AIBU to be angry at teacher who refuses DS water on long coach journey???

[Gizzle]

DS came home very subdued and downcast after the annual school day trip to the seaside today. Turns out that he left his bag on the beach (not unusual, he's an 8yo boy after all) but luckily it was retrieved by a teacher. However, when he asked politely for the bag, she refused to give it to him for the entire duration of the return coach journey, even though it contained his water bottle and he was clearly very thirsty after a day on the beach. I'm not sure what kind of lesson she was hoping to teach him, but I would have thought that children of this age should be helped towards independence, and not punished into it. And refusing a thirsty child water? Is there ever a case for that?

Well if they weren't allowed to drink on the bus then it makes sense taht she kept a hold of his bag rather than risk him forgetting it again?

I do agree that the constant sipping at water bottles is ridiculous.

If the kids were drinking enough during the day there is no reason that any of them would need a drink on the bus.

I'd definitely ask the teacher and go from there. I dont understand why anyone would think it acceptable to with hold water from a child after a long hot day outside

I'd definitely ask the teacher and go from there. I dont understand why anyone would think it acceptable to with hold water from a child after a long hot day outside confused

But they didn't. Forgetful child left his bag behind. Kind teacher retrieved it for forgetful child. Forgetful child asked for his bag on the bus. Kind teacher told him to wait till he got back.

At which point overreacting helicopter parent went full she bear and turned a minor non issue into world war three.

And also it is good to remember that the 'constant access to water' was never a 'thing' until Nestle etc started offering water in bottles...

Until then 'access to water' was absolutely fine. At school that could be at break or lunchtime. But after last lesson and the bus trip home = 2.5 hours without any, every single day, even when that last lesson was PE!!!

But now it has crept into that 'utterly essential to have to hand at all times' bracket. Utterly ridiculous and a poor, sales led, interpretation of the science of hydration.

I hope your chat with the teacher is illuminating and you find some peace with this incident.

We never drink bottled water. Always out of a re-usable bottle, such as Sigg.

Re constant access to water:

I can't be the only teacher who has this conversation tens of times per day:

"Please could I have a drink / refill my water bottle?" (Our bottles are in the classroom but not on desks due to too many ruined work incidents)
"Would you like some help with your work?"
"Oh - yes please."

Everyone has a drink at break and at lunch, and after games / PE (also during PE lessons on warm days / highly energetic sports). I know there are a number of children who have specific, higher, need for drinks and those have specific arrangements (a bit like there are those who are allowed to go to the toilet instantly, at any point, and those who might be asked to wait a few moments or do an extra question first).

However, those who constantly ask to have extra drinks have a very strong correlation with those who find what they are doing tricky.... very, very few needed a drink during a lengthy school play, a very large number suddenly needed one during a particularly tricky lesson on fractions...

As a teacher at this stage in the year one has a pretty good handle on much of this, but children may perceive it as unfair ' that X is allowed to do something instantly that they might be asked to wait for.

Funnily enough, the primary school teachers I had would always have a mug of tea/coffee at their desk.

But teachers don't use it as an excuse not to do their work or leave the room, also teachers are often "on duty" at break etc so can have a cup of tea. Lets not start the "teachers do it so students should be able to " argument.

I teach the older end of secondary ( hence why I can use MN this time of year no y11 and no y13 who make up three quarters of my timetable) and they often use "going to get water" as an excuse to wander and not do what they are told.

This doesn't apply in this case but I do agree with others about the constant access to water thing. I'm mean, I won't let kids out of the room to go get water unless its stiflingly hot, they won't expire from thirst in that time.

kelda,

I make myself a cup of coffee when I arrive in the morning at 7.30.

I throw it away, cold, at break time. Occasionally - maybe once a month or so - I get all optimistic and make myself another one, which I throw away un-drunk at lunchtime.

In all my years of teaching, I have never managed to actually drink more than a couple of sips of drink during the teaching day. There just isn't time.

Then maybe keep a small bottle of water, accessible at all time, like I do in my job?

If it was a very hot day, YANBU.

NavyandWhite your DC might drink throughout the day, my DD has issues around not drinking at school and then guzzling all evening. Her teacher forgets to remind her.

Kelda, water goes exactly the same way as coffee - I have a glass at breaktime when I'm not on duty, and one at lunchtime [exactly as I encourage my class to do by setting aside specific time for it] , but the un-drunk cup of coffee [could equally be a bottle of water, the time taken to drink both is the same] is a standing joke.

So teachers should remember to tell individual students to drink water now?

FFFS.

What a ridiculous over-reaction by the teacher. I help out on school trips. You do a general sweep of the area before leaving because, you know, trips are exciting and children are....well....not infallible. LIke adults. Just FYI on the trip I helped out on Monday, the team leader left her cagoule hanging up drying. Should I have withheld that from her?

My DD's school provide a case of water on all trips for the children. In case of breakages/spillages/children feeling sick/forgetting/children bringing inappropriate drinks etc

Much nicer

What a ridiculous over-reaction by the teacher. What was? we have no idea what the teacher was doing... we know what an 8 year old thinks she was doing...

We need OP to come back and tell us what the teacher's version of the story is before we can make any such judgement!

trip to the sea with 30 plus year 3 children? Super stressful and exhausting.

If the child said "please can I have my bag its got my water in it and i need a drink" or words to that effect it puts a slightly different spin on things.

It's no wonder there's a teacher recruitment shortage given how little respect many people have for the profession.

You need to speak to the teacher.
Lots of schools use local coach companies as these tend to be cheaper. Some ban food and drink, but allow water, some ban all drinks and food including water.
We can speculate here. Was the teacher on a power trip? Was the teacher simply reinforcing the rules of the coach company? None of us actually know, so ask her.
And 2 hours without water on a coach will cause no problems for a normal child. And plenty of adults work in places where they can not have drinks whenever they want and have to wait until sanctioned breaks.

Yes , I think you are being unreasonable. Had same teacher not retrieved bag from beach you'd have had a thirsty child anyway.

Slightly different perspective.....

'Miss' went round picking up after umpteen children, and had been doing so all day- 30 children, 30 lunchbags, jumpers , hats and everything else.
Probably been cleaning up little Johnny who has upchucked all the ways home, and is tired herself- its a huge responsibilty

Try thanking her, instead of being ready to have a go.

Our school's coach company prohibits eating and drinking on the coaches at any times, even for teachers. They have CCTV and punishments have been issued for anyone caught breaking the rules. We have to put the packed lunches in the hold of the coach when we go on a trip.

Also, with primary school aged children in particular, there is the issue that if they drink, they will then need the toilet.