To think banning stuff from schools is stupid

[SparklesAndUnicorns]

I like to think I'm quite a 'progressive' parent and I like my children to express themselves how they feel most comfortable, they tend to pick and wear what they want over the weekends and I do let them ocassionally change their hair colours with semi permanent safe dyes.
I agree with school uniform but my daughters school doesn't even allow hair bows, she went in with a few braids and bows in the other day and came home with a messy ponytail in and told me the teacher had taken them out. Teacher explained it's against school rules to have more than one bow in their hair. Aibu to think rules like no nail varnish, no hair accessories and no hair dye is just ridiculous rules? How is this going to effect their learning? She is only 6 and I really don't understand the reasoning. Surely if it's a bullying thing then this is down to parenting your child to accept that everyone is different, I can't see how it's a health and safety issue like piercings would be, I do agree to remove earrings on PE days as I can understand that one, but the others seem strange to me. Would love to know others feelings and opinions on this

My point was that it's not unreasonable if a child has a question that they can catch a member of staff at some point in the day. If lunch is a massive no for whatever reason there's still break and briefly before school without it being some onerous task.

Sure. IF the member of staff is available, that’s fine. That isn’t what was said in this thread.

No I want teachers who cares if my child gets an education more than they care for a cheese and pickle at lunchtime 😂😂😂

Would you care if your own DC worked somewhere where they taught 6 lessons back to back and then had parents thinking they were uncaring because they wanted 10 mins peace and quiet to eat something? Or does caring about your child stop when they graduate?

My lunchtime today: went to the staff room to get a drink, approx a nano second in a child burst the door open and yelled something ridiculous and offensive about a friend. I then spent the rest of my lunchtime finding the child, sanctioning the child, calling the child’s parent then sorting out the other child who was really upset.

No drink. No food. Went back to teach for another two hours.

Would you care if your own DC worked somewhere where they taught 6 lessons back to back and then had parents thinking they were uncaring because they wanted 10 mins peace and quiet to eat something? Or does caring about your child stop when they graduate?

I think bourbon caring about anything stops at the end of her nose.

I still notice that nobody has addressed my question: if I need to pump milk, or pray, or injection myself during my lunch hour, why is that anybody else’s business? It is my lunch hour. My break. My time.

*inject

DS's school wear whatever they like. Can dye their hair. The only requirements are that they don't wear offensive slogans and private parts are covered.

The kids have one of the highest post secondary success rates in the States and many end up in Ivy League schools so I can't see it's that damaging.

I still notice that nobody has addressed my question: if I need to pump milk, or pray, or injection myself during my lunch hour, why is that anybody else’s business? It is my lunch hour. My break. My time
Your allocated lunch break is your lunch time. Whether that's a whole hour or part of the hour will depend on school.

There's still other time in the day where a member of staff can reasonably spare a minute or two for a student.

My school has no mandatory after school interventions, staff time is valued, but common sense and good will prevails. Students don't generally take the mick. We don't have a culture of entitlement. Parents who demand extra intervention in staff time are told no (and rightly so). It's still considered reasonable to speak to students for a couple of minutes.

Unless I've missed something, nobody has said teachers can't have their lunch break.

*Your allocated lunch break is your lunch time. Whether that's a whole hour or part of the hour will depend on school.

There's still other time in the day where a member of staff can reasonably spare a minute or two for a student.*

And again, I did not say otherwise. This thread is full of posts saying students are entitled to time to catch up coursework (not going to be achieved in a minute or two) and that my right to eat is less important than their child’s right to ask a question as many times as necessary. Read it.

Frequently, hercule after one particular class, the only way I am getting through the day is by injecting myself with Valium. In the eyeball or whatever the quickest route to the brain is.

Jokes just so no one gets sniffy.

Seriously though - I’m a much better teacher when I’ve had a few minutes off to reflect, catch my breath, eat, sit down - I never, ever sit down when I’m teaching - it really doesn’t mean I don’t care. It means I’m modelling good self care - important, particularly for some of my high flying anxious, puts pressure on themselves students.

And my lunch time was 35 minutes. Tricky to eat and fill an 8 oz bottle with milk at the same time. I don’t owe anybody an explanation as to why I am not using that time for catch up sessions.

Seriously though - I’m a much better teacher when I’ve had a few minutes off to reflect, catch my breath, eat, sit down - I never, ever sit down when I’m teaching - it really doesn’t mean I don’t care. It means I’m modelling good self care - important, particularly for some of my high flying anxious, puts pressure on themselves students

Agreed. The ridiculous conversations on this thread aside, it is better for your health and longevity in the profession to have a period in the day where you can eat and think, or chat. That’s caring for your staff on a basic level.

I have to say after initially being very at the US system of even kindergarteners going off to a different class for French/Art/PE/music/library etc I actually think it's pretty cool now.

The teachers get to do their lesson planning or marking when the kids are off doing the special subjects so when they finish school at 3.15 that's the day dome for them.

herculepoirot2
Catch up time for coursework could be ran centrally by a head of department or senior leader on a set night of the week (even better if centralised detentions were on the same night too).
Catch up could be done by a member of the department who doesn't have a tutor group during PSHE lessons, given the additional workload that comes with being a tutor it could balance out there.
Catchup could be that the department had some skills material or an online subscription service that students use at home to revise key content.

There are ways without telling staff to give up their lunches.

SmileEachDay I'm much happier once I've had my lunch. I send students away who arrive before I've had much lunch. Now they know that if they need me not to knock until a certain time unless it's an actually big issue. It works rather well.

And teachers here also get quite a few personal days. DS's kindergarten teacher also gets to leave school when her daughter has doctors appointments or dance recitals etc.

There are ways without telling staff to give up their lunches

I know.

And teachers here also get quite a few personal days.
Hahahahaha! Yeah. We get all sorts of days off. Just the other week I had a morning off to get my nails done.

herculepoirot2
I don't get your issue then.
If your issue was people expecting lunches to be given up, I've said there's no way to insist people give up lunches.

Then the issue seems to be with people wanting catch up, and I've shared ways it can be done without taking up class teacher time.
What's the issue then? Nobody is saying coursework catchup is more important than you eating a sandwich.

What's the issue then? Nobody is saying coursework catchup is more important than you eating a sandwich. confused

Except that that was exactly what was said. Please re-read.

I think bourbon caring about anything stops at the end of her nose.

@herculepoirot2. And you called me a bully, pathetic.

@herculepoirot2. And you called me a bully, pathetic.

Hmm? I am at a loss. How is that “bullying”?

What's this all got to do with dress codes at school?????

gandalf456

Good question. The segue came about because people were debating how much access a child should have to their teacher to allow them engage in “critical debate” about uniform policy.

Yeah, it's ridiculous. Lots of nations don't bother with school uniforms, and as a person with serious eczema I found school uniforms overheated and horribly uncomfortable. No one's learning is going to be affected because they have a bow in their hair.

Having emerged from the bunfight, though, I do think a worthwhile reform in education would be a budget for all schools to provide an hour in which all teachers would be available by appointment. That might be to address a pastoral issue, it might be because a topic needs to be revisited by a small group, it might be to deal with an ongoing behaviour problem. Students would take this time otherwise as independent study.

It teaches them to follow rules. It’s a school not a fashion show.

@LolaSmiles there's no need for the snark. Teachers here DO get a lot of personal days and can leave for appointments when they like.