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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu white board markers!

37 replies

Allyg1185 · 18/03/2019 17:09

These things are the bain of my life. I've just had to replace ds white polo shirts yet again as they are ruined with white board markers. Aibu to ask the teacher to get the kids to wear an old t-shirt ( which we were required to provide ) when doing messy activities? I can't afford to keep replacing t-shirts. This is not just one or two small marks which I could live with it's several big marks. I've even asked ds if he or his friends are deliberately doing it to each other but he says no.

If anyone has any stain removing tips for markers I am more than happy to try anything

OP posts:
Imfinehowareyou · 18/03/2019 17:14

I can't believe that these haven't been seen as a bad use of plastic yet. I know that technically they aren't single use but they don't last long and schools get through loads of them.
I heard spraying the marks with hairspray and dabbing off the loosened ink helps. Although I wouldn't bother because you will spend ages doing it just to get new marks tomorrow.

PuzzlingPuzzle · 18/03/2019 17:15

How old is he? If he’s pre-school YANBU, if he’s 10 then he should take more care. Rubbing alcohol at 90% proof is pretty good at removing marker pen stains.

Imfinehowareyou · 18/03/2019 17:15

Oh, and he will be getting covered because despite the teacher providing sponges to clean the board, all the children use their hands or sleeves to do so.

CokeAndCrispsAndDip · 18/03/2019 17:17

I feel your pain! I have stopped replacing my primary school kids tshirts and jumpers and cardi's. Pisses me off no end how many ruined things I have replaced. Sure they just scribble on each other.

Musicalmistress · 18/03/2019 17:20

For most classes white boards/markers are used frequently throughout the day so would be difficult to cover up unless the children wore the coverall all day.
Also, probably not considered a ‘messy activity’ for the majority of children although I do appreciate this isn’t always the reality.

EffYouSeeKaye · 18/03/2019 17:21

Yabu with the t shirts. They get used for daily lessons, not the occasional art lesson, so that’s impractical.

They are put to great use as a learning tool.

Ask the teacher to check they are being used carefully and not to poke / draw on each other with, perhaps?

I’ve just decided to stop worrying about whiteboard pen marks though tbh. It’s not a big deal really.

GreenTulips · 18/03/2019 17:22

No idea why you feel the need to replace the shirts. It’s a pen mark. He can still wear it to school.

Sirzy · 18/03/2019 17:23

As long as it’s clean then don’t worry about it!

Ds often had white board pen marks on his polo shirts but it didn’t make them no good! I am guessing it’s his jumper covered in them now but that’s dark so doesn’t show them

KipperTheFrog · 18/03/2019 17:24

I rapidly gave up trying to get the stains out. DD1 just goes to school in shirts with marker stains on.

elf1985 · 18/03/2019 17:26

Hand sanitizer. I'm going through the same with my reception age LG. Smother it on and then pop in a 30° wash

Waveysnail · 18/03/2019 17:27

Anything with high alcohol gets them out or reduces them and no I wouldn't be replacing them - most kids have pen marks on their school clothes

BlackeyedGruesome · 18/03/2019 17:29

Ordinary bar of soap, cold water, leave for half an hour or so, before rubbing the mark gently.

sunshineandshowers21 · 18/03/2019 17:30

in my son’s class last year one of the boys used a whiteboard marker to draw lines down the back
of about 10 other kid’s jumpers. there were a lot of angry parents and it resulted in whiteboard markers being banned from that class.

Original poster
Allyg1185 · 18/03/2019 17:33

Sorry should have said he is 7.

I'm not disputing the fact that they are a learning tool. I'm just pissed off at the amount of times I'm having to replace his uniform either because he's being careless or the kids are drawing on each other. I usually just wash them and he wears the again but they are now passed that stage and are looking awful.

Thanks for the hairspray tip I've used it but it doesn't work.

It is a big deal in terms of cost to replace them

OP posts:
Original poster
Allyg1185 · 18/03/2019 17:35

They are past just the odd mark now they do look truly awful

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Sirzy · 18/03/2019 17:36

Well if they are getting that bad at the age of 7 you need to be having words with him about taking care of things!

StrumpersPlunkett · 18/03/2019 17:39

In our class we use them 3-4 times a day. It would be a total waste of the day to put on special T-shirt’s every time they were making quick notes or spellings or maths.

I understand it is frustrating but please give a moments thought to what you are actually asking of an already over worked professional.

EffYouSeeKaye · 18/03/2019 17:40

Just stop replacing them. It’s school uniform. So what if it looks awful?

Original poster
Allyg1185 · 18/03/2019 17:40

sirzy he has been spoken to and he sats it's accidental

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Witchend · 18/03/2019 17:40

I think at best he's careless. I've had 3 DC go through primary where they use white board pens extensively and even with one careless (and quite capable of doing it deliberately) boy and one girl who tended at infant age to tuck open pens under her arm (due to only having one hand), the number of bad marks on white t-shirts was probably less than 12 in total.

Sickofsquishies · 18/03/2019 17:42

I haven't found anything that gets it out of white polo shirts, I even used bleach and it didn't budge.

modgepodge · 18/03/2019 17:43

I have never seen a member of my current class with a single white board pen mark on their shirts or jumpers (which are both pale blue). Stereotyping horribly but they’re all girls and possibly therefore a bit more careful with not getting it on themselves and definitely don’t draw on each other for a joke (they know they’d be in trouble).
To be honest, Sounds like your son might need to take a bit of responsibility for keeping his own uniform clean - or if others are drawing on him telling the teacher as that’s clearly bad behaviour which needs dealing with. Explain to him how much new shirts are and tell him the cost will be coming out his birthday money or something next time, if he doesn’t start being more careful! The teacher is never going to get all kids wearing art aprons in lessons for whiteboard pens - as someone else pointed out they are used multiple times per day in maths, English etc and are a useful tool, and putting aprons on all the time simply isn’t practical. It is perfectly possible for children older than about 5 to use them without getting ink on their uniforms.

modgepodge · 18/03/2019 17:45

Alternatively, if you really believe he cannot manage to use a pen without accidentally drawing on himself, ask the teacher if he can wear an art shirt provided by you each time he’s using the pen to protect his uniform. I would be happy with this as a teacher. I expect your son will not want to do this and quickly find he can be more careful after all!!

EffYouSeeKaye · 18/03/2019 17:46

I like that idea Modge Grin

Original poster
Allyg1185 · 18/03/2019 17:47

He already has an art t-shirt that I provided

OP posts: