I chose a quiet area to walk around and it took an hour to get him off to sleep. I would be annoyed if my older DC banged into someone's pram or screeched near a sleeping baby!
They weren't damaging plants as far as I could see but they were pushing each other into the bushes. The teachers just ignored the chaos Angry

As for the Sealife centre, there were lots of adults (as well as preschoolers) trying to enjoy it. The school kids were pushing and shoving to get to the tanks and barging into people. And surely it frightens the fish and sea creatures when kids are screaming and shouting and banging on the glass?

OP posts:
Mummylin · 04/06/2016 12:00

We have a rose garden in one of our parks,it is filled with scented roses for blind people to enjoy. There is lots of other space in the park for children to run around, but the rose garden is to sit and enjoy in peace.

nanetterose · 04/06/2016 12:12

If you know the school op you should report them.
Laziness and being unaware happens in all professions. Teachers & the like are not immune. I know for a fact any schools local to me would hate for (what you've described) happen.

Hodooooooooor · 04/06/2016 12:13

Report them to who? The rose garden police? Send the Quiet Squad, quick!

nanetterose · 04/06/2016 12:17

Ooo so witty. Aren't you Hod
The school obviously. I just explained.
It is very unusual to let children (on school time) behave like that.

Hodooooooooor · 04/06/2016 12:18

I am, so kind of you to say! Grin

nanetterose · 04/06/2016 12:21

Shame there isn't a sarcasm face. This will just l have to do HmmGrin

ColdAsIceCubes · 04/06/2016 12:28

Having been a helper on many different school trips, with nurseries and different schools not one group has behaved as the op is suggesting. If anything the teachers/nursery nurses are more observant and come down harder on silliness. I think the op is exaggerating as she isn't getting the response she wanted!

nobilityobliges · 04/06/2016 12:29

This has to be a joke.

nanetterose · 04/06/2016 12:31

That would expect a shame cold
I've expressed my surprise too.
I'm a TA and have never known it be 'allowed' . Schools like to make a good impression. However, l've taken op at her word, & think she should report the school.

coolaschmoola · 04/06/2016 12:37

Am I the only one wondering if OP's tired and sleep-refusing baby was perfectly silent in the rose garden?

It took an hour to get him to go to sleep - no sounds from him at all OP? Wow! Amazing!

Or was he crying in that hour, just a little bit? A lot?

Because a crying baby is also disruptive in a quiet area... Other people's babies can be tantamount to nails down a blackboard!

PortiaCastis · 04/06/2016 12:40

Oh FFS were the friggin roses asleep as well?

honkinghaddock · 04/06/2016 12:52

As I said before a garden of any sort ( other than rememberence) is for anyone that appreciates the garden whether or not they are able to be quiet. I agree there are better places to take a large group of children for their sake as well.

Hodooooooooor · 04/06/2016 12:53

So a rose garden is like a library, but in a park?

Definitely an english thing.

Whatthefreakinwhatnow · 04/06/2016 12:58

Portia 😂😂

SuperFlyHigh · 04/06/2016 13:00

In my local rose garden (Croydon park forget which it has the water tower there) whenever I've been it's been peaceful and quiet.

Other parks without rose gardens (Dulwich, crystal palace etc) generally seem to have kids playing or running etc in most areas regardless but not out of control.

London aquarium yes kids can run about a bit but down to teacher or assistants. Generally there are signs saying not to do this though the kids petted the sting rays (flat fish) even though signs saying not to.

Never ever go to France OP - kids there are appallingly badly behaved, don't listen and at La Rochelle aquarium ran around screaming and being brats. It's accepted...

kali110 · 04/06/2016 18:09

wow there really are some sarcy arses on here Hmm

Furiosa · 04/06/2016 18:49

If noise is an issue was it ok for you take a baby in the rose garden? What if he'd woke up screaming?

KERALA1 · 04/06/2016 19:01

Yanbu at our local park there is a huge play area and a separate botanical garden. I would have been Hmm if a large group of kids had been instructed to play in the former. And I have primary age dc.

Just5minswithDacre · 05/06/2016 04:56

Sheesh, I give up. I guess the parents who think it's fine for their little darlings to maraude around a rose garden yelling are the same ones who think 2 year olds should have equal dibs on the skate park to the teenagers (another thread this week) and allow scooters in museums? Hmm

VioletBam · 05/06/2016 06:34

Rose gardens are not only for elderly people and parents of babies! My children love the rose garden in our park and they have as much right as anyone to go there.

Just5minswithDacre · 05/06/2016 06:39

Of course they do Violet, but do they run around screaming?

Swipe left for the next trending thread