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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask you not to buy fidget spinners or any other shit and let your DCs take them to school?

347 replies

StrongerThanIThought76 · 11/05/2017 16:00

I'm a teacher. The current fad for Things To Piss The Teacher Off In Class is fidget spinners.

Before anyone jumps on me I recognise and accept that for some SEN kids they are a godsend. I know that. I really really do.

But there are so many kids that are now telling anyone in their vicinity that they are to help them focus etc etc.

NO THEY FUCKING DON'T!

They're a distraction not only to the kid in question, to the kids around you and to the poor sod at the front of the room trying to teach.

If your kid has SEN speak to the SENCO at school who will advise you if your kid would be allowed to have one. Even then (as it is in my school) they should only be used when appropriate.

If your kid is 'normal' then please don't send the damn TOYS into school. The only thing most kids should have in their hand during lessons is a pen or pencil!

And don't call in demanding that your kid gets their TOY back immediately - they've had it confiscated because they're pissing about in class. We wouldn't be happy with them playing with an Action Man or remote control car in class, and neither would you be.

Rant over. We have a hard enough time as it is in schools, keep the extra distraction out of the classroom please?

Thankyou

OP posts:
KnittedBlanketHoles · 11/05/2017 16:43

Surely there has to be a normal against which to define special, otherwise special educational needs won't mean anything?

TinselTwins · 11/05/2017 16:44

our school has banned them totally even at playtime

I think its a good mood because it creates a "must have" culture where kids feel pressure to have whatever everyone else has this week.

I'm sure they have appropriate exceptions for SEN kids but that is separate to general school rules

Some parents are bloody stupid! It's like when nintendo started calling its games "brain training" - "oh it's okay that they're on their device for 5 hours because it's a brain train one, edge-uh-kashonal innit"

Seav · 11/05/2017 16:50

Presume you are a primary school teacher?

I am a secondary school teacher - yes, the kids have them but they don't use them at all in lessons. Had the one yr 7 come in with one in their hand but they are quickly told to put it away and keep it away - that has been it [so far!]

A couple of colleagues were discussing their disappointment at not having the opportunity to confiscate one today - as they fancied a go!

Just ban them during lessons.

They are way more of an issue at home with my tween/young teen (who have their own pocket money and go shopping independently) - so annoying. Especially when they are both spinning them in the back of the car [I had to put a stop to that after about 1 min]! However, less annoying than bottle flipping - that was really, really, really bad.

Toysaurus · 11/05/2017 16:51

My (ASD) son's Senco asked him on his first day in his new school two weeks ago if he would like her to order a fidget cube or spinner. Apparently he concentrates so much better when fiddling with stuff. Lovely school with a very laid back, inclusive and positive attitude.

Although you have apologised, I do find it a bit off that as a teacher you thought that 'normal' was ok to use in your post at all.

Coloursthatweremyjoy · 11/05/2017 16:52

My son's school have banned them. I understand why...massive shame for his friend who it really benefitted though (ADHD, ASD)...still I suppose they can just go on excluding him what with that working so well and all.

DS2s old school (note the old) prevented him bringing in any fidget toy even plasticine as "they would all want one". Whilst simultaneously complaining about his lack of focus and what should they do about It? Sigh.

A PP mentioned a school banning them unless a child had an EHCP, not every child with a need has an EHCP, Lord knows it's like getting blood from a stone that process! It would be far more sensible for a teacher to make a judgement call based on their knowledge of the child wouldn't It?

KingscoteStaff · 11/05/2017 16:55

I've got five in my desk drawer now!

The other Year Six teacher didn't ban them straight away, but once one had been spun round a finger, launching itself into the air and hitting another child on the head, he followed suit.

Also banned this week - pots of 'lip scrub' and slime being sold in the playground for vastly inflated prices. I'm all for entrepreneurship, but the business owners were unable to walk due to the weight of the small change in their pockets...

Coloursthatweremyjoy · 11/05/2017 16:55

Oh, my kids aren't "normal" by the way. I to have heard parents of NT children describe their own children that way...never anyone I would want to pass the time of day with though.

I would hope that a teacher would have more sense than to repeat it mind you..another sigh.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 11/05/2017 16:56

Our reception class also requests that they bring no toys at all from home.

Ladyvird135 · 11/05/2017 16:59

Blanket ban in my school, though not especially hot on the kids radar as I'm in the infant school. I hear they're having more trouble with the older ones.

neverundersold · 11/05/2017 17:04

After weeks of severe provocation DD's school have banned fidget spinners, fidget cubes and slime. Yet my bathroom is still being used as a makeshift slime production plant.

SparklyUnicornPoo · 11/05/2017 17:06

A PP mentioned a school banning them unless a child had an EHCP, not every child with a need has an EHCP, Lord knows it's like getting blood from a stone that process! It would be far more sensible for a teacher to make a judgement call based on their knowledge of the child wouldn't It?

Yes, our rule is they need special permission, so that can come from the teacher, their TA if they have 1:1 or the SENCO, the idea is the parent needs to write a note in their contact book asking and then we consider each child individually.

DixieNormas · 11/05/2017 17:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gandalf456 · 11/05/2017 17:11

These appeals from anonymous teachers on a public forum are starting not to sit well qith me. What will it achieve? We have already had a thread like this re parents' evening and how not to piss off your teacher.

This leads to all kinds of paranoia with me wondering if it were my son's teacher.

I really would prefer it if you wrote a note home to parents about not sending said items into school or they will be confiscated

MycatsaPirate · 11/05/2017 17:14

DD has one and has taken it to school a couple of times but only plays with it in the playground. She is being assessed for ASD but to be honest, it wouldn't help her concentrate, it would distract her.

Previous to this, it was sodding yo-yo's in our schools. Must have been a local craze but it was dementing for the poor teachers who were having to deal with arguments over 'stolen yo-yo's' and kids getting hit with them. They were also banned.

All kids should be taking to school is their pencil case, lunch and pe kit.

TinselTwins · 11/05/2017 17:16

These appeals from anonymous teachers on a public forum are starting not to sit well qith me. What will it achieve?

well I find them interesting as a non teacher parent

However if they make you feel "paranoid" then what is you clicking on them achieving?

TheGentleMoose · 11/05/2017 17:18

I own a fidget cube. It's honestly transformed my attention span and performance anxiety. That said, I don't use it in a room full of 30 other people trying to study.

TinselTwins · 11/05/2017 17:18

DD has one and has taken it to school a couple of times but only plays with it in the playground

I don't understand this either

Why do parents send toys to school? even if they're "just for playtime"?

Eolian · 11/05/2017 17:21

Dd's school has a list of kids who are allowed to have them. They are banned for everyone else.

FanjoForTheMammaries · 11/05/2017 17:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

QuackDuckQuack · 11/05/2017 17:25

They remind me of the pupil who had a ball of blu tac to fidget with in lessons. He mostly picked bits off and flicked them at other pupils' heads.

Railgunner1 · 11/05/2017 17:26

Its the Pokemon Go -- it will die down in notime

gandalf456 · 11/05/2017 17:26

I just find it inappropriate and, dare i say it, unprofessional. We have guidelines at work re social media and what we say on there and it can potentially be a sackable offence.

randomer · 11/05/2017 17:27

FFS no toys in school. SEN blah blah just no.

requestingsunshine · 11/05/2017 17:28

My ds has one and they are a 'thing' at school at the moment. they are not allowed in the classroom though and only used at playtime which is how it should be. They are toys at the end of the day to children whatever their original purpose was

Trifleorbust · 11/05/2017 17:28

gandalf456

Inappropriate? Why? There are thousands of topics on AIBU and other MN forums from professionals, linking to lots of different issues. This is hardly a controversial or identifying post, is it?