New Headteachers craziest rules

[glitterelf]

Last September we were appointed a new headteacher at my child's primary school. A few feathers have been ruffled and long standing school traditions abandoned. Today my child has come home and informed me of the latest crazy rule, all children are to wear their coats whilst eating their dinner as the head does not want children in the corridors after eating. AIBU in thinking this is batshit crazy and that children will undoubtedly be uncomfortable and too hot ? I'd love nothing more than to get the headteacher to sit and follow her own stupid rule.

“ This thread reads like the input of a lot of stroppy teenagers kicking against authority. Pathetic.”

There is no authority to kick against. Head Teachers cannot just make rules as they go along. It’s not in their power to do so. And if it negatively impacts my child they will be told that it’s not happening.

I don’t see teachers as authority. They work for me and are answerable to me. I’m the authority when it comes to my children. They will educate my children and treat them with respect, or there will be trouble.

The governing bodies don’t give a shit. They make as many decisions as a dead mouse.

they work for me

No, we don't.

You do. You are in public service, unless you are in a private school, which my kids are not but if they were then you definitely work for me as I am literally paying the school directly under contract.

Even then, you are bound by the law and the policies of the school, and new policies and rules cannot be made up in the hoof or without consultation and review.

And do all public services also work for you? GP, nurses, midwives, health visitors, nursery staff, the IT department at the local authority? What about the registrars, the police, ambulance techs and first responders? Prison officers?

Would you tell them that they "work for you" and they are answerable to you? No, just lowly teachers who are at your beck and call and should ask 'how high?' when you say jump. Do fuck off.

And yes, new school rules can be made up when it doesn't directly breach any sort of legislation or governing advice.

A few years ago, our new primary head sent a letter home on a Friday in January stating that "winter boots" were no longer acceptable footwear and all children had to be clad in shoes only, with the rule being immediately applied from the following Monday.

Total outrage followed - as you can imagine.

On the Monday, after being deluged by complaints, a letter came home retracting the previous rule.

“ And do all public services also work for you? GP, nurses, midwives, health visitors, nursery staff, the IT department at the local authority? What about the registrars, the police, ambulance techs and first responders? Prison officers?”

Yes.

No wonder there is a teacher retention crisis.
Come and be treated like shit because being a parent and having attended school means that everyone can do your job better than you.

“ And yes, new school rules can be made up when it doesn't directly breach any sort of legislation or governing advice.”

That’s fine. If the rule is silly nonsense, making mine or my child’s life more difficult they will be told no.

"Streetwise" you are an entitled twat. If you approached me with your attitude I'd simply refuse, with full support for senior management.

streetwise you might be best to homeschool.

“ No wonder there is a teacher retention crisis.
Come and be treated like shit because being a parent and having attended school means that everyone can do your job better than you.”

Melodramatic much? Teach my children and behave like a normal human being. It’s not asking too much. Fail to do either and we have a problem.

“ streetwise you might be best to homeschool.”

Our primary school is great. Have never had a problem so far.

“ "Streetwise" you are an entitled twat. If you approached me with your attitude I'd simply refuse, with full support for senior management.”

Refuse to do what?

Streetwisehercules can I get cover to go on a course next month? And while you're here, a few more glue sticks would be great. Thanks boss.

streetwise tell a teacher they work for you and are beholden to you, that is when the problems arise. That is entitled.

Your child is one of 30 in a class and one of over 100+ minimum in a school. School rules are there as a blanket for everyone, not an opt in and opt out because someone thinks they are above them.
There is not one rule mentioned by the OP that makes life difficult for a child or their parent.

At least 3/4 of the children in my school already eat with their coats on as they come in, eat and then head straight back out. It isn't a life changing issue. Asking children to keep a coat on is not not "acting like a normal human being".

Sounds great - gravy stains down a wool coat.

“
Streetwisehercules can I get cover to go on a course next month? And while you're here, a few more glue sticks would be great. Thanks boss.
hmm”

You don’t think teachers are in public service?

streetwise refuse to engage with you. I would have a scheduled parents appointment as is your right but other than that your attitude would not have me going beyond that.

“ streetwise tell a teacher they work for you and are beholden to you, that is when the problems arise. That is entitled.

Your child is one of 30 in a class and one of over 100+ minimum in a school. School rules are there as a blanket for everyone, not an opt in and opt out because someone thinks they are above them.
There is not one rule mentioned by the OP that makes life difficult for a child or their parent.

At least 3/4 of the children in my school already eat with their coats on as they come in, eat and then head straight back out. It isn't a life changing issue. Asking children to keep a coat on is not not "acting like a normal human being".

My oldest child is one of 12 in his class. If a rule is ridiculous, I will opt my child out. If he wants to remove his coat to eat his food, and that’s that.

If he is stopped from doing so we will have a problem and the teachers involved will wish they had never bothered.

To be fair, bearing in mind how much money my dc's cofe state schools asked parents for I think school staff do need to be mindful of parents' absolutely equal status as stakeholders.

Coats in the dining hall - inappropriate and sloppy actually. Also the midday meal is lunch not dinner. There a true mumsnet nugget.

Whilst I wouldn't say oubluc sector workers work for me I do think manyoublic services would be better if those working for them understood services were only free at the point of delivery and otherwise funded by the user.

"streetwise" that doesn't mean we work for you or that you have any say over our job.

Public service is a service provided to benefit the public or local community. That does not mean you have any sort of ownership of us.
A library is a public service, that doesn't mean you don't have to return the book because "it belongs to you".

“streetwise refuse to engage with you. I would have a scheduled parents appointment as is your right but other than that your attitude would not have me going beyond that.“

I’ll just make a massive fuss if you interfere with my child eating, whether you engage with me or not.

“ "streetwise" that doesn't mean we work for you or that you have any say over our job.”

Yes, that’s right. Parents are not stakeholders in any way in schools and schools are not accountable in any way to key stakeholders. Wait, that’s not right is it?

"ohtheroses" every service is funded by the user, public or not.

Shop in Tesco? You are continuing to fund them and their staff. They are not beholden to you.
Work for an energy company? People who pay for the energy are continuing to fund you and your staff. You don't work for them though.
Bus driver? You don't work for the service users, you work for your company?
Surgeon? You work for the NHS, not the patient.
Optometrist? You work for Specsavers not the patient?
Virgin media employee? Richard Branson is your boss, not Karen down the road who pays £40 a month for her broadband and phone.