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AIBU?

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Original poster

School reception was rude to me

315 replies

Avalaura · 14/05/2019 09:08

Do I have the right to be angry?
My son moved school and today I forgot to give him some money for a stall were they will be selling buns. So i went to recpetion to see if anyone could give the money to him because they always did at the other school. And she just said " I haven't got time for that I'm afraid I've got other things to do " and then when I walked away she said to other people in the corridor that she has other things to do not bother with that. Then I waited for the reception door to open because it's a lock one. Then she said the other woman that she said she could take it up for her but she can't bother with silly things like that. Im so angry should I complain?

OP posts:
PregnantSea · 14/05/2019 11:00

I think she was very rude. I don't blame her for refusing because she must be very busy and I bet she doesn't want to set a precedent for parents that she will run around doing things like that, but there are polite ways of saying this to people. She didn't have to be so rude.

Prequelle · 14/05/2019 11:03

OP you should have said 'oh okay sorry for bothering you, how do I get this to my child then?'

And see what she said

Because I guarantee it's something what's usually expected of her. It's not like you can grab a teacher out a class room. She is the front facing member of staff that is accessible.

WrongKindOfFace · 14/05/2019 11:03

I’ve done it before. It was in an envelope with child’s name and class written on it. They were fine with passing it on, although wouldn’t have been the end of the world if they weren’t.

Incidentally I was the only person there handing over anything.

Prequelle · 14/05/2019 11:03

Thats*

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 14/05/2019 11:08

In our school, the receptionist would have phoned down to the classroom and asked the child to come to the office to collect it at a convenient moment.
It's not hard, is it.

So yes, she was a bit rude and very disobliging - but I wouldn't bother complaining about it, it will just make it worse for you next time.

Technonan · 14/05/2019 11:09

It's perfectly possible to say 'No' without being rude. It's a skill a good receptionist should have.

Mitzimaybe · 14/05/2019 11:11

YABVU.

mouldyhousemouldylife · 14/05/2019 11:15

@SarahTancredi seriously of all outcomes you thought the OP was asking reception to personally pay for him? Confused they forgot and then went to reception to hand over the money so that it could be passed on.

MaiaRindell · 14/05/2019 11:16

It's very rude. My DDs' school receptionists regularly pass on forgotten homework, PE kits, money etc.

bigKiteFlying · 14/05/2019 11:19

Three schools and three children - two primary, one large one small and one secondary and none of them have had an issue passing on forgotten items including money.

It's not an habitual thing for my children but it happens - and I've never had such a reponse.

I do think if it was a no it could have been handle better.

Yabbers · 14/05/2019 11:19

So no I woukdnt be surprised if it was more than 20 parents who forgot money tbh

600 kids in our school. I’m in reception every day for 5 years. There are not swarms of parents rushing to the office every day with forgotten items.

Like GP receptionists, if school admin staff had brains they would be dangerous.
Unkind and uncalled for. Like every job there are people good and bad at the job, but to suggest they are all stupid is rude and demeaning.

HolesinTheSoles · 14/05/2019 11:20

YANBU she was fine to say she didn't have time but she shouldn't have been rude. At DC's school you can have things given to your child during the day so it isn't an outrageous suggestion on your part.
I don't know what it is about some (not all) *school and doctor's receptionists that they seem to hate all parents/patients. Manners cost nothing.

BethanyGilbert · 14/05/2019 11:25

She was very rude. Why didn’t she take the money and give it to the child later? Or call the class teacher and ask them to send the child to collect it or the teaching assistant? I would have been angry too.

AssangesCat · 14/05/2019 11:25

The trick here is to keep your DCs bag permanently stocked with a couple of quid for these occasions.

I say a couple of quid so that they can "lend" a quid to whichever of their pals has no money on the day and you hope everyone pays it forward at some point.

I put this in place after DS told me he had no money for bake sale but someone in his class lent him some.

You just top up the stash when they come out of school telling you what they got at bake sale.

For bonus points, it should "Bake and Craft" sale and also offer home made bookmarks and the like due to obesity epidemic.

Alena92 · 14/05/2019 11:26

YANBU- it’s so rude to have spoken to you like that. Can’t believe some people find that acceptable

Jinglejanglefish · 14/05/2019 11:29

I'm surprised by these responses. I work in a school office and I have to do shit like this several times a day. Forgotten pe kits, money, lunch boxes, even sun hats and cream. It's incredibly annoying but I don't think I have grounds to say no and would get in trouble if I did. Clearly plenty of parents think that is what school office staff's job is.

SarahTancredi · 14/05/2019 11:34

mouldy

I wrongly assumed it was a " oh shit I forgot can I bring it In tomorrow"

Which someone people obviously would do ( ive lent and received back next day for similar reasons when a parent has remembered they forgot when we were chatting)

I apologised as that was one of 2/3 possible scenarios and I picked wrong one.

TantricTwist · 14/05/2019 11:35

Yes she was rude imho.

It is a perfectly normal part of a Primary School receptionist job to pass things on to pupils from parents.

If she can't understand that then she really shouldn't be doing that job.

SarahTancredi · 14/05/2019 11:35

I rarely carry cash so its only through tip money shoved in a pocket I've been ok. Although we are pretty much cashless at school now

NannyRed · 14/05/2019 11:48

Lemme get this right.
You forgot one thing, you think the rest of the world revolves around you?
When you found out you’re not important to anyone else, you think they’re being rude and you want to complain that you forgot to bring money? 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️
What good would complaining do? Apart from making you look like a twat?
Get a grip love.

viques · 14/05/2019 11:52

"Phoned down to the classroom"

!

So you would interrupt a lesson with a phone ringing.

Expected the teacher T/A to stop what they are doing, walk across to the phone, answer it, pass on the message, go back to their work.

Phones in classrooms are there for emergencies, not trivial messages from disorganised parents.

Tolleshunt · 14/05/2019 11:53

Lemme get this right.

No, NannyRed, you haven't got this right.

Maybe brush up on your reading comprehension skills before rushing to stick the boot in, next time.

Hollowvictory · 14/05/2019 11:55

There aren't phones in our classrooms.
800 kids in our primary I don't think reception could do this they'd need a full time runner, but they may give to the child who brought up the class register to take back to the classroom.

Prequelle · 14/05/2019 11:55

How in the fuck is asking someone for help - the only person in the school who is accessible - thinking 'the world revolves around you'

EvilEdna1 · 14/05/2019 11:59

It is interesting that someone said school admin have no brains. Most school admin only do it to fit in with their own children. I am vastly overqualified but am regularly spoken to as if I am as thick as pig shit by parents.

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