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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Teacher will only let DS have a blue recorder.

77 replies

AmberForest · 22/09/2017 18:06

DS has joined the school's recorder club. I payed a small fee (to cover everything) and the teacher gets the recorders, sheet music, etc.

He is the only boy in the club. There are boys in the other clubs (different years)... Anyway, she gave the girls pink recorders and him a blue one. He said he'd like to swap with one of the girls, so they did. He was told that it wasn't allowed, due to all the boys having blue recorders and all the girls having pink (including in the group that plays in assemblies!)

AIBU to think this is ridiculous?

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 22/09/2017 18:08

Yes, it's ridiculous. I'm amazed a school still has a policy like that. Definitely challeng it.

All our recorders are black and should be burned.

NannyR · 22/09/2017 18:08

What's wrong with all the group having the same colour? Sounds ridiculous to me.

Aeroflotgirl · 22/09/2017 18:09

That is rubbish, all recorders shod be black. Silly having blue and pink recorders.

Original poster
AmberForest · 22/09/2017 18:09

Apparently the colours are more 'fun' Hmm

OP posts:
jay55 · 22/09/2017 18:10

We all had ugly brown ones in the 80s. Dreadful not letting him swap.

Camomila · 22/09/2017 18:10

That is ridiculous, I would complain citing the schools/lea/whatever equality policy. If that didn't work I'd go to the headteacher.

DH says I'm going to be 'that parent' :D

Aeroflotgirl · 22/09/2017 18:10

Absolutely absurd, then have, purple, yellow and red recorders.

KweenOfFarts · 22/09/2017 18:11

Fablon it

Original poster
AmberForest · 22/09/2017 18:14

I think I will question it then!

OP posts:
IncyWincyGrownUp · 22/09/2017 18:19

Plastic recorders should be black, brown, or that really off yellow colour that makes you a bit queasy when you look at it.

Wooden recorders should be a reasonably pale colour and clutched tightly in the hands by the music teacher when not actively being played. Anybody who so much as looks at said wooden recorder without the correct air of reverence shall be screeched at in short order.

Nobody, but nobody, is permitted to leave their recorders on any surface other than their music stand.

Lack of compliance with these rules will result in expulsion from recorder club, and reenergise into the normal world.

IncyWincyGrownUp · 22/09/2017 18:20

Re-entry*

RubyReins · 22/09/2017 18:21

Ah the soothing sound of the recorder...

Original poster
AmberForest · 22/09/2017 18:23

I must admit, the sound isn't great Grin

OP posts:
x2boys · 22/09/2017 18:25

I had a lovely wooden one I could never play it though Hmm

Balfe · 22/09/2017 18:27

I have to say, the recorder is not a musical instrument worthy of a fight.

Even the name 'musical instrument' is a stretch when you're on the forty second out of tune rendition of Hot Cross Buns.

Carriecakes80 · 22/09/2017 18:36

I was a bloody DEMON on the Recorder!!!

Then a boy named Roddy spat into mine and I hit him over the head with it...I had to leave recorder group in shame. :-(

Bugger 'em, tell them they are being daft! xx

Ploppie4 · 22/09/2017 18:37

Surely fun reorders would be yellow or purple or green? Pink for girls and blue for boys is backwards

Allthebestnamesareused · 22/09/2017 18:45

I can still play Van der Valk's Eye Level on the recorder ( a wooden look one)!

I'd have liked a blue one.

Sprinklestar · 22/09/2017 18:45

Call them out on their everyday sexism...

Camomila · 22/09/2017 18:46

I have a recorder and a penny whistle and a fife....

(Stealth boast?)

Butterymuffin · 22/09/2017 18:47

Yes, complain.

Am staggered by the idea recorders are available in any colours other than the wooden brown and the black with white edging that I remember.

thanksamillion · 22/09/2017 18:48

I did Grade 5 recorder and my teacher tried to lend me her very expensive wooden recorder. I couldn't play it so reverted to my hideous brown plastic one Blush

SparklyUnicornPoo · 22/09/2017 18:48

DD would kill for a blue recorder, she has to have a black and white one.
I could understand making all the recorders in a group the same colour, I can even see offering him the choice of blue as some boys would hate having pink and make a fuss about it (I know it shouldn't be an issue but I work in a school, there are a lot of boys who make a fuss about pink) but saying he has to have blue purely because he is a boy is just stupid

HidingUnderARock · 22/09/2017 18:49

Tell teacher the 70's called etc...
Extremely poor policy. I wonder if the headteacher realises this is going on. If its coming from the top that's going to be a toxic school for your son. Ofted/lea would put it right though.

My son had a year of recorders. At the end of the year the class performed a piece called "A" for the school. Then a select few played a piece called "A and B" Both were accompanied by chords on the piano.
I was gutted and had to pick my jaw off the floor.

All the recorders were the same.

BikeRunSki · 22/09/2017 18:50

What's ridiculous is the genderisation of recorders FFS!