to be annoyed what the school has done?

[Tistheseason17]

My DD5 has come back from school today and her book bag, which had a discrete label on the back with her name/class on it, now has her name written in full in big black marker pen across the top of it.

No consultation or contact from the school. They just defaced our personal property without consideration for child safeguarding or respect for personal property.

The school has a strict policy on social media posting of photos of children but they are showing everyone as we walk to school her full name easily visible across the top of the bag.

I am fully prepared to be flamed! That is the point of AIBU so I will acknowledge if everyone thinks I am over reacting!

This would definitely be a concern I would raise.
You don't want a child's name anywhere visible in case a weirdo uses it to convince the child they are known to them
Ie 'hi Olivia, I'm here to pick you up because your mum is ill'
Maybe a little on the side of neurotic but why take the risk

I don’t have to say get a grip. They wrote names so bags were easily identifiable when they have 30 bags to match to owners. A nice, neat discreet name takes much longer.
It’s ridiculous to suggest it’s a safeguarding issue and undermines genuine safeguarding concerns with trivial nonsense. If you’re really worried then you could take a bag to put it in on the journey home.

I think you mean discreet not discrete?

I think you’re over reacting but given your latest post it’s understandable.

DS is 9 now and I've long since stopped caring about the neatness of his school stuff labelling. His name now just gets sharpied on. The more prominent the name, the less likely things get lost or stolen (learned this after having to buy a few new jackets in year two, as the previous, "discretely" labelled ones went walkabout... Most likely to another child's wardrobe!).

In our school children put key rings on the book bags. Bags becoming distinguishable by those. Discreet but identifying.

I would be very annoyed as I passed bookbags down from Dd to Ds.

Thanks everyone.

Good to hear the opinions of everyone.

I'll go with the majority and drop a note to the school. Thanks, again.

I would be perfectly happy for my son to gave this on his bookbag but then again he doesn't walk to or from school. I can see a real risk of that is the case.

As a teacher, I'd definitely see it as a cp issue. Although child might not be unaccompanied while wearing the bag, it gives someone the opportunity to learn their full name and to use it if they see that child again. No one can stay glued to their child's side 24/7, even if it's just for 2 seconds in a shop.

I'm sorry you had those, clearly traumatic experiences, and I understand how you might be concerned, but it really isn't something to worry excessively about. However, in the light of your history, you might feel happier buying a new bag, so you can then relabel it with initials or otherwise.

Get a big black marker and write the name of the school on all the library books that come home?

I’d be annoyed too OP. Mainly as I’m like the PP who hates bending book spines! It feels wrong to be defacing property in this way.

And not a GDPR expert at all but I think that names may be considered as personal data?

YADNBU! I’m a teacher. Take it up with the school.

I would suggest you send someone unknown to the school to pick up your daughter quoting her full name of you want reassurance about just how dangerous it is. In my sons school they need written consent in the morning for a person from your safe list (which includes photos) to do pick ups. It really wouldn't present as a danger.

@c3pu

That really made me laugh!

I'd be annoyed. I tend to sew a name tape on the book bag handle so it's easier to identify in a pile of them (but ours put them in their individual tray not a box of book bags anyway) but that's small and covered by a hand when they're holding them... plus of course the mandatory keyring of choice.

If they HAD to write them on the bags - I'd have written them on the handles personally... still easily visible when rooting through the box of them, but hidden when a child's carrying them and just a lot less obvious to a stranger.

Not the point of the thread but i would use nail varnish remover and cotton wool to take marker pen my plastic/metal pencil cases or stuff like rulers etc. My daughter's book bag feels a bit plastic so it might work on a book bag

It is covered under GDPR. Schools have to be very careful with students full names and school names. You didn't write it in massive letters, therefore school doesn't have the right to. Some might think it's stupid, but just add it to the rest of stupid helpful guidelines the government set.

It's definitely a Safeguarding issue, as many have said.

It IS a safeguarding issue - for the reasons above re a stranger using it to gain their confidence.

Our primary was quite behind the times but was onto this. I’m surprised people are defending it!

@5000KallaxHoles

That is a much better idea and the blue material is on the handle, too, so it can be written on! I will suggest!

Any ideas how to get perm black marker off!!!? :)

@Kirbs1979

cross post - thanks for the suggestion!

I wouldn't be thrilled, either. What's wrong with writing the child's initials on the bag rather than full names? (That's what I did with DS' bookbag when he was in KS1).
If the school staff aren't sensible about it, you could write to the Chair of Governors (though really this is only worth doing if the teacher/head are being absolute knobs.)

My DS is just into year 5 and has managed to get this far with only a small label on the back of his bookbag. Hasn't been lost or mixed up with others. I don't think a huge name on the flap is necessary and I would be annoyed because the ink always spreads and looks shit! I wouldn't ask them to replace, I would replace myself and ask they don't do it again.

A GDPR issue?!

How dense are some of you? Do you know what GDPR means?

My son’s school did this when he joined. I was sooo pissed off because I had put his name on the bag in two different places so it wasn’t like they couldn’t see it.

They tried telling me it was impossible to manage giving them out at the end of the day without doing this. I was a bit to this as I have taught Reception many years and I’ve always managed just fine...