To be unhappy my child's phone was confiscated?

[Phoneproblems]

I have no issues with the phone itself being confiscated but apparently it is only to be returned on Friday - surely this cannot be right?

@MaisyPops

I don't think you get it. Schools can make policies on whatever they like- phones, nuclear weapons, Donald Trump- and they can attempt to enforce them.

But policies do not override laws and there is no law stating that random organisations can withhold people's belongings for a set period. Laws are what the police have to follow.

So now schools abiding and enforcing their policies are bullies ????

Absolutely @Amatullah. They thought they could steal someone's property by expecting them to be ignorant of their rights- that makes them a bully. The fact they returned the phone shows they knew they had no power to do it.

If you don't agree with the school's policies remove your child from the school. If you don't like the policies so not send your child to the school. However, to agree to the policies by sending your child there and then changing your mind is unreasonable.

It really isn't complicated.

Definitely Signposted Parent material.

@Moussemoose

Absolutely not. Schools are public institutions funded by our taxes, not fiefdoms ruled by gods. They are subject to challenge and criticism just like anyone else.

Riight. So the government outline the powers school have IN LAW and that tells them they can confiscate and follow their own policy on confiscation, but using the powers they have in law is stealing and a crime...
Got it!

Bloody hell.

(Note to self - remember that most parents are entirely reasonable and sensible human beings)

"I pay your wages"

I do agree with the phone being confiscated but if you child goes home alone then they need a form of being able to contact you/help/police, i think a detention would have been better. Phones rnt there just for apps and pictures, they are there in a time of need incase anythin happens to them. I would have a sit down and ghat to the head and tell them you r not happy with your dc going home without phone/means of contact and to ask for a different suitable punishment.

Cross posted with a reference to schools and teachers being Gods
Can I shout 'bingo' if we get a Hitler mention?

But policies do not override laws

Says the poster who keeps conveniently ignoring the many times people have posted evidence where the law states schools can confiscate items and determine their length as appropriate...

"Funded by our taxes"

Yes the 'I pay your wages' argument arrives......

kitty
And more worrying, from other threads it would appear that poster works in a school

Fuck me, it’s like a parallel universe Maisy!!!

I'm glad the OP stood up to the bullies.

You do understand what the word bully means, don't you?

Entitled parents raising entitled kids. Rules exist for a reason and parents should support schools in enforcing them. Schools get anxious about phones because they cannot control what happens to images that are taken at school.

I know a child who has had five house moves and three changes of school in 18 months. The last one because another child took a video of her at school and posted it online - totally innocently, not for any bad reason. She and her mum are now in a refuge in a city miles away from their family and friends. Her need to be safe and settled is more important than someone's precious DC's mobile phone.

OH christ Jazzy is one of those parents who think the rules dont apply to her or her children. I sympathise with the school her children go to. I think she should home school.

Makes you wonder where the kid gets it from

They don’t need their phone on the way home. Children survived many centuries of going to and from school without phones. There’s no reason a child who had their phone out against school rules should not have it confiscated for a meaningful amount of time.

If they know they will get it back at hometime there’s no incentive to not risk a short term confiscation and get it out to take photos or mess about with doing the school day - chances are you won’t be caught, and if you are you’re only going to not have it for the school day. When you get home your parents who are so insistent on it being returned will likely let you keep it too. So barely a punishment.

The thread today about crime rising in London had a lot of posters saying those on mopeds know the police can’t chase them. We are also raising children who know teachers can’t meaningfully discipline them. Teachers and police aren’t bullies for enforcing school policy and law.

It's up to me as a parent to decide how long it will be taken way for and where it will be stored.

It is not up to you as a parent to decide what punishment a school hands out.

No doubt on Planet Jazzy a detention is false imprisonment.

I can't help but wonder if parents like this end up standing up in court and telling the judge to wind their neck in and their child won't be serving the sentence handed down.
Don't want to lose the phone?
Don't use it when you're not supposed to.
Simple.

@SoupDragon

I am actually a teacher and I know that sometimes punishments have to be given in school. Detentions are necessary in some cases.

I am very strict with my DC regarding school, and if they get a punishment(including a justified detention), I will support the school and they will be punished further at home.

What I will not have, however, is my property being stolen and held against my wishes.

Sigh. It.Has.Not.Been.Stolen.

@MaisyPops

The initial confiscation(which I agree with) is obviously not theft. The second the school refuse to return it to the owner, however, at the end of the day, is theft. That's straight from the mouth of DB, who is a very, very senior police officer.

What I will not have, however, is my property being stolen and held against my wishes.

Let hope you aren't teaching children what “stolen” means then.

i don’t understand why you are so aghast at “stolen” property and not at false imprisonment of your precious children though. I think your priorities are skewed.