School makes children clean if they talk in class?

[Whynotme99]

What are your thoughts on this? It seems to be a regular occasion in our school, children who say something in one particular class without raising their hand are made to wash windows in break time. Mine have not done it yet (!) but they talk about it. Aibu to think this is not acceptable. This is secondary school.

[Toysaurus]

I don't like it. I don't know why. Is it just water? Or water with chemical cleaners? Are they provided with gloves etc? Does it affect children with impulse control issues? Too many questions. I don't understand the blind following of this wonderful punishment without more information.

[Elendon]

In fact my teenage son has just finished hoovering his room having taken all his rubbish out in a bag to put in the bin.

I've just given him a cloth to wipe surfaces.

He will not be cleaning the windows.

[EyeHalveASpellingChequer]

Elendon

How is wiping surfaces different to wiping windows?

[MissMogwai]

They don't clean the windows, no. But they do chores around the house.

The difference is that they really wouldn't want to clean floors, pick litter up or whatever at school. What teenager would?

I wouldn't have a problem with it all if either of my kids were rude or disrespectful to staff.

[Elendon]

Anyway, who is supervising these children as they clean the windows?

[AntiopeofThemyscira]

I don't think it's a particularly bad idea.

The references to "special snowflakes", assumption that most kids are nasty, out of control brats that need knocking into shape and obvious relish some of you have for discussing punishments for them is a bit odd and unpleasant though.

[Elendon]

If I was paying £9,000 a term to have my child educated to get into Oxbridge and I discovered they were cleaning windows as a punishment?

No FUCKING way. How's that for disrespect!

[BorisTrumpsHair]

And as for picking up lollipop sticks - what the actual F? Those who throw them should show them the bin is the answer to that.

Well yes that is stating the obvious. Yet some people didn't put them in the bin. Clearly. Enough that we might be set a punishment of say 20 sticks.

I really don't see the issue with asking high school kids to pick up litter, clean windows, lots of tasks in their lunch hour if they are disruptive in class.

[BorisTrumpsHair]

Oh no - if it's a private fee paying school there's no way children should be expected to behave.

Naughty children must be sat upon a golden chair and overly praised for disruptive behaviour.

[happy2bhomely]

At our secondary school, they have to do litter picking as a punishment. My son has had to do it a couple of times for talking back to a teacher. He was playing football in his socks and was told to put his shoes on, he was a smart arse and got punished. Seems fair to me.

When I was in junior school in the 80's I used to clean crayons and gum off the tables while the others did PE. I used to beg my teacher to let me do ANYTHING other than play rounders in the cold.

Sometimes when I finished my work early I would be allowed to go and tidy up the store room. I remember the smell of stacks of sugar paper and gummed paper. I considered it a treat! I was a weird child. I used to help the teachers take down displays at the end of term until one year I knelt on a drawing pin and wasn't allowed to do it anymore.

We used to have to put our chairs up on the tables and pick up rubbish from the floor at the end of the day. We were told it was so the cleaners could clean the floors which seemed fair to me.

Low level disruption eats up so much time in classrooms. I still remember the frustration of waiting for the class to settle. I think cleaning windows is a fair punishment for wasting everyone's time.

[YouTheCat]

If you were paying £9k a term and your children were so disrespectful to your contribution to their education, and their teachers, then I'd think about paying out some more and sending them to behaviour classes.

[Elendon]

This isn't about naughty children though. The private school fees are so much cheaper anyway.

It's about teenagers. I'm aghast as to how you get disruptive teenagers to wash windows. Unless they are under the threat of a taser gun.

[BarbarianMum]

Well if i was paying £9,000 a term and found put my child's learning was being hindered by some little tosspot who couldn't stfu I wouldn't be impressed either. Less so if it were my own child.

Personally, as a parent of a quiet, hardworking child at state school, I'd be happy to see instant expulsion for disruptive kids - or maybe they could stream the kids by behaviour rather than attainment? Bet the parents of the precious "spirited" children wouldn't be happy with that.

[youarenotkiddingme]

I'm totally formit and would support ds school if they did the same. But schools usually adjust for send. My ds is autistic and they wouldn't punish him for being autistic - a little shit arse know it all teen they would - and they have my full support!

[Elendon]

No you wouldn't do that. You wouldn't want your child to be seen as inferior to their peers. Teenage children in behaviour classes? Like hello?

My friend from school taught in a very expensive and exclusive high school in New York. They all had attitude, it was expected. They all noticed and remarked if she wore the same clothes twice in a month. They were little shits. But they all got into Harvard and MIT, or if they really tried hard, Oxbridge.

[EyeHalveASpellingChequer]

Elendon

Children who go to private schools don't have the automatic right to misbehave in lessons.

[YouTheCat]

I'd rather my kids were decent human beings who know how to treat others with respect.

[Out2pasture]

page 4...all over a bit of windex and a j cloth. seriously doubt they are using a squeegee and scaffolding.
I think it's a great idea unpleasant but not dreadful.
when I went to school it was the sweet loveable types that got to clap the erasers and only a few lucky ones washed the blackboards.
we washed our desks regularly soap and water before winter spring and summer breaks.
cleaning is a great skill to learn.

[BarbarianMum]

Amazingly Eledon being a little shit is not something most people aspire to for their children, no matter how good their grades.

My kids are under no illusions that, if they want the privilege of a formal education, they need to behave well and work hard. If they tried any "attitude" for being reprimanded, or prevent others from learning through their behaviour, they will be withdrawn from school and can be educated through the world of work (beginning with voluntary work until they find someone to employ them).

[Elendon]

You wouldn't do that though. Not a chance.

Most young adults are well behaved and understand the rules. But getting them to clean windows if they misbehave? No chance.

I'd be down on the school like a ton of bricks if they did that. Exclusion, detention, deprived of rights? Yes.

Cleaning? No. That's a job for working people and a job they rely on. It's a dignified job too. It means they earn a living.

[BarbarianMum]

If "you wouldn't do that" was to me Eledon I assure you I would. My nephew was withdrawn from school age 13 after years of being the class arse. He worked with his dad for a few years, did some voluntary work, got a feeling of what life on minimum wage was like, grew up, developed some self discipline and is going back to college in September to sit some GCSEs. He's gone from being a spolit rich kid to being a really great young man.

I'm a total believer.

[AwaywiththePixies27]

Has it got you thinking because of that recent case? By the way I have it on good authority that that story is just that, a load of bullshit.

I seriously cant see the schools legally getting away with this so cant see it happening myself. Have you actually checked with the school itself to confirm they do this or just taken your DCs word for it?

Example 1: DS came home today and said the teacher told him to go and sit down when he told her he felt poorly. What she actually said "okay. I'll keep an eye on you. Go and sit down now please". DD the other week: "Mrs X told me off when x and y were teasing me". What Mrs X actually said and did was rightfully tell my DD off for not paying attention, then when discovered/told why, told x and y off for teasing DD". Children's descriptions of situations can seem very dramatic if not verified first. But maybe I'm just getting cynical in my old age

[AwaywiththePixies27]

This is the case.

Yes I know. Sorry about the fail link but in all fearness it's one of the best daily fail sad faces I've seen!

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4635394/School-accused-slavery-focing-boy-wash-dishes.html

[AwaywiththePixies27]

Please tell me I'm not the only one to have 'when I'm cleaning windows' in my head now.