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AIBU?

To complain to school?

116 replies

Dutch212 · 19/07/2016 08:35

Son was to do PE at peak heat outside yesterday followed by lessons outside. Came home with heatstroke. Aibu to complain that school should have kept children cool and out of sun. I sent him with hat, water and creamed but it didn't prevent this.

OP posts:

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NickiFury · 19/07/2016 12:17

I'd be really interested to know if you are as unnecessarily rude, dismissive and aggressive in your RL as you are from behind your screen pretty sure you are not.

Janefromdowntheroad · 19/07/2016 12:19

God we did all day sports outdoors at our school in Cyprus. In the middle of summer.

I doubt he had heatstroke

practy · 19/07/2016 12:22

Elderly people are very at risk of heatstroke because their bodies temperature control does not work so well. Every year in bad heat elderly people die.
In Britain heatstroke in children is very rare.
By all means talk to the school about your child getting too hot and a bit dehydrated.

t4gnut · 19/07/2016 12:22

I'd be really interested to know if you are as unnecessarily rude, dismissive and aggressive in your RL as you are from behind your screen pretty sure you are not.

Sometimes.

Sometimes special snowflakes need a wake up call.

BastardGoDarkly · 19/07/2016 12:22

Oh fuck off tgnut I had no idea he was doing lunch then pe both outside that day, after school football was a regular thing on a Monday, and half three to half four isn't the hottest part.

Do you fuss over your kids at all? Or do you just let them get ill and tell them they'll know better next time?

practy · 19/07/2016 12:24

He wasn't ill. He was too hot and a bit dehydrated.
Talk to the school about that. So did they do the outside lesson in the sun or the shade? Those are the questions I would be asking. I suspect the real answer is that he simply did not drink enough water.

NickiFury · 19/07/2016 12:26

But most people just think you're a bit of a nasty twat to be honest. But I suppose you must be used to that if you're like it in RL too.

harderandharder2breathe · 19/07/2016 12:27

The symptoms OP listed are not those of heatstroke which is considered a medical emergency

He was hot and tired with heat exhaustion probably. Not the same thing.

If she's going to raise it she needs to be accurate in order to be taken seriously

practy · 19/07/2016 12:31

Agreed. Otherwise OP will simply seem like a drama queen. But bear in mind it can be as hot or hotter in a classroom.

NickiFury · 19/07/2016 12:35

OP, if you're still reading and I know I wouldn't be given the twatiness on your thread - they won't laugh at you, they won't think you're a drama queen, not if they're a decent school with decent staff anyway. They'll hopefully likely take it on board when arranging other stuff in this weather so yes I would mention it and don't be put off by posters who weren't there and can no clue categorically stating that YOUR child was not ill. Good luck

SpookyRachel · 19/07/2016 12:36

But why does it have to be actual heatstroke before anyone raises a concern? A child came home unwell because the school didn't do enough to protect him from the heat. Isn't that enough?

I agree with someone upthread who pointed out that people react differently. Loads of people enjoy sitting out and sunbathing, and for them I can see that this might seem like a fuss. I really suffer in the sun - I'm not good at sweating, so I just kind of combust. I get terrible headaches and my eyes can't cope with the glare. I never sunbathe, a beach holiday is my idea of hell, last night I stayed at work till 9pm so I could just about cope with my one hour commute home. Being forced to spend time outside in the sun is actually a big deal for me, and it is for many others.

My youngest is today having a 'beach day' at school. We were asked to apply cream but of course cream applied at 8am doesn't last till 3pm. Yesterday, the kids had a swimming gala - they were out in the sun at midday for two hours, presumably with their suncream washed off.

I won't make a fuss (I'm saving my strength for bigger battles) but I would sympathise with any parent that did.

practy · 19/07/2016 12:38

I think saying it was too hot for your son is fine. You can simply state the truth and how it made him feel a bit unwell.

JudyCoolibar · 19/07/2016 12:38

Since when is drinking water when you're thirsty "guzzling" it?

practy · 19/07/2016 12:40

I assume Judy that the poster is talking about the constant sipping of water that seems to be common amongst some people now.

SpookyRachel · 19/07/2016 12:44

"not run round and round like an idiot in the midday sun, to not guzzle all his water within 10 minutes of arriving at school and to stand in the shade."

And how do children learn these lessons if they have no choice to stand in the shade (because they're having a lesson in the sun), if they are forced to run round like an idiot because it's a sports day? And aren't you supposed to drink water when hot?

Really no need for this macho twattery.

AllTheMadmen · 19/07/2016 12:46

agree Op DD came home tired, sat in teh sun in her class room and fan didnt get to her.

no one at the school mentioned liquids etc.

winewolfhowls · 19/07/2016 13:22

I would add to the discussion that classrooms are often hotter than outside with barred windows in our town. So it depends on what is being done outside. Running - bad idea. Queuing to throw a javelin, story time in the shade - ok.

practy · 19/07/2016 13:28

But the lesson should have been in the shade. So I would ask about that.

Yokohamajojo · 19/07/2016 13:35

I would also mention it, my kids deal with the sun well although my oldest really don't like it being too hot! We have minimal shade on our concrete school play ground but the teachers and staff put a gazebo up this morning. We also got a text reminding everyone to bring extra water, hat and to cream them up!

When they are in school they are in the care of the staff of the school so why on earth would you not let them take part in an afterschool club? The staff surely should realise that the kid was not well enough to do it!

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 19/07/2016 13:39

YNBU. They shouldn't have been out in that yesterday. Why couldn't they have done PE in the school hall.

practy · 19/07/2016 13:39

The hall may have been hotter. But of course we don't know.

bigTillyMint · 19/07/2016 13:50

I think some people are way more susceptible to the sun/heat than others. I guess the PE was probably an hour or so? Sun hat, cream and some water should have been fine, but maybe he is one that is always going to need to sit quietly in the shade on a very hot sunny day.

I have a child in my class who is like this - constantly asking for water (and is allowed it!) and complaining he has a headache/is tired, etc in this heat.

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Sleepingbunnies · 19/07/2016 13:57

My DC are off today as I didn't want them to do sports day in the heat. I actually felt that the school were irresponsible for allowing it to.go ahead.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 19/07/2016 14:02

On what planet does being concerned for the safety and well being of your child make you a "snow flake".

Gileswithachainsaw · 19/07/2016 14:05

I know ilive

Leave your 11 yr old alone for 20mins to do the school run-irresponsible.

Complain your 6 yr old was made ill by stulid ideas of spending all afternoom outsidein the heat-precious

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