To think that children should not be left unsupervised with chemicals?

[PandoraHadABox]

DS (14yrs) was in an after-school detention for admitting to adding to classroom graffiti. Fully agreed that it was wrong and he needed to be punished. Collected him after detention and he complained of having a headache and feeling dizzy. Turns out that teacher gave him a bottle of acetone and methylated spirits and a cloth, no gloves, and was told to clean the graffiti. The fumes were strong so DS had the sense to open the windows. Teacher left him for over half an hour on his own to get on with it. Made sure DS had fresh air and lots of water and he felt better later the next day. I personally think that he should not have been given the chemicals to use, let alone unsupervised. What do you think?

"European teachers risk the lives of our children"

The dihydrogen monoxide made me LOL. I thought I had better check (my chemistry is a bit rusty) and foudn this brilliant quote:

Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is perhaps the single most prevalent of all chemicals that can be dangerous to human life. Despite this truth, most people are not unduly concerned about the dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide. ... BAN DIHYDROGEN MONOXIDE - THE INVISIBLE KILLER!

There are pages of it, it is so funny.

Little Johnny is.
Little Johnny was.
Little Johnny is no more,
Cos what he thought was H2O,
Was H2SO4.

Fond memories of GCSE Chemistry

I'm surprised that the teacher left him to it, but the punishment was appropriate.

If the teacher had watched over him cleaning it, one of the other parents would have started the AIBU: 'AIBU- teacher ignored other students in order to give graffiti artist 1-2-1 attention- how is this fair on well behaved students?'

Oh and op YABU.

Haha he played you like a banjo!

God, chemicals are dangerous things. Ban all chemicals, I say!

Solvents, that's the word needed: "child left to get heady on solvents in comp!"
"Children kept after school are sniffing solvents ..." etc.
Sad face pic of mother and dizzy child.
+
Spurious picture of random graffiti nowhere near the school - perhaps the whole Vaults tunnel under Waterloo.

He's totally played you and you still feel sorry for the wee poppet!

FFS - this is the third thread where a kid has behaved badly in school and parents are focusing on some aspect of the punishment, rather than the fact that their beloved sons have been really badly behaved.

Well, that because they're talking bollocks, isnt it?

They say they're not upset that their precious little princeling has gotten a telling off, but inside they're secretly seething at the temerity of anyone to look askance at their offspring.

As for this one, I though it was going to be about a classroom of 12 year olds left alone with a 20 litre cauldron bubbling over with carcinogenic substances.

Alas, it was only a cleaning product.

PandoraHadABox Tue 29-Nov-16 08:46:56

"Perhaps I did not make myself clear, but the reason I started the thread was not to question that he got punished, but for the use of chemicals, especially in the soft world we live in now."

So what do you suggest the solution should be? That the graffiti should be left there? Or that somebody else should use the chemicals and risk the headache?

Pestov what do you mean? That the police should have been called? Of course they wouldn't attend for such an incident!

Punishment was being grounded, ban from all screens - computers, tv, etc for a month. Although I expect this will not be severe enough for some of you!

Pandora, thinking that you are babying your son over the cleaning issue doesn't necessarily mean that we think you should be dealing out harsher or longer lasting punishments.

Tbh I probably wouldn't have done the complete month of grounding. But I would expect a 14yo to be able to do a bit of cleaning without making himself ill.

And if he got a headache- why is that worse than the teacher cleaning it off and getting a headache?

"This soft world" is not equally soft on all teens. Quite a few are still encouraged to get involved in DIY and crafts and learn how to deal with things sensibly and safely. Those teens will have an enormous advantage over the ones who haven't learnt any skills.

Would you restrict him from building model kits as well? Or doing oil paintings in his spare time?

Minor detail here, though not to add to the quarrel with the school, but acetone is extremely dangerous in a closed space.

My dd was messing around painting and unpainting her nails, spilt some acetone near her, didn't bother to clean it up and ended up being rushed to hospital and being given oxygen in the ambulance. The only time I've ever had to call an ambulance for a member of my family in my entire life.

Thanks for that information, Atenco, acetone also comes in different strengths and can also cause dermatitis. This is why I was concerned, not about DS being punished.

He's been a twat and been punished by a good teacher.

As uothread we would have made him apologise and bollocked him but banning screens for a month is ludicrous for a 14. Year old and you know you won't keep this up. Way OTT. That's a kids punishment.

Bollock him like an adult and he will start to behave like one.

Pandora if you are truly concerned why not ask to see the school's COSHH (control of substances hazardous to health) assessment for acetone? They need one by law - it's a risk assessment for chemical use. It will state the health and safety requirements for its use.

Cory - DS has chores as we all do in our house and has been hoovering, etc for past few years. Maybe I am guilty of babying him but he is encouraged to do crafts - 2 years ago he even built a flat pack chest of drawers for his room (supervised). He is into sports, is a charity volunteer and a really thoughtful and caring lad. Graffiti incident is totally out of character.

I've used both the ingredients without gloves.
I use pure acetone to remove my false nails. ( Then the other after i split the varnish over my carpet )
I wouldn't be complaining over this.
Your son did something very wrong.
He should clean it up.
He did it, the teachers certainly shouldn't be cleaning it.
He was lucky they didn't call the police ( no idea why you think they wouldn't come out for this).

Greengoddess, name-calling not necessary. How would you 'bollock him like an adult'? And Kali do you seriously believe police would attend? By the way, all the graffiti was removed.

Nope, that punishment it is not severe enough because you dont actually think what he did was so bad. And this is the problem!
That the police should have been called? Of course they wouldn't attend for such an incident!
Well actually damaging school property is PRETTY bad. Damaging other people's property is a criminal offence.
A month of no screens is a long time but the issue is that probably getting the police involved would have been more effective.
And yes OP, the police would attend if the school called them. But again you think they wouldnt because it is not such a big deal to you.

So far you have not said "my son did something awful and I am so ashamed" you have been excusing his behaviour.
This is the issue

My son did something bad and of course I am ashamed, as is he! Once again, I was merely trying to gauge whether he should have been using those chemicals at school. The general consensus is that this is acceptable and I thank you for your opinions.

14 isn't a child and it serves him right. Methplated spirits isn't that strong and neither is acetone. I wouldn't use gloves with either of them.

If the worst thing this kid has done/does do is add 'Bill' to a wall of Grafitti I think the OP can hold her head up in the street 😬 For goodness sake.

But OP it's a tad lame to complain about 'children being left with chemicals' when it's a 14 year old with acetone & meths 😂